Do Automation Runs and API Requests Still Count If I Use BYOK?

Do Automation Runs and API Requests Still Count If I Use BYOK?

This is a common question for users who bring their own AI provider (BYOK), especially when running high-volume automations in Bika.ai — here’s a quick breakdown:

:white_check_mark: Automation Runs per Month

Automation run usage is independent of BYOK.

Whether you use Bika’s built-in AI or your own API key (BYOK), each time an automation is triggered, it still counts as 1 automation run.

:pushpin: Example:

If an automation runs 10,000 times, that’s 10,000 automation runs — even if the AI inside uses your own OpenAI key.


:white_check_mark: API Requests per Month

API requests are only counted when you call Bika’s own OpenAPI using your user token — specifically when calling any of the documented endpoints here:

:point_right: openapi - bika

:bulb: Actions like Run Script or calling external APIs within automation (e.g., to other platforms) do not consume your API Requests quota.