OpenAI

OpenAI makes GPT, the family of models behind ChatGPT. They're fast, well-rounded, and great at following instructions — a safe, capable brain for almost any assistant you'd want to build. OpenAI is also the one provider in HolaClaw that gives you two ways to connect: sign in with the ChatGPT plan you already pay for, or bring your own API key.

Subscription or API key?

This is the first decision to make, and it's the one thing that sets OpenAI apart. Pick whichever fits how you already use OpenAI.

Subscription mode is the easiest path if you already pay OpenAI every month. In HolaClaw's words: "Reuse the OpenAI plan you already pay for — no separate bill. Your sign-in stays on this Mac." Nothing extra to set up, nothing extra to pay.

API key mode is for people who don't have a ChatGPT plan, or who'd rather pay only for what their assistant actually uses. You create a key once and OpenAI bills you per message.

Heads-up — a free ChatGPT account isn't enough. Subscription mode reuses a paid plan. The in-app requirement spells it out: "Requires an active ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Team subscription." If you use ChatGPT for free, you'll need to either upgrade your plan or switch to API key mode below.

Where you set this up

Both paths start in the same place: the Create Assistant flow, at Step 2 · Model provider — the screen that says "Connect the brain behind your assistant."

1. Start creating an assistant and go to Step 2.
2. Pick GPT in the provider sidebar.
3. Use the auth toggle — a segmented control near the top — to switch between Subscription and API Key.

From here, the steps depend on which mode you chose.

Connect with your ChatGPT subscription

This uses an OAuth-style sign-in — meaning you log in on OpenAI's own website and approve access, instead of copying any secret yourself.

1. With the toggle set to Subscription, click the Sign in with ChatGPT button.
2. OpenAI's consent screen opens in your browser. This is OpenAI's page, not HolaClaw's — log in if you're not already, and review what you're approving.
3. Approve, and you'll be returned to HolaClaw automatically.

That's it — your sign-in is stored locally on your Mac. There's no key to manage and no extra bill: your ChatGPT plan covers it.

Connect with an API key

An API key is a long secret code that proves a request comes from your account — think of it as a password your assistant uses on your behalf. Anyone who has it can spend on your account, so keep it private.

1. Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys and sign in.
2. Create a new key and give it a name you'll recognize, like "HolaClaw".
3. Copy the key right away — it's shown in full only once. If you lose it, just make a new one.
4. Make sure your account has a payment method on the billing page, or requests will fail.
5. Back in HolaClaw, set the toggle to API Key and paste your key into the field. It's masked like a password, which is normal.

Tip — no ChatGPT plan needed here. API key mode is completely independent of ChatGPT subscriptions. You can use it whether or not you've ever paid for ChatGPT.

As the app notes right below your credentials: "Your credentials stay on your Mac — we never send them anywhere." Whether you signed in or pasted a key, those credentials live inside the assistant's private virtual machine on your Mac. HolaClaw's servers never see them, and OpenAI bills you directly — HolaClaw adds nothing on top.

Choosing a model

The same three GPT models are available in both modes:

GPT-5.4 is the all-rounder and the recommended pick in API key mode — smart enough for a daily companion or a writing partner without costing much.

GPT-5.4 Mini is the recommendation in subscription mode: it's fast and cheap, which keeps things snappy on your existing plan.

GPT-5.5 is OpenAI's newest flagship. Reach for it when your assistant tackles genuinely demanding work — deep reasoning, intricate analysis — and you want the best they offer.

Tip — the model is set at creation. You choose the provider and model when you create an assistant, and that choice sticks. If you later want a different model, create a new assistant with it — your existing one keeps the brain it was born with.

What it costs

In subscription mode there's nothing extra to pay — your ChatGPT plan already covers it.

In API key mode, OpenAI charges per token — roughly a short word or word-fragment of text. Every message you send and every reply your assistant writes uses some, and you pay only for what you use. A chatty daily assistant on GPT-5.4 Mini typically costs cents a day; GPT-5.5 costs more for the same conversation. For current per-token prices, check your billing page — we don't quote numbers here because they change.

Troubleshooting

When something goes wrong with the connection to OpenAI, HolaClaw shows a banner in the chat. Here's what each means:

• "OpenAI is out of credits" — your account balance is empty. Top up on the billing page and your assistant resumes on the next message.
• "OpenAI API key is invalid, expired, or out of credits" — the key was revoked, mistyped, or the account can't pay. Create a fresh key at platform.openai.com/api-keys and update it, or top up. In subscription mode, this banner can mean your ChatGPT plan lapsed — sign in again to reconnect.
• "OpenAI rate limit or quota reached" — you're sending requests faster than your plan allows. Wait a little and try again, or upgrade with OpenAI.
• "OpenAI is currently unreachable" — OpenAI's servers are having a moment. Nothing to fix on your end; the next attempt goes through once their service recovers.

Still stuck? The HolaClaw Discord is a friendly place to ask.

Next steps

Not sure GPT is the right brain for this assistant? Compare every option in Choosing an AI provider — and remember you can always create another assistant with a different one. If you'd like to weigh GPT against the alternatives, the guides for Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and Grok cover the other big names.