Authentication

The ScrapeLLM API uses API key authentication. Include your key in every request using the X-API-Key header or the api_key query parameter.

Getting your API key

Sign up at scrapellm.com/signup - 1,500 free credits, no credit card required. Manage your API keys from the dashboard. Once you have your key:

Store it securely - treat it like a password
Never expose it in client-side code or public repositories

Never expose your API key in client-side JavaScript, public repositories, or share it with unauthorised users.

Using your API key

Method 1: X-API-Key header (recommended)

X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY

Method 2: api_key query parameter

?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY

Example requests

curl "https://api.scrapellm.com/scrapers/chatgpt" \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -G \
  --data-urlencode "prompt=What brands do marketers recommend?"

import requests

response = requests.get(
    "https://api.scrapellm.com/scrapers/chatgpt",
    headers={"X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
    params={"prompt": "What brands do marketers recommend?"}
)

const response = await fetch(
  "https://api.scrapellm.com/scrapers/chatgpt?prompt=What+brands+do+marketers+recommend%3F",
  { headers: { "X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY" } }
);

req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.scrapellm.com/scrapers/chatgpt", nil)
req.Header.Add("X-API-Key", "YOUR_API_KEY")
q := req.URL.Query()
q.Add("prompt", "What brands do marketers recommend?")
req.URL.RawQuery = q.Encode()
resp, _ := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)

Authentication errors

If authentication fails, you’ll receive a 401 Unauthorized response:

{
  "detail": "Missing API key. Pass your key in the X-API-Key header or as ?api_key= in the URL."
}

Common authentication issues:

Missing key: No X-API-Key header and no api_key query param present
Invalid key: The key doesn’t match any active key in the database
Credit limit: Your account has no remaining credits (returns 429)

Environment variables

Store your API key in environment variables - never hard-code it:

SCRAPELLM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

import os
api_key = os.getenv("SCRAPELLM_API_KEY")

const apiKey = process.env.SCRAPELLM_API_KEY;

apiKey := os.Getenv("SCRAPELLM_API_KEY")

API key management

Creating new keys

Create and manage keys from the dashboard. Consider separate keys for different environments:

Production - your live application
Development - local development and testing
CI/CD - automated testing pipelines

Revoking keys

If a key is compromised, revoke it immediately from the dashboard. The old key stops working instantly.

Need help?

If you’re having trouble with authentication, contact [email protected].

Introduction

Guides

Getting your API key

Using your API key

Method 1: X-API-Key header (recommended)

Method 2: api_key query parameter

Example requests

Authentication errors

Environment variables

API key management

Creating new keys

Revoking keys

Need help?

​Getting your API key

​Using your API key

​Method 1: X-API-Key header (recommended)

​Method 2: api_key query parameter

​Example requests

​Authentication errors

​Environment variables

​API key management

​Creating new keys

​Revoking keys

​Need help?

Getting your API key

Using your API key

Method 1: X-API-Key header (recommended)

Method 2: api_key query parameter

Example requests

Authentication errors

Environment variables

API key management

Creating new keys

Revoking keys

Need help?