Kimi API Getting Started — Complete Guide for Developers
Quick Answer
Get started with Kimi API in three steps: (1) Create an account at platform.moonshot.cn, (2) generate your API key, (3) make your first call using any OpenAI-compatible SDK. The entire kimi api platform setup takes under 5 minutes.
What You Need to Get Started
- A Moonshot account — free to create at platform.moonshot.cn
- An API key — generated from your dashboard
- An HTTP client — Python (openai SDK), JavaScript (openai SDK), cURL, or any language
Step-by-Step Kimi API Setup
- Create your account at platform.moonshot.cn
- Verify your email address
- Generate an API key from Dashboard → API Keys → Generate New Key
- Copy and store securely — the key is shown only once
- Install OpenAI SDK —
pip install openai(Python) ornpm install openai(JavaScript) - Set base URL to
https://api.moonshot.cn/v1 - Make your first call — see our code examples
Detailed Guides
How to Get Kimi API Key
Step-by-step guide to generating, managing, and securing your Kimi API key.
Read more →Code Integration Examples
Python, JavaScript, and cURL code examples for Kimi API chat completions.
Read more →Frequently Asked Questions About Kimi API
How long does it take to set up Kimi API?
Most developers can set up Kimi API and make their first API call in under 5 minutes. Account creation is instant, API key generation takes seconds, and the OpenAI-compatible format means no new SDK to learn.
Do I need to know Python to use Kimi API?
No. Kimi API works with any programming language that can make HTTP requests. Official SDKs are available for Python and JavaScript, but you can also use cURL, Go, Rust, Java, or any language with HTTP client support.
What is the Kimi API platform?
The Kimi API platform refers to Moonshot AI's developer console at platform.moonshot.cn. It provides API key management, usage monitoring, billing, and account settings. The platform is where you manage all aspects of your Kimi API access.
Summary
Getting started with kimi api is fast and straightforward thanks to OpenAI compatibility. Follow our API Key guide for detailed setup instructions, or jump to Code Integration for working examples.