Quick Start Guide

This guide walks you through the complete process of using Sub2API, from registration to monitoring your usage.

Prerequisites

• A valid email address
• A payment method (credit card via Stripe)
• Minimum $10 USD for initial top-up

Step 1: Sign Up and Verify Email

1. Visit app.tokenlio.ai
2. Click Sign Up
3. Enter your email and create a password
4. Check your email for the verification link
5. Click the link to verify your account
6. Log in to access your personal workspace

Step 2: Top Up Your Balance

Sub2API uses a prepaid, pay-as-you-go model. You need to add credit before making API calls.

1. Navigate to Billing in the left sidebar
2. Click Top Up Balance
3. Enter the amount (minimum $10 USD)
4. Click Proceed to Payment
5. Complete payment through Stripe
6. Your balance will be credited immediately

Payment Notes

• We accept major credit cards via Stripe
• Minimum top-up: $10 USD
• All transactions are secure and encrypted
• You'll receive a receipt via email

Step 3: Create an API Key

API keys authenticate your requests to Sub2API.

1. Go to API Keys in the console
2. Click Create New Key
3. Enter a descriptive name:
   • Development for testing
   • Production for live applications
   • Project Name for specific projects
4. (Optional) Set quota limits
5. Click Create
6. Copy the key immediately - it will only be shown once
7. Store it securely

WARNING

Your API key will only be displayed once at creation. If you lose it, you'll need to create a new one.

Key Security

• Store keys in environment variables
• Never commit keys to version control
• Use different keys for development and production
• Disable or delete unused keys

Step 4: Make Your First Request

Now you're ready to call the API!

Using cURL

curl https://api.tokenlio.ai/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gpt-4-turbo",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
      {"role": "user", "content": "What is Sub2API?"}
    ]
  }'

Using Python

First, install the OpenAI SDK:

pip install openai

Then use it with Sub2API:

from openai import OpenAI

# Initialize client with Sub2API
client = OpenAI(
    api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
    base_url="https://api.tokenlio.ai/v1"
)

# Make a request
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4-turbo",
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "What is Sub2API?"}
    ],
    temperature=0.7,
    max_tokens=150
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Using Node.js

First, install the OpenAI SDK:

npm install openai

Then use it with Sub2API:

import OpenAI from 'openai';

// Initialize client with Sub2API
const client = new OpenAI({
  apiKey: process.env.SUB2API_KEY,
  baseURL: 'https://api.tokenlio.ai/v1',
});

async function main() {
  const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
    model: 'gpt-4-turbo',
    messages: [
      { role: 'system', content: 'You are a helpful assistant.' },
      { role: 'user', content: 'What is Sub2API?' }
    ],
    temperature: 0.7,
    max_tokens: 150,
  });

  console.log(response.choices[0].message.content);
}

main();

Streaming Responses

Sub2API supports streaming for real-time token generation:

stream = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4-turbo",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Tell me a story"}],
    stream=True
)

for chunk in stream:
    if chunk.choices[0].delta.content:
        print(chunk.choices[0].delta.content, end="")

Step 5: Monitor Your Usage

Track your API usage and costs in real-time.

View Usage Summary

1. Go to Usage in the console
2. Select a time range (today, week, month, custom)
3. View:
   • Total requests
   • Tokens consumed (input/output)
   • Total cost
   • Breakdown by model

Check Request Logs

1. Navigate to Request Logs
2. See detailed information for each request:
   • Timestamp
   • Model used
   • Token counts
   • Cost
   • Status (success/error)
   • Request ID (for support)

Monitor Balance

Your current balance is always visible in the top bar. When balance runs low:

• You'll receive email notifications
• Requests will fail with insufficient balance errors
• Top up to resume service

Step 6: Using with Teams (Optional)

If you're working with a team, create an organization workspace:

1. Click your profile in the top right
2. Select Create Organization
3. Name your organization
4. Top up the organization balance
5. Go to Organization > Members
6. Click Invite Member
7. Enter their email address
8. They'll receive an invitation link

Organization Benefits

• Shared billing: One balance for the whole team
• Centralized management: Owner controls all settings
• Individual keys: Each member creates their own keys
• Usage tracking: See which keys consume what resources

Learn more in our Team Collaboration Guide (coming soon).

Common Error Codes

Code	Meaning	Solution
401	Invalid API key	Check your key is correct and active
402	Insufficient balance	Top up your account
429	Rate limit exceeded	Reduce request frequency or contact support
500	Server error	Retry or contact support

Best Practices

Environment Setup

Create a .env file for your API key:

SUB2API_KEY=your_key_here

Load it in your application:

# Python
import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv

load_dotenv()
api_key = os.getenv('SUB2API_KEY')

// Node.js
import 'dotenv/config';
const apiKey = process.env.SUB2API_KEY;

Error Handling

Always wrap API calls in error handling:

from openai import OpenAI, OpenAIError

try:
    response = client.chat.completions.create(...)
except OpenAIError as e:
    print(f"API error: {e}")
    # Handle error (log, retry, alert, etc.)

Rate Limiting

Be mindful of rate limits:

• Implement exponential backoff for retries
• Cache responses when possible
• Use streaming for long responses
• Monitor usage to avoid surprises

Next Steps

Now that you're up and running:

• Explore available models and their pricing
• Learn about authentication in detail
• Read the API reference for advanced features
• Review billing details to optimize costs

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

• Check the FAQ for common questions
• Review error codes above
• Email support@tokenlio.ai
• Include your request ID for faster support