> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://notara-1.gitbook.io/notara-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://notara-1.gitbook.io/notara-docs/getting-started/onboarding.md).

# Sign up & onboarding

This guide walks through creating your Notara account and completing the onboarding wizard. New workspaces start on Free. Notara does not bundle an AI model: your MCP client supplies its own, and paid Slack and hosted features use your model API key.

## Creating Your Account

Navigate to [app.notara.ai](https://app.notara.ai) and choose your sign-in method:

### Email + Password

1. Click **Sign up** and enter your email address and a strong password.
2. A verification email will be sent to your inbox. Click the link to confirm.
3. You'll land on the onboarding wizard.

### Slack OAuth

1. Click **Continue with Slack** on the sign-in page.
2. Choose the workspace you want to connect.
3. Authorize Notara to install into your workspace. This both creates your account and installs the Slack app in one flow.
4. You'll land on the onboarding wizard with your workspace already connected.

> **Multi-workspace note:** If you belong to multiple Slack workspaces, you can connect additional workspaces after your account is created from the workspace switcher in the top-left corner of the dashboard.

## The Onboarding Wizard

Every new workspace starts on **Free**. The wizard gets you to one useful answer from your own AI, using one of your company documents.

### Step 1: Choose where to start

* **My AI app**: use Notara from Claude Code, Cursor or another MCP client. Works on Free. Your AI app supplies the model.
* **My team in Slack**: the Notara Slack bot. Needs the paid platform and a model API key saved in Notara.

You can add the other connection later.

### Step 2: Plan

Keep using **Free**, or subscribe to the paid platform ($149/month including one person, $29/month per additional person) through Stripe checkout. The Slack path requires the paid platform. See [Billing](/notara-docs/billing.md).

### Step 3: Add knowledge

Add one useful document, such as a short description of who you help and what you offer. Use real information you want your team's AI to read. Do not paste passwords or API keys.

### Step 4: Connect

Pick your AI app, create a token and add Notara to the app's MCP settings. Creating a token does not verify the connection; the next step does. See [MCP Setup](/notara-docs/mcp.md).

### Step 5: Check your first answer

Copy the suggested question into your AI app. A good answer names your document and quotes the lines it used. If it does not, the wizard helps you fix the connection or the document.

> **Joining an existing team?** If you were invited, you skip the plan step. You do not need to buy another workspace or enter model credentials.

### Model API key (paid, Slack and hosted chat)

The Slack bot, Notara chat and scheduled workflows run on your own model API key. Add it under **Models** in the dashboard. MCP clients do not need one.

Supported providers: Anthropic (recommended), OpenAI, Google Gemini, Kimi, GLM and DeepSeek. Your key is encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM and never logged in plain text.

→ [Detailed BYOK guide](/notara-docs/byok.md)

## After Onboarding

Once the wizard is complete, you'll land on the Notara dashboard Overview. Your next steps:

1. **Install the Slack app** (if you signed up with email+password — skip if you used Slack OAuth): go to **Settings → Workspace → Connect Slack**.
2. **Invite the bot to a channel**: type `/invite @Notara` in any Slack channel, or configure channels from **Connect → Channels** in the dashboard.
3. **Connect your first tool**: navigate to **Tools** in the sidebar and pick a connector.
4. **Build a library**: go to **Libraries** and create your first context collection.

## Re-entering or Updating Info

All onboarding information is editable after the fact:

* Company info → **Settings → Workspace**
* BYOK key → **Settings → BYOK**
* Subscription → **Settings → Billing**

## Troubleshooting

**"BYOK key invalid" error:** double-check there are no leading or trailing spaces in the key. For Anthropic, keys start with `sk-ant-`. For OpenAI, keys start with `sk-`.

**Stripe redirect fails:** ensure pop-ups are allowed for `app.notara.ai`. If the redirect loop repeats, clear cookies and try again in an incognito window.

**Slack OAuth shows wrong workspace:** make sure you're signed into the correct Slack workspace in your browser before clicking "Continue with Slack".