AI Setup Guide
AI Settings — Choose Your Way
GenFlow works with or without an API key. Pick the mode that suits you best.
1 Two Ways to Use AI
GenFlow provides two modes for AI prompt generation. You can start for free right away, or register a free API key for a faster, more powerful experience.
🆓 Free Web Mode
No API key needed. GenFlow opens a Gemini or ChatGPT tab in your browser and generates prompts through the web interface. Perfect for trying out the extension.
No setup required
⚡ API Key Mode (Recommended)
Register a free Gemini or OpenAI API key for 3-5x faster generation, image style analysis, and subtitle correction. Gemini's free tier is generous — most users pay $0.
Free · 30 sec setup
💡You can switch between modes anytime from the ⚙️ AI Settings button in the extension sidebar.
2 Feature Comparison
|
API Key |
Free Web Mode |
| AI Prompt Generation |
✅ Fast (2-5 sec) |
⚠️ Slow (10-30 sec) |
| Style Reference (Image Analysis) |
✅ |
❌ |
| Subtitle Correction |
✅ |
❌ |
| Cost |
Free (Gemini daily quota) |
Free |
| Setup Time |
~30 seconds |
None |
3 How to Get a Gemini API Key (Free)
2
Sign in with GoogleUse any Google account. No credit card needed.
3
Click "Create API Key"Select any project or let it create one automatically.
4
Copy the keyThe key starts with AIza... — paste it into the GenFlow AI Settings.
🔒Your API key is stored locally in Chrome — it never leaves your browser.
4 How to Get an OpenAI API Key
2
Create an account or sign inA free tier is available with limited usage.
3
Click "Create new secret key"Copy the key (starts with sk-...) and paste it into GenFlow.
💰OpenAI API has a pay-as-you-go model. For most GenFlow usage, Gemini (free) is recommended.
5 Vision API — Image Style Analysis (Optional)
Vision API lets GenFlow analyze reference images and automatically extract style information. This powers the "Character" and "Style" reference features in the AI Prompt Generator.
You only need one of these — pick whichever you prefer:
✨If you already have a Gemini API key, it also supports Vision — no extra setup needed!
6 FAQ
Is it really free?
Yes. The Free Web Mode works without any API key. If you choose API Key mode, Gemini offers a generous free daily quota (1,500 requests/day) that covers most users' needs.
Is my API key safe?
Your API key is stored locally in Chrome's storage (chrome.storage.local). It never gets sent to our servers — it goes directly from your browser to the AI provider (Google, OpenAI, etc.).
Can I change settings later?
Absolutely. Click the ⚙️ AI Settings button in the extension sidebar to switch providers, add/remove API keys, or switch to web mode at any time.
Which AI provider should I choose?
We recommend Gemini — it's free, fast, and supports image analysis. OpenAI is a great alternative if you already have an OpenAI account, but it uses a pay-as-you-go model.
What if I don't set up anything?
GenFlow still works! You can use all batch features (image/video generation on Google Flow and Kling AI) with manually written prompts. AI auto-generation is the only feature that needs an AI connection.