> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cheqd.io/product/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cheqd.io/product/getting-started/studio/set-up-account.md).

# Set Up Your Account

The user is required to **Log In** to our **cheqd Studio** portal and then access their API key to authenticate with our APIs. The API key guards the API from unauthorized access and is required for both testing production environments.

## Step 1: Get started with cheqd Studio

Head to our **cheqd Studio** and click **Get Started**.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>cheqd Studio</strong></mark></td><td>Click here to sign up for a cheqd Studio plan to get started with creating API keys. </td><td><a href="https://cheqd.io/solutions/cheqd-studio/">https://cheqd.io/solutions/cheqd-studio/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Step 2: Create your account

cheqd Studio uses a [third party service called LogTo](https://logto.io/) to handle user authentication and login. You can create an account or sign in using:

* Email and password
* Google single sign-on
* Discord login

Click **Sign In** or **Create Account** to continue.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/LWEOitrD8LXSQY9VwSlY" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Sign into your account</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/SzI5AjEr0rYUB2I6vIw0" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Create a new account</p></figcaption></figure></div>

## Step 3: Create a new API key and authenticate with cheqd Studio APIs

Once signed in, create an API key from your account dashboard.\
This key is required to authenticate with **cheqd Studio APIs** and protects your environment from unauthorized access.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>API keys</strong></mark></td><td>Create a new API key to authenticate with the cheqd Studio APIs.</td><td><a href="/pages/mNF6YOQTMnPd8Wchn89S">/pages/mNF6YOQTMnPd8Wchn89S</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Step 4: Start using cheqd

Get started with our tutorials for cheqd Studio functionality.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>DIDs and Identity Keys</strong></mark></td><td>Create <code>did:cheqd</code> DIDs for credential issuers and for DID-Linked Resources</td><td><a href="/pages/qUmEjgDklCArrhh4j9e9">/pages/qUmEjgDklCArrhh4j9e9</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Trust Registries</strong></mark></td><td>Create an end-to-end trusted ecosystem, using Trust Chains to build a full Trust Registry.</td><td><a href="/pages/BoVznvMpJ8u9ChJSjLlI">/pages/BoVznvMpJ8u9ChJSjLlI</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Payments</strong></mark></td><td>Create commercial models for verifiable credentials, such as verifier-pays-issuer</td><td><a href="/pages/7lVUYsjr4Ch4qwp5vtab">/pages/7lVUYsjr4Ch4qwp5vtab</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Status Lists</strong></mark></td><td>Create status lists, including Status List v2021 and Token Status List</td><td><a href="/pages/IOs93D5RA8B9zhPbOXkh">/pages/IOs93D5RA8B9zhPbOXkh</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Credentials</strong></mark></td><td>Issue any type of credential, including SD-JWT, VCDM and AnonCreds via our partners, including trust registries, status lists and payments.</td><td><a href="/pages/x8DioGQJr9qH3uvpe1Uo">/pages/x8DioGQJr9qH3uvpe1Uo</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Resources</strong></mark></td><td>Create custom resources for policies, presentation definitions, schemas and visual representations of credentials</td><td><a href="/pages/aJ0qtWykyhEsjKClzILT">/pages/aJ0qtWykyhEsjKClzILT</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Step 5: Select a Billing plan

You will be able to get started for free on our free trial, but following the expiry of the free trial, users need to sign up for a paid billing plan. cheqd Studio billing uses [Stripe](https://stripe.com/au) as a payments processor and users will need to input their card information to initiate a billing plan.&#x20;


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