BYOK vs Managed AI — which mode should I choose?
Compare Bring Your Own Key and Managed AI inside Blanca's Builder and pick the right mode for your team.
Blanca's Builder supports two AI modes: Managed AI through the Lovable AI Gateway and Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or Mistral. This article helps you choose.
Last updated: 2026-06-28
Managed AI
Use Managed AI if you want everything to work without contracts or API keys. Usage is metered against your plan. This is the recommended mode for new users and for teams who want predictable billing.
BYOK
Use BYOK if you already have a contract with an AI provider, want to keep usage on your own bill, or need a specific model not yet enabled in Managed AI.
You can switch
Switching modes does not break your project. Memory, briefs and blueprints are stored in Blanca's Builder, not in the provider.
Canonical: https://blancasbuilder.com/knowledge/getting-started/choose-your-ai-mode · Blanca's Builder