# Control exactly who uses your agents and how

Create user tiers, set usage budgets, restrict access to specific groups, and define what happens when limits are reached — all without code.

[Start Building Free](https://pickaxe.co/builder) [See How It Works](https://pickaxe.co/learn/access-control)

Trusted by thousands of AI builders

### Public Access Groups

Control how anonymous users interact with your agents. Set usage limits, configure post-limit behavior, and connect agents to specific portals — all without requiring login.

## Give the right people the right access

Whether you need a simple login wall, tiered pricing for different customer segments, or invite-only access for a private team — Pickaxe access groups handle it all from one settings page.

### Public and member access groups

Public groups let anyone use your agent with optional limits. Member groups require authentication and give you per-user control over budgets and permissions.

### Per-user usage budgets

Set exactly how many queries each user gets per day, week, or month. When they hit the limit, show an upgrade prompt or cut access.

### Upgrade paths that convert

Define what happens when users reach their limit. Show a custom message, redirect to a payment page, or prompt them to join a higher tier.

### Works everywhere you deploy

Access groups apply across all deployment channels — direct links, embeds, portals, Slack, WhatsApp, email, and API.

## Plus everything else you need to build and scale

Powerful features designed to help you create, deploy, and monetize AI tools that deliver real results.

### No-Code Agent Builder

Build AI agents with simple drag-and-drop configuration. No coding, no terminal, no boilerplate.

### Client-Ready Portals

Showcase your AI agents in professional, branded portals for your clients and users.

### Auto-Updating Knowledge Base

Keep your agents powered by the latest data with automatic knowledge sync from documents and URLs.

### Manage Users & See Activity

Track how users engage with your agents, monitor conversations, and manage access controls.

### Automatic Prompt Testing

Optimize agent performance with AI-powered prompt improvements and real-time testing.

### Built-in Monetization

Monetize access to your agents with integrated subscription and usage billing via Stripe.

### Embed Anywhere

Deploy your agents on any platform — websites, mobile apps, Slack, WhatsApp, email, or API.

## See how others are building with Pickaxe

See how people are building, deploying, and monetizing AI agents with Pickaxe.

### Testimonials

- **Anders van der Hagen, CEO of Louder Family & Nordisk AI:** “Pickaxe is a creator-focused productivity platform that centralizes workflows, assets, and communication to help teams ship faster with less friction.”

- **Alex Iteen, Physician & Founder of Limitless Medicine:** “The Challenge Traditional medical test prep often revolves around finite question banks. Students: - Memorize patterns - See the same questions over and over - Struggle to build deep conceptual...”

- **Chris Scott, Co-founder of The Paperless Agent:** “If Pickaxe were to vanish today, the first thing that would break obviously is the part of our product where we've got lots of real estate agents and brokers using some of the tools.”

- **Travis Houston, Founder of TravisHouston.com:** “Now I'm using Pickaxe for marketing, automation, customer service, and it's saving me so much time.”

- **Jeanette Stein, Founder of Stein Solutions:** “I love creating tools that meet people where they're at and take them where they need to go. And I think Pickaxe does that really well.”

- **Tanya, Creator of Capybara Affirmations & CEO of RankingOnAI.com:** “Pickaxe is the easiest way to build a profitable ai business.”

## Take control of who uses your agents

Set up access groups, usage limits, and upgrade paths in minutes. Start free today.

[Start Building Free](https://pickaxe.co/builder) [Book a demo](https://pickaxe.co/book-a-call)

## Frequently Asked Questions

- What is an access group?
- Can I require users to log in before using my agent?
- How do usage limits work?
- Can I create invite-only access?
- Do access groups work with portals?

### How access control works for AI agents

Access control for AI agents determines who can use your tools, how much they can use them, and what happens when they reach their limits. Without it, you have no way to manage costs, segment users, or create paid tiers.

Pickaxe provides two types of access groups: public and member. Public groups let anyone use your agent with optional usage limits and upgrade prompts. Member groups require users to authenticate, giving you per-user control over budgets, permissions, and billing.

Common setups include free tiers that require login (capturing user contact info), tiered pricing with increasing usage limits, invite-only access for internal teams, and public access with upgrade prompts for lead generation.

Access groups work across every deployment channel. Whether your agent runs on a website embed, Slack bot, WhatsApp, email, portal, or API — the same access rules apply. Users authenticate once and their limits follow them everywhere.