# Getting Started with OptionData

> Create an account, complete qualification, start the 14-day Pro trial, get an API key, and choose your first OptionData API workflow.

This guide takes you from a new account to your first authenticated OptionData request.

## 1. Create or sign in to your account

Open [OptionData](https://www.optiondata.io/) and sign in with your email address. OptionData sends a one-time verification code to complete authentication.

## 2. Complete the qualification survey

The data products are gated by a short qualification survey. Enter the invitation code supplied to you and complete the licensing attestations.

After the survey is accepted, OptionData creates your Stripe customer record and starts the **14-day Pro trial**. No payment method is required to begin the trial.

## 3. Copy your API key

Open [API Key](/api_key), then select **Copy**. Store the key in a password manager or environment variable—never commit it to source control.

For detailed key handling and rotation, see [Manage Your API Key](/docs/manage-api-key).

![Annotated OptionData API Key page showing where to copy the key and the privacy reminder](/docs/getting-started/getting-started-api-key-annotated.png)

*The API Key page is the handoff point between account setup and your first API request.*

## 4. Choose your first workflow

| Goal | Start here |
|---|---|
| Validate a WebSocket client | [Realtime WebSocket Quickstart](/docs/realtime-websocket-quickstart) |
| Query historical option trades | [Historical SQL Quickstart](/docs/historical-sql-quickstart) |
| Retrieve a current option chain | [Option Chain Quickstart](/docs/option-chain-quickstart) |
| Read GEX, walls, and volatility context | [Market Structure Quickstart](/docs/market-structure-quickstart) |

The same API key authenticates all four workflows. Access requires an active or trialing Pro subscription.

## 5. Continue after the trial

During a no-card trial, the dashboard shows how many days remain. To continue access after the trial, follow [Add a Payment Method During Your Free Trial](/docs/add-payment-method).

Review your plan, trial end date, and billing state at [Billing](/billing).

## What trial access includes

- Realtime WebSocket access during the trial.
- Historical SQL with responses capped at 10 rows.
- Option Chain and Market Structure access.
- The same authentication and response contracts used by active subscriptions.

If a request fails, use [Troubleshoot Authentication and Access](/docs/troubleshoot-api-access) before rotating your key.