diff --git a/backend/access_token.py b/backend/access_token.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e61ef12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/access_token.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import json
+import os
+import httpx
+
+
+async def validate_access_token(access_code: str):
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
+        url = (
+            "https://backend.buildpicoapps.com/screenshot_to_code/validate_access_token"
+        )
+        data = json.dumps(
+            {
+                "access_code": access_code,
+                "secret": os.environ.get("PICO_BACKEND_SECRET"),
+            }
+        )
+        headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json"}
+
+        response = await client.post(url, content=data, headers=headers)
+        response_data = response.json()
+
+        if response_data["success"]:
+            print("Access token is valid.")
+            return True
+        else:
+            print(f"Access token validation failed: {response_data['failure_reason']}")
+            return False
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 4b75f71..4c5823b 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # Load environment variables first
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
-from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 load_dotenv()
 
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ from mock import mock_completion
 from image_generation import create_alt_url_mapping, generate_images
 from prompts import assemble_prompt
 from routes import screenshot
+from access_token import validate_access_token
 
 app = FastAPI(openapi_url=None, docs_url=None, redoc_url=None)
 
@@ -79,13 +79,27 @@ async def stream_code(websocket: WebSocket):
 
     # Get the OpenAI API key from the request. Fall back to environment variable if not provided.
     # If neither is provided, we throw an error.
-    if params["openAiApiKey"]:
-        openai_api_key = params["openAiApiKey"]
-        print("Using OpenAI API key from client-side settings dialog")
+    openai_api_key = None
+    if "accessCode" in params and params["accessCode"]:
+        print("Access code - using platform API key")
+        if await validate_access_token(params["accessCode"]):
+            openai_api_key = os.environ.get("PLATFORM_OPENAI_API_KEY")
+        else:
+            await websocket.send_json(
+                {
+                    "type": "error",
+                    "value": "Invalid access code or you're out of credits. Please try again.",
+                }
+            )
+            return
     else:
-        openai_api_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
-        if openai_api_key:
-            print("Using OpenAI API key from environment variable")
+        if params["openAiApiKey"]:
+            openai_api_key = params["openAiApiKey"]
+            print("Using OpenAI API key from client-side settings dialog")
+        else:
+            openai_api_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
+            if openai_api_key:
+                print("Using OpenAI API key from environment variable")
 
     if not openai_api_key:
         print("OpenAI API key not found")
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index e9ba1ce..9dab79e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ function App() {
       isImageGenerationEnabled: true,
       editorTheme: EditorTheme.COBALT,
       isTermOfServiceAccepted: false,
+      accessCode: null,
     },
     "setting"
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SettingsDialog.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SettingsDialog.tsx
index 215b0ea..8a8be03 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SettingsDialog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SettingsDialog.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { Label } from "./ui/label";
 import { Input } from "./ui/input";
 import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger } from "./ui/select";
 import { capitalize } from "../lib/utils";
+import { IS_RUNNING_ON_CLOUD } from "../config";
 
 interface Props {
   settings: Settings;
@@ -38,6 +39,31 @@ function SettingsDialog({ settings, setSettings }: Props) {
         <DialogHeader>
           <DialogTitle className="mb-4">Settings</DialogTitle>
         </DialogHeader>
+
+        {/* Access code */}
+        {IS_RUNNING_ON_CLOUD && (
+          <div className="flex flex-col space-y-4 bg-slate-300 p-4 rounded">
+            <Label htmlFor="access-code">
+              <div>Access Code</div>
+              <div className="font-light mt-1 leading-relaxed">
+                Buy an access code.
+              </div>
+            </Label>
+
+            <Input
+              id="access-code"
+              placeholder="Enter your Screenshot to Code access code"
+              value={settings.accessCode || ""}
+              onChange={(e) =>
+                setSettings((s) => ({
+                  ...s,
+                  accessCode: e.target.value,
+                }))
+              }
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
           <Label htmlFor="image-generation">
             <div>DALL-E Placeholder Image Generation</div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/types.ts b/frontend/src/types.ts
index dd432d8..42b06f9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/types.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/types.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export interface Settings {
   isImageGenerationEnabled: boolean;
   editorTheme: EditorTheme;
   isTermOfServiceAccepted: boolean; // Only relevant for hosted version
+  accessCode: string | null; // Only relevant for hosted version
 }
 
 export enum AppState {