# Use Aider with Bridge

URL: https://bridge.wekoya.tech/guides/aider
Updated: 2026-11-08

**In short:** Set `OPENAI_API_BASE` to Bridge's API and `OPENAI_API_KEY` to your Bridge key, then start Aider with the model ID prefixed by `openai/`, for example `aider --model openai/claude-sonnet-5-5`. Aider then edits your code with that model, billed in naira.

```bash
export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://wekoya-api.wekoya.tech/v1
export OPENAI_API_KEY=wk_live_...
aider --model openai/claude-sonnet-5-5
```

- The `openai/` prefix is required: it tells Aider to use an OpenAI-compatible API.
- Aider warns about models it does not know. That is expected for Bridge's model IDs; it still works.
- In `.aider.conf.yml` the same settings are `openai-api-base` and `openai-api-key`.
- On Windows, use `setx` for the two variables and open a new terminal.

[Create a free account](https://bridge.wekoya.tech/sign-up)

## Common questions

**Why does Aider warn about an unknown model?**

Aider keeps its own list of models and their limits. Bridge's IDs are not on it, so it warns, but the requests work.

## Read next

- [LiteLLM with Bridge](https://bridge.wekoya.tech/guides/litellm)