Frequently asked questions about Runtype — from getting started to billing, building, and beyond.
No. Runtype includes platform keys so you can start building right away — no setup, no accounts with other providers. When you are ready for more control, you can bring your own keys (BYOK) on the Growth plan and above. This gives you direct provider billing, higher rate limits, and access to the full range of models.
Most people have a simple Flow running in 5–10 minutes. More complex, multi-step workflows typically take 30–60 minutes. The Quickstart guide walks you through a complete example in under 10 minutes.
Tip: Check out the built-in templates when creating a new Flow — they give you a head start with pre-configured steps for common use cases like support Agents, data pipelines, and more.
Yes — most of the platform uses visual editors and configuration panels. You can build Flows, create Products, deploy Surfaces, and run Evals all without writing code. For advanced use cases like custom data transforms or runtime tools, some JavaScript is involved, but the editor provides helpers and examples to guide you.
The Build tier is free and designed to let you explore everything Runtype offers:
It is a good way to learn the platform, build prototypes, and test ideas before going to production.
When using platform keys, AI model usage is tracked and visible in your Usage dashboard. When using BYOK (Growth plan and above), you pay your AI providers directly at their standard rates. Either way, you can monitor estimated costs in Settings → Usage.
Yes — cancel anytime from Settings → Billing. You’ll keep your current plan’s features through the end of your billing period, then your account moves to the Build tier. Your Flows, Records, and configuration are preserved so you can pick back up whenever you’re ready.
Flows are step-by-step pipelines where you define exactly what happens at each stage — prompts, data transforms, API calls, conditionals, and more. They’re ideal for predictable, repeatable workflows.
Agents are conversational AI that decide which tools to use and when, based on context. They’re ideal for open-ended tasks like answering questions, researching topics, or handling support conversations.
Tip: Not sure which to use? Start with an Agent for conversational use cases (like a support bot) and a Flow for automation use cases (like processing form submissions or running data pipelines).
Yes! A single Flow can serve as a Capability in multiple Products. Any changes you make to the Flow automatically apply everywhere it’s used — no need to update each Product individually.
A few strategies that help:
Think of it this way:
One Product can have multiple Capabilities and multiple Surfaces, all working together.
Absolutely. One Product can have a chat widget, an API endpoint, a Slack integration, an MCP server, and more — all accessing the same Capabilities. Build once, deploy everywhere.
Edit the underlying Flow or Agent, test it, and your Product automatically uses the updated version. There’s no separate deploy step — changes take effect as soon as you save.
The chat widget embeds directly on your domain via a snippet. API calls are handled by Runtype’s infrastructure. For questions about custom API domains, reach out to our sales team.
Records are structured data objects in Runtype. They have a type (like “customer” or “support_ticket”), a name, and a metadata field where your actual data lives as JSON. Flows can read, create, and update Records — making them perfect for storing context, tracking state, or building knowledge bases.
Yes. Upload CSV files to create Records in bulk. During import, you map your columns to metadata fields so everything lands in the right place.
Runtype supports both keyword and semantic search across your Records. Semantic search finds conceptually related content — not just exact keyword matches — which is especially useful for knowledge bases, FAQ lookups, and support workflows. For best results, keep your Record data clean and well-structured.
Evals let you test and compare how your Flows perform across different configurations. You can run the same Flow against a set of Records with different models, prompt variations, or temperature settings — then compare the results side by side.
They’re a powerful way to optimize for speed, cost, and quality before going to production.
Eval limits vary by plan. Check your current plan details in Settings → Billing for the exact Eval limits on your tier.
Runtype connects to Slack, Google Workspace, Linear, GitHub, Weaviate, Firecrawl, Exa, PostHog, and more. You can see the full list and configure connections in Settings → Integrations.
You can also connect custom MCP servers and build runtime tools that call any external API.
Yes! Email us at support@runtype.com with your request. Enterprise customers can work with our team to build custom integrations.
Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest. Sensitive fields like API keys use AES-256-GCM encryption. SOC 2 compliance is in progress. Visit runtype.com/security for the latest details.
No — Runtype never trains models on your data. When using BYOK, your data goes directly to providers using your own keys. When using platform keys, we use providers’ zero-data-retention policies so nothing is stored or used for training.
Yes. You can delete individual Flows, Records, or your entire account from Settings. Deleted data is permanently removed within 30 days.
Yes. Runtype has a full REST API for triggering Flows, managing Records, configuring Products, and more. You can also use the Runtype SDK for a streamlined developer experience.
Yes. Scheduling is available on all plans. Set up schedules from the Surface configuration panel or the Schedules section in the dashboard.
Self-hosting isn’t available on standard plans. Enterprise and Platform customers can discuss dedicated infrastructure options with our sales team — contact us to learn more.
Enterprise customers receive dedicated onboarding and training. Other plans can schedule paid training sessions — contact sales@runtype.com for details.
Can’t find your answer? Email support@runtype.com or search this help center.