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varg uses a single API key (VARG_API_KEY) for all AI generation. This key authenticates you with the varg gateway, which routes requests to the right AI provider (Fal, ElevenLabs, Higgsfield, Replicate) and handles billing.

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Get your API key

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Option 1: Sign up on the web

  1. Go to app.varg.ai
  2. Sign up with your email
  3. Copy your API key from the dashboard

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Option 2: Log in from the CLI

bunx vargai login
This gives you two choices:
  • Email login — enter your email, receive a 6-digit code, verify it. Creates an account and API key automatically.
  • Paste API key — if you already have one from the dashboard.
Your credentials are saved to ~/.varg/credentials (permissions 0600).

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Option 3: Agent-driven login (for AI agents)

AI agents can drive the login flow using curl — no interactive CLI needed: 
# 1. Send OTP to user's email
curl -s -X POST https://app.varg.ai/api/auth/cli/send-otp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email":"[email protected]"}'

# 2. User checks inbox for 6-digit code

# 3. Verify OTP (creates account + API key if needed)
curl -s -X POST https://app.varg.ai/api/auth/cli/verify-otp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email":"[email protected]","code":"123456"}'

# Response: {"api_key":"varg_xxx","email":"...","balance_cents":0,"access_token":"..."}

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Using your API key

VARG_API_KEY=varg_xxx
Bun auto-loads .env — no dotenv needed.

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As an environment variable

export VARG_API_KEY=varg_xxx

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In global credentials

The CLI saves credentials to ~/.varg/credentials: 
{
  "api_key": "varg_xxx",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "created_at": "2026-01-15T10:00:00Z"
}
The SDK automatically checks this file if VARG_API_KEY is not set in the environment.

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In code

import { createVarg } from "vargai/ai"

const varg = createVarg({ apiKey: process.env.VARG_API_KEY! })
Or with the REST API: 
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer varg_xxx" https://api.varg.ai/v1/balance

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Credits and billing

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Check your balance

bunx vargai balance
Or via API: 
curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer $VARG_API_KEY" https://api.varg.ai/v1/balance
# {"balance_cents": 10000}
1 credit = 1 cent. balance_cents: 10000 means 10,000 credits ($100).

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Add credits

bunx vargai topup
This opens the billing page in your browser. Or go directly to app.varg.ai. Available packages:
PackageCreditsPrice
Starter2,000$20
Basic5,000$50
Popular10,000$100
Pro20,000$200
Business50,000$500
Enterprise100,000$1,000

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Pricing

ActionModelCreditsCost
Imagenano-banana-pro5$0.05
Imageflux-pro25$0.25
Video (5s)kling-v3150$1.50
Video (5s)seedance-2-preview250$2.50
Video (5s)wan-2.575$0.75
Speecheleven_v325$0.25
Musicmusic_v125$0.25
Cache hits are always free. Same prompt + params = $0 instant result.

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CLI commands

CommandDescription
bunx vargai loginSign in or paste API key
bunx vargai logoutClear saved credentials
bunx vargai balanceCheck credit balance
bunx vargai topupOpen billing page in browser

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Bring Your Own Keys (BYOK)

If you have your own provider API keys (fal, ElevenLabs, etc.), you can use them through the varg gateway at $0 varg cost. See the BYOK guide for details.