Why don't I see the API Keys option in my Plausible settings?

On Plausible Cloud, the Stats API is a Business plan feature. If your plan doesn't include it, the API Keys section won't offer Stats API keys. Self-hosted Plausible Community Edition includes the Stats API out of the box.

What can I do with a Plausible Stats API key?

Query your own analytics programmatically: build reports, feed internal dashboards, or power desktop widgets like Wizible, which shows visitors, trends, and goal conversions in the Windows 11 Widgets Board.

Is there a rate limit on the Plausible API?

Yes — API keys are limited to 600 requests per hour by default, which is far more than a personal dashboard or widget needs. Higher limits can be requested from Plausible.

I lost my API key — can I see it again?

No. Plausible shows each key only once at creation. If you lose it, delete the old key and create a new one.

How-To · Updated July 2026

How to Create a Plausible API Key

Short answer: log in to Plausible → click your account name (top-right) → Settings → API Keys → New API Key → choose Stats API → copy the key immediately (it's shown only once). Note: on Plausible Cloud, the Stats API is a Business plan feature.

Step by step

1

Open your account settings

Log in at plausible.io, click your account name in the top-right menu, and choose Settings.

2

Go to API Keys → New API Key

Find API Keys in the left sidebar and click New API Key. Don't see it? Check the plan note below.

3

Choose Stats API and create the key

Pick Stats API as the type (that's the one for reading your analytics), give it a recognizable name — e.g. "Windows widget" — and click Create API Key.

4

Copy it now — it's shown once

Plausible displays the key a single time. If you lose it, you'll need to delete it and create a new one.

Plan requirement: on Plausible Cloud, the Stats API is included in the Business plan. Self-hosted Plausible Community Edition ships with the Stats API included. Default rate limit is 600 requests/hour — plenty for dashboards and widgets.

The 2-minute use case: your stats on the Windows desktop

Most people creating a Stats API key want one of two things: automated reports, or their numbers visible without opening the dashboard. For the second one, that key is all you need:

Install Wizible — a free Plausible widget for Windows 11.
Paste your new Stats API key in the widget settings and pick your site.
Press Win + W — visitors, 7-day trends, bounce rate, real-time count, and goal conversions, at a glance.

Plausible Analytics API key used by the Wizible widget to show website stats on the Windows 11 Widgets Board

The key stays local on your machine; the widget talks only to plausible.io. Full guide: Plausible stats on your desktop.

Frequently asked questions

Why don't I see the API Keys option?

Your plan probably doesn't include the Stats API — on Plausible Cloud it's a Business plan feature. Self-hosted Community Edition has it built in.

What's the difference between Stats API and the other key types?

Stats API keys read your analytics data. Plausible also has APIs for sending events and provisioning sites — for dashboards and widgets, Stats API is the one you want.

Is 600 requests/hour enough for a live widget?

Easily. A widget refreshing every few minutes uses a small fraction of that, even with several sites pinned.

Can I revoke a key?

Yes — delete it from the same API Keys page at any time and create a fresh one. Rotate keys if you ever paste one somewhere you shouldn't have.