Replicate API Key with OpenClaw

What Is Replicate?

Replicate is a cloud platform that lets you run thousands of open-source machine learning models via a single API. Instead of provisioning GPU servers or managing complex ML infrastructure, you call a REST endpoint and get your results back within seconds. Replicate handles cold starts, scaling, and billing on a pay-as-you-go basis — you only pay for the compute you use.

In the context of OpenClaw Launch, Replicate is the gateway to a broad catalog of video and music generation models. A single r8_... key is all you need to activate them across your running instances.

What Your Replicate Key Unlocks

Once your Replicate key is saved on the API Keys page, your OpenClaw instances gain access to video and music generation models hosted on Replicate. Pick the model you want inside your instance’s video or music settings — no code changes required.

• Video generation models — a curated set of text-to-video and image-to-video models hosted on Replicate, billed per generation at Replicate’s standard rates.
• Music generation models — AI music composition and audio generation models, from short clips to full tracks.
• Pay-as-you-go pricing — charges appear on your Replicate account; there is no markup from OpenClaw Launch.

How to Get a Replicate API Key

1. Go to replicate.com — Open replicate.com/account/api-tokens in your browser.
2. Sign in or create an account — Use GitHub OAuth or email to create your Replicate account. New accounts receive some free credits to get started.
3. Open the API tokens page — Navigate to your account settings and click API tokens in the left sidebar (or follow the direct link above).
4. Create a new token — Click Create token, give it a name (for example, “OpenClaw Launch”), and confirm.
5. Copy your token — Your token starts with r8_. Copy it now — Replicate only shows it once.
6. Add billing if needed — Free credits cover initial testing; add a payment method under Billing for continued use.

Add It on OpenClaw Launch

1. Sign in at openclawlaunch.com and open the API Keys page.
2. Find the Replicate card, paste your r8_... key, and click Save. OpenClaw Launch validates the key against Replicate live before storing it.
3. In your running instance’s settings, open the video or music model picker and select the Replicate-hosted model you want to use. The key applies immediately — no redeploy needed.

Your key is encrypted at rest and scoped to your account. It applies to all your existing running instances the moment you save it.

Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized / Invalid Key

• Verify your token starts with r8_. If it does not, you may have copied the wrong value from the Replicate dashboard.
• Check for trailing spaces or newline characters. Replicate tokens are case-sensitive.
• If you rotated your token, paste the new value on the API Keys page to overwrite the old one.

Model Not Found or Generation Fails

• Some Replicate models are gated and require you to accept terms on the Replicate website before your key can call them. Visit the model page on replicate.com and accept any usage agreements.
• Check your Replicate account’s billing status — a lapsed payment method will cause generation requests to fail even if the key itself is valid.

Quota or Rate Limit Errors

• Replicate enforces per-account concurrency and rate limits. If you receive 429 or “queue full” errors, wait a moment and retry. Heavy video models may queue for up to 30 seconds during peak hours.
• Check your usage on the Replicate dashboard to see if you are approaching any account-level limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What models does the Replicate key unlock on OpenClaw Launch?

Your Replicate key unlocks video and music generation models hosted on the Replicate platform. The exact catalog is curated by OpenClaw Launch and visible inside your instance’s model picker once the key is saved. Replicate itself hosts thousands of open-source models, but only those wired into OpenClaw’s integration are selectable here.

What does a Replicate API token look like?

A Replicate API token starts with the prefix r8_, followed by a long alphanumeric string (for example, r8_AbCdEfGh1234567890). You can create and manage tokens at replicate.com/account/api-tokens. Tokens are only shown once at creation time, so store yours safely.

Is Replicate pay-as-you-go?

Yes. Replicate charges per prediction (per generation). Costs vary by model and hardware tier — video models typically cost more than image models due to higher GPU time. New accounts receive free credits. OpenClaw Launch does not add any markup; charges appear directly on your Replicate account.

Does adding the key affect my existing OpenClaw instances?

Yes — in a good way. Once you save your Replicate key on the API Keys page, it is available to all your running instances immediately. You do not need to redeploy or restart anything. Just open the model picker in your instance settings and select a Replicate-hosted model.

What's Next?

• Replicate with Hermes Agent — The same Replicate key setup guide for Hermes Agent instances
• OpenClaw BYOK overview — All supported providers and how bring-your-own-key works on OpenClaw Launch
• What is OpenClaw? — A primer on the OpenClaw agent framework
• API Keys page — Manage all your provider keys in one place