About xAI (Grok)

Grok is xAI's flagship family of large language models designed to deliver truthful and insightful AI responses. The xAI API provides developers with access to powerful models including Grok-4 and Grok-2-1212 (with a 131K token context window), supporting multimodal capabilities like vision processing and image generation via Flux.1. Key features include function calling for API automation, compatibility with OpenAI/Anthropic SDKs, structured outputs, and enterprise-grade security with GDPR/HIPAA compliance. The platform offers Python and JavaScript SDKs for easy integration into applications ranging from conversational AI to complex workflow automation.

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

1. Get Your xAI API Key

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

  1. Visit xAI'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
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.

2. Connect Your xAI API Key on TypingMind

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

  1. Open TypingMind in your browser
  2. Click the "Settings" icon (gear symbol)
  3. Navigate to "Models" section
  4. Click "Add Custom Model"
  5. Fill in the model information:
    Name: grok-4-0709 via xAI (or your preferred name)
    Endpoint: https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completions
    Model ID: grok-4-0709 for example (check xAI model list)
    Context Length: Enter the model's context window (e.g., 32000 for grok-4-0709)
    xAI Endpoint URL input fieldgrok-4-0709https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completionsgrok-4-0709 via xAIhttps://www.typingmind.com/model-logo.webp32000
  6. Add custom headers by clicking "Add Custom Headers" in the Advanced Settings section:
    Authorization: Bearer <GROK_API_KEY>:
    X-Title: typingmind.com
    HTTP-Referer: https://www.typingmind.com
  7. Enable "Support Plugins (via OpenAI Functions)" if the model supports the "functions" or "tool_calls" parameter, or enable "Support OpenAI Vision" if the model supports vision.
  8. Click "Test" to verify the configuration
  9. If you see "Nice, the endpoint is working!", click "Add Model"

3. Start Chatting with xAI models

Now you can start chatting with xAI (Grok) models through TypingMind:

  • Select your preferred xAI model 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
The best frontend AI chat for xAI (Grok) API KeyThe best frontend AI chat for xAI (Grok) API Keygrok-4-0709The best frontend AI chat for xAI (Grok) API Key
Pro tips for better results:

4. 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 https://console.x.ai/team/default/usage to monitor your xAI API usage and set spending limits.

xAI Subscriptions vs. xAI API Keys — Complete comparison:
FeaturexAI Subscription PlansUsing xAI API Keys
Cost Structure❌ Fixed monthly fee
Pay even if you don't use it
SuperGrok:$30/month or $300/year
 ✅ Pay only for actual usage
$0 when you don't use it
Usage Limits ❌ Hard daily/hourly caps
You have to wait for the next period to use it again		✅ Unlimited usage
No limits. Only limited by your budget
Model Access ❌ Platform decides available models
Old models get discontinued		✅ Access to all API models
Including older & specialized versions
💡 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)