How to Get a Free Groq API Key for Wren
Wren transcribes fully offline by default — nothing you say ever leaves your machine. If you'd rather trade that for Groq's very fast cloud transcription, this guide walks you through creating a free Groq API key. This step is entirely optional, and the key you generate is stored locally by Wren and only ever sent to Groq's API when you're actively transcribing with it.
- 1
Sign up for a free Groq account
Go to the Groq console and create an account. The free tier requires no credit card.
- 2
Open API Keys
Once you're signed in, open "API Keys" in the left sidebar of the console.
- 3
Create a new key
Click "Create API Key", give it a name you'll recognize (e.g. "Wren"), and confirm.
- 4
Copy the key immediately
Groq only shows the full key once. Copy it now — if you lose it, you'll need to create a new one.
- 5
Paste it into Wren
Paste the key into Wren's onboarding wizard, or later under Settings → Provider, to start transcribing with Groq.
Questions, answered
Is this required to use Wren?
No. Wren works fully offline by default, transcribing entirely on your machine with no account and no API key. Connecting a Groq key is an optional path for people who want faster or more accurate cloud transcription instead.
Is Groq really free?
Groq offers a free tier for its API that's enough to get started with Wren. Limits and terms are set by Groq and can change, so check Groq's own plans page for what's current before you rely on it heavily. See Groq's plans page for current details.