---
title: "Access usage data programmatically"
description: "Create a read-only API key in the Calico Cloud web console and use it to call the Usage API to retrieve vCPU usage data programmatically."
product: "Calico Cloud"
version: "v23.0.1"
section: "Operations"
canonical_url: "https://docs.tigera.io/calico-cloud/operations/usage-api"
---

# Access usage data programmatically

You can create a read-only API key in the web console and use it to call the Calico Cloud Usage API. The API returns the same vCPU usage and managed cluster data shown on the [Usage Metrics](https://docs.tigera.io/calico-cloud/operations/usage-metrics.md) page, so you can pull it into your own capacity planning, FinOps, and license-compliance workflows instead of exporting it by hand. API keys are read-only and scoped to your organization.

## Prerequisites

- You are signed in to the web console as a user with the **Admin** and **Usage Metrics** roles, or with the **Owner** role.

## Create an API key for usage metrics

1. In the web console, click the user icon  **> Settings**.

2. Under the **API Keys** tab, click **Generate new key**.

3. Enter a name, choose a validity period, and then click **Create**.

4. Copy or download the generated key and store it in a secure location.

   > **INFO:** The key is shown only once, at creation. You cannot retrieve it again after you close the dialog.

## Call the Usage API

1. On the **API Keys** tab, locate your key and click **Actions > Generate commands**.

2. Select the command for the data you want:

   - **Contracts** — your organization's contracts, including start and end dates, vCPU hours, package, and add-ons.
   - **Summary** — per-project vCPU totals and usage over time, across all projects.
   - **Managed clusters** — per-cluster usage rows, with optional project filtering and CSV output.

3. Copy the generated command.

4. In the command, replace `<your-secret>` with your API key, and set any query parameters, such as `startTime`, `endTime`, and `granularity`, for your query.

5. Run the command. A successful call returns an HTTP `200` response with your usage data in JSON.

## Additional information

- [Usage Metrics](https://docs.tigera.io/calico-cloud/operations/usage-metrics.md)