If custom MCP connectors are not available on your ChatGPT plan, an API key gets you the identical capabilities. Nothing is degraded: the connector and the REST API sit on the same surface.
- Create a free Argorant account and confirm your email address.
- Open Home or Profile, API keys, and create a key. It starts with
ag_live_and is shown once. - Copy the setup prompt from argorant.com/ai-agents. It already contains the base URL, the auth header shape and the spending rules.
- Paste the prompt into ChatGPT and add your key where the prompt asks for it.
- Ask for a count. If a number comes back, the connection works.
The two facts ChatGPT needs
- Base URL:
https://argorant.com, endpoints under/api/mcp/... - Auth header:
Authorization: Bearer ag_live_...
A shared chat is not a safe place for a long-lived key. Mint one key per use, and revoke it under Profile, API keys the moment the work is done. Revocation is immediate: the next request fails with 401.
New confirmed free accounts get 25 starter credits at first key creation, so the first reveals cost you nothing.