Get a free Groq or Gemini API key in under 2 minutes and unlock every AI feature on the platform.
Head to the Groq developer console and create a free account. You can sign up with Google, GitHub, or email — no credit card is ever required. Groq's free tier is generous enough for everything on DraftReady.AI.
No credit card, ever. Groq's free tier includes thousands of API calls per day — far more than any single athlete profile will ever need. You will never be charged unless you manually upgrade.
Once you're logged in, navigate to the API Keys section in the left sidebar. Click "Create API Key", give it a name like "DraftReady", and hit Create. The key appears once — copy it immediately.
Copy your key the moment it appears. Groq only shows the full key once for security. If you miss it, just delete that key and create a new one — takes 10 seconds.
Your Groq API key looks like this. Click the copy button to grab it — then head straight to your DraftReady.AI dashboard to paste it in.
Real keys start with gsk_ and are 56 characters long.
Keep your key private. Never share it publicly or commit it to a GitHub repo. Your DraftReady.AI settings store it locally in your browser — it's never sent to any third-party server.
Go to your DraftReady.AI dashboard, open Settings → AI Configuration, select Groq as your provider, and paste your key into the field below. Hit Save — that's it. Your AI features activate instantly.
Activation is instant. As soon as you save a valid key, every AI button on the platform lights up — bio writer, scout analysis, stat suggestions, and more. No page reload needed.
Google AI Studio is where you get your free Gemini API key. Sign in with any Google account — no new account needed if you already have Gmail. The Gemini free tier has no credit card requirement.
Already have a Google account? You're already set — just sign in. No new account, no credit card. The Gemini free tier gives you 15 requests per minute, which is more than enough for DraftReady.AI.
On the API Keys page, click "Create API key" and select "Create API key in new project". Google creates a project and key automatically — you don't need to configure anything else.
If you see a "Terms of Service" prompt — accept it. This is just Google's standard developer terms. No payment info is required at any point in this flow.
Your Gemini API key will appear on screen. It looks like this — click the copy button or highlight and copy manually. Unlike Groq, Gemini lets you view existing keys later from the same page.
Real Gemini keys start with AIza and are ~39 characters long.
Keep your key private. Never paste it in a public form, share it on social media, or include it in code you push to GitHub. Store it only in your DraftReady.AI settings.
Open your DraftReady.AI dashboard, navigate to Settings → AI Configuration, select Gemini, and paste your key. Click Save. Your AI features are active immediately.
All AI features activate instantly the moment you save a valid Gemini key. No page reload. You'll see the AI buttons change from grey to active across your dashboard and card builder.
With your AI key connected, every AI feature on DraftReady.AI is active. Here's what you just unlocked:
Answer 3 questions and AI writes your full recruiting bio in third person — tailored to your sport, position, and target level.
AI compares your stats against average D1/D2/D3 benchmarks for your position and tells you exactly where you stand.
AI analyzes which programs in the portal are the best fit for your profile and generates a personalized outreach strategy.
Paste a coach's name and program — AI writes a personalized cold outreach email with your card link embedded.
AI reviews your reel description and gives specific feedback on how to structure your clips for maximum coach impact.
Enter your GPA, test scores, and core courses — AI tells you if you're on track for NCAA eligibility and what to fix.
All 6 AI features are free as long as you stay within Groq's or Gemini's free tier — which you comfortably will. The AI features use lightweight prompts that consume minimal tokens per request.
Paste your API key here to verify it's valid before entering it in the app
This key is only checked in your browser. It is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere.
2 minutes setup. Zero cost. Every AI feature on the platform — active immediately after you paste your key.