About Cohere

Cohere is an enterprise AI company that builds the Command family of language models, designed for business use cases like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), tool use, and multilingual chat. The lineup also includes Command A Vision for images, Command A Reasoning for multi-step problems, and the open-weight Aya models covering 23 languages.

Cohere offers a free, rate-limited trial key for testing and pay-per-token production keys, with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint that works with any OpenAI-compatible client.

Step by step guide to use Cohere API Key to chat with AI

I. Get Your Cohere API Key

First, you'll need to obtain an API key from Cohere. This key allows you to access their AI models directly and pay only for what you use.

  1. Visit Cohere's API console
  2. Sign up or log in to your account
  3. Navigate to the API keys section
  4. Generate a new API key (copy it immediately as some providers only show it once)
  5. Save your API key in a secure password manager or encrypted note
Cohere API keys page

Sometimes, this provider will require you to add a payment method to your account before you can use your API key to chat with AI. So, to avoid any hiccups, make sure you've got a payment method set up and ready to go!

Important: Keep your API key secure and never share it publicly. Store it safely as you'll need it to connect with TypingMind.

II. Connect Your Cohere API Key on TypingMind

Once you have your Cohere API key, connecting it to TypingMind to chat with AI is straightforward:

  1. Open the Models page

    Open TypingMind, click "Models" in the left sidebar, then click "Add custom model" in the top right corner.

    TypingMind Models page with the Add custom model button

  2. Enter the model details

    Keep "Create Manually" selected and fill in the model details:

    Name: command-a-03-2025 via Cohere (or your preferred name)
    Model ID: command-a-03-2025 for example (check Cohere model list)
    Context Length: Enter the model's context window (e.g., 256000 for command-a-03-2025)
    Add Custom Model dialog in TypingMind filled in for command-a-03-2025

  3. Set up authentication

    In the "Authentication" tab, set the connection details:

    API Type: OpenAI Chat Completions API
    Endpoint URL: https://api.cohere.ai/compatibility/v1/chat/completions
    Authentication Type: API Key via HTTP Header
    Header Key: Authorization
    Header Value: Bearer <COHERE_API_KEY>
    Cohere authentication settings in TypingMind

  4. Add pricing (optional)

    Open the "Pricing" tab and enter the model's input, output, and cache prices per 1M tokens so TypingMind can estimate your usage costs.

    Pricing settings in TypingMind for command-a-03-2025

  5. Check the capabilities

    In the "Capabilities" tab, keep "Auto check capabilities on save" on so TypingMind detects supported features like plugins, image input, and thinking, or enable them manually.

    Custom model capabilities settings in TypingMind

  6. Test and save

    Click "Test & Save" to verify the connection and add the model.

III. Start Chatting with Cohere models

Now you can start chatting with Cohere models through TypingMind:

  • Select Cohere models from the model dropdown menu
  • Start typing your message in the chat input
  • Enjoy faster responses and better features than the official interface
  • Switch between different AI models as needed
Chat with Cohere models on TypingMind

💡 Pro tips for better results:

IV. Monitor Your AI Usage and Costs

One of the biggest advantages of using API keys with TypingMind is cost transparency and control. Unlike fixed subscriptions, you pay only for what you actually use. Visit your Cohere usage dashboard to monitor your API usage and set spending limits.

💡 Cost-saving tips:
  • Use less expensive models for simple tasks
  • Keep prompts concise but specific to reduce token usage
  • Use TypingMind's prompt caching to reduce repeat costs (How to enable prompt caching)
  • Using RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) for large documents to reduce repeat costs (How to use RAG)
TypingMindCohere

Why TypingMind + Cohere?

Chat with Cohere models and 200+ other models in one workspace, using your own Cohere API key.

Best-in-class UI

TypingMind's interface is far superior to standard chat UIs.

Model flexibility

Switch between Cohere models and 200+ models instantly.

Cost control

Pay only for what you use through Cohere.

One-time purchase

Buy TypingMind once, use forever with any Cohere model.

Data privacy

Your conversations are stored locally by default, not on external servers.

Plugins, MCP, Skills & AI agents

Extend Cohere models with web search, image generation, and custom AI agents.

Try TypingMind for free

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a subscription to use Cohere with TypingMind?

No. With your own Cohere API key, you pay only for what you use, with no monthly subscription. TypingMind is also a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

How much does the Cohere API cost?

Cohere charges per token, and prices vary by model. For example, command-a-03-2025 costs $2.5/1M input tokens and $10/1M output tokens. A typical conversation costs around $0.01-0.10, depending on the model and length.

Which Cohere models can I use in TypingMind?

Any model your Cohere API key can access. You can switch between Cohere models and models from other providers in the same TypingMind chat.

Is my data private when using Cohere with TypingMind?

TypingMind stores your conversations locally (in your browser on the web version, on your device in the desktop app). Your messages are sent to Cohere with your API key, so check Cohere's data policy for how it handles API requests.