Getting started

0 Requirements

• A self-hosted WordPress site (5.x or newer, PHP 7.4+).
• Ability to upload a plugin (admin access).
• That's it for the Free tier — no API keys, no GPU.

1 Install the plugin

1. Download the StudioUI plugin (studioui.zip).
2. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and choose the zip.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

On activation StudioUI automatically creates a Studio page with a fullscreen template, so you have a working app immediately.

2 Connect hosted compute

The fastest way to start — no keys, no hardware.

1. Open studioui.ai/connect, sign in, and copy your one-time connect code.
2. In your site, go to StudioUI → Settings → Hosted compute.
3. Click Connect this site, paste the code, and save.

Your site now generates on StudioUI's GPUs, billed against your credit balance. New sites get a free starter balance to try it out.

3 Go Pro — your keys, your hardware

Pro ($149/yr) unlocks direct API keys and self-hosting, with no per-generation fees.

• API keys: Settings → API Keys — add OpenAI, FLUX/BFL, fal.ai, Groq, Mistral or DeepSeek keys (one or many per provider for failover).
• Self-host: Settings → Self-Hosting — point at a local or LAN ComfyUI URL and LM Studio URL for fully private generation.

Uncensored / adult generation is available only on self-hosted Pro setups using your own hardware, and is your responsibility under the Acceptable Use Policy.

4 Embed the studio anywhere

Use the shortcode on any page or post:

For a full-screen experience, assign the page the StudioUI Fullscreen template (the auto-created Studio page already uses it). Gate the page with any membership plugin to make it members-only.

5 Set your prices

1. Go to Settings → Billing & Credits and switch billing mode to credits.
2. Set the credit cost per medium and add Stripe keys to sell top-up packs.
3. Add the pricing page shortcode where members buy credits:

Your margin is the gap between the retail price you charge members and the wholesale cost of hosted credits (or your own key/GPU cost). The Reports tab tracks it for you.

6 Gateway API (advanced)

Connected sites talk to the hub over a simple REST gateway using a bearer token:

The plugin handles all of this for you — you only need the API directly for custom integrations.