# Getting Started with OptionData

> Create an account, complete qualification, explicitly activate 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. Register your account

Open [OptionData](https://www.optiondata.io/) and choose **Sign up**. Enter your email address and use the one-time verification code to create your account. If you already have an account, sign in instead.

## 2. Request your invitation code

After registration, use the [OptionData Support](/support) page's QR contact module to reach our team and request the invitation code required to complete qualification. The same support module is shown on the qualification screen; use its displayed channels for this request.

## 3. 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.

Qualification does not start the trial clock. After approval, the portal keeps your trial ready until you explicitly activate it.

## 4. Activate your free trial

Select **Activate 14-day free trial** when you are ready. The countdown begins immediately after Stripe confirms activation; no payment method is required.

## 5. 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.*

## 6. 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.

## 7. 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).

Eligible trial users can receive **50% off the first year with a promotion code from Sales**. Contact Sales for the code, then enter it on [Billing](/billing) before the trial ends.

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.