n8n BetterToken setup: API key, Base URL, and custom models
Connect n8n to BetterToken with a Base URL, API key, and available model, then verify the connection and fix common errors. Practical guidance.
To connect n8n to BetterToken, prepare an API key, enter the Base URL shown below, and choose a current Model ID from the model plaza.
Key settings
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| API Key | BetterToken API key |
| Base URL | https://bettertoken.ai/v1 |
| Model | A current Model ID from the model plaza |
Prerequisites
- The current version of the tool is installed
- A BetterToken API key: register and get one
- A Model ID from the model plaza
Additional requirements
- An n8n Cloud or self-hosted instance
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Credential type | OpenAI |
| Base URL | https://bettertoken.ai/v1 |
| API Key | your BetterToken API key |
| Organization ID | leave blank |
| Custom Header | off |
Install
Install or open n8n, then continue with the manual setup below.
Manual setup
Complete this setup in the n8n node configuration UI. You do not need to edit an n8n configuration file.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| API Key | BetterToken API key |
| Base URL | https://bettertoken.ai/v1 |
| Model | A current Model ID from the model plaza |
Setup
Add AI Agent and OpenAI Chat Model
Open a workflow and add an AI Agent node. At its Chat Model connector, add the OpenAI Chat Model sub-node.
This guide uses OpenAI Chat Model because it supplies the model connection for n8n AI Agents, chains, and other AI workflows.
Create an OpenAI credential
In OpenAI Chat Model, open Credential to connect with, select Create new credential, and choose OpenAI.
If your n8n version offers both OpenAI Account (ChatGPT) and API Key, choose API Key. OpenAI Account authentication is for an official account, not a BetterToken custom Base URL.
Enter the BetterToken credential
Use these values:
| n8n field | Value |
|---|---|
| API Key | your BetterToken API Key |
| Organization ID (optional) | leave blank |
| Base URL | https://bettertoken.ai/v1 |
| Add Custom Header | off |
Click Save. n8n tests this credential against /models under the configured Base URL, so the complete test URL is https://bettertoken.ai/v1/models.
Select a model
Return to OpenAI Chat Model, open Model, and select the model ID shown in the model plaza.
If the list does not update after you save the credential, reopen the node or credential and load the model list again.
Choose Chat Completions or Responses
For the first test, keep Use Responses API off and complete a plain conversation through the default Chat Completions mode.
Turn on Use Responses API only when your workflow needs it. n8n documents built-in tools such as Web Search, File Search, and Code Interpreter for OpenAI Chat Model + AI Agent with Responses enabled. Those OpenAI-hosted tools are not automatically capabilities confirmed for BetterToken, so test them against the selected model and endpoint.
Run a test
Give the AI Agent a simple input:
Reply with exactly: Connection successfulClick Execute step or run the workflow. The setup is complete when the node returns a model response.
Verify the connection
Send a short test prompt. If the tool returns a response without an authentication or Model ID error, the connection works. Fully restart the tool after changing its configuration.
Switch models
Open the model selector or change the Model field in the configuration. Use the exact Model ID from the model plaza, then restart the current session.
Common errors
Credential test returns 401
- Make sure the API Key is complete and has no extra spaces
- Copy the exact Model ID from the model plaza.
- Check the key status and balance in the BetterToken Dashboard
Credential test returns 404
- The Base URL must be
https://bettertoken.ai/v1 - Do not use
https://bettertoken.ai/v1/modelsas the Base URL - Do not append
/chat/completionsor/responses
The Model list is empty
- Save the credential again, then reopen Model
- Confirm that the API Key can access
https://bettertoken.ai/v1/models - Copy a current model ID from the model plaza; do not use a retired or misspelled ID
Plain chat works, but Agent tool calls fail
Turn off Use Responses API and all built-in tools, then verify plain Chat Completions. Enable Agent tools one at a time to identify whether the problem is the model capability, tool arguments, or workflow configuration.
The request times out
Increase Timeout under OpenAI Chat Model > Options and keep a limited Max Retries value. Do not repeatedly retry 400, 401, or configuration errors.
Advanced setup
Related guides
Technical details
Protocol, endpoint, and internal provider fields
This setup uses https://bettertoken.ai/v1. The tool appends the OpenAI-compatible endpoint path. Do not add /chat/completions or /responses unless a specific field explicitly requires it.
Scope
This guide confirms LLM Chat through the OpenAI-compatible protocol only. Do not configure a GPT chat model as an embedding, rerank, speech, or image model.