# Get Started
## **Sign Up**
First of all, create a free account with an email address, name, and password. You can go ahead and do so in [the following link.](https://app.datacake.de/signup)
Once you create your account you can login. Your first workspaces will be created. At first you won't have devices, but we will soon come to that step...
## **First Steps**
You can now start adding devices to the platform. To begin with, Datacake offers you up to 5 devices for free. Use them to test your PoC or small application and enjoy of the benefits Datacake has to offer on the free tier.
While adding devices, you can choose between different options. In this document we will cover the most common ones:
* [LoRaWAN](#adding-lorawan-devices) -> Devices that communicate via de LoRaWAN protocol
* [API](#adding-api-devices) → Devices that communicate via HTTP or MQTT protocols
You also have the possibility to do [Pincode Claiming](https://docs.datacake.de/device/claiming), which means your devices can be copied into another workspace. For that, you need to first add the devices as LoRaWAN or API devices.
We also have [Dragino NB-IoT](https://docs.datacake.de/integrations/dragino-nb-iot) and [1NCE](https://docs.datacake.de/integrations/1nce-os) integrations for NB-IoT connected devices. Please refer to the documentation for those specifically.
Now lets learn how to add your first devices.
## **Adding LoRaWAN Devices**
Click on Add Device and select LoRaWAN.
1. **Select between different Datacake Products**
If you want to go ahead and add a LoRaWAN device to Datacake, you will have to choose between three available options: Select "New Product from Template", to create a new product based on one of our more than 350 different templates that Datacake has to offer. You can also create a new device based on a previously created product ("Existing Product") or create a whole "New Product".
To learn more about what a product is, visit:
{% content-ref url="device/product" %}
[product](https://docs.datacake.de/device/product)
{% endcontent-ref %}
{% hint style="success" %}
The first time you will want select "New Product from Template". That will create the Product within your workspaces that all of the next devices will belong to. The template will already contain payload decoder, fields, downlinks and dashboard to work on.
If your device is not in the template catalog, you can either select "New Product", which will create an empty product, or contact our support team. They might be able to guide you.
{% endhint %}
If you have already created a product, you can select "Existing Product". That will create more devices inside of the same product, which will ensure consistency and better management of your devices.
2. **Select the LoRaWAN Network Server**
The LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) is the central component of a LoRaWAN architecture that manages the communication between LoRaWAN gateways and end devices. The LNS ensures secure and efficient data transmission across the LoRaWAN network.
Datacake supports 15 different LoraWAN Network Servers.
Select the one you are working with.
### If you want to make it easy for you, select the Datacake LNS. That way, you don't need to manage gateways and devices in two platforms anymore.
{% hint style="success" %}
Are you interested in adding LoRaWAN devices to Datacake? Did you know that Datacake has its own LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS)? You can add gateways and devices directly to Datacake without the need of an external LNS. And the best part of it is that it is totally free.
{% endhint %}
{% content-ref url="datacake-lns" %}
[datacake-lns](https://docs.datacake.de/datacake-lns)
{% endcontent-ref %}
3. **Add Device Information**
Enter DevEUI, name, location, and tags. Bulk upload via CSV is available. If you selected the Datacake LNS, you will need to provide DevEUI, Name, AppEUI, App Key, Frequency and Class. Those are provided by your device manufacturer/the store you bought them from.
4. **Select a Plan**
As said before, the first 5 devices are for free, included in your Starter package.
If you have obtained a [Datacake Package](https://datacake.co/pricing#pricingpackages), your device quota will be available for you at the moment of adding a device. Simply select your organization's plan and click on "Add device".
That is it! Now you can go ahead and start configuring dashboards, reports and rules for your LoRaWAN devices.
## **Adding API Devices**
An API device is basically a virtual device on Datacake that connects with a real device, which communicates with the internet, either wired or wirelessly. This virtual devices contain an HTTP endpoint that allows them to pull in information from a server. They also allow to connect via an external MQTT broker.
To connect a device of this nature to Datacake you need to follow the next steps:
1. **Select Device Template**
Choose from the 28 available API templates when creating a "New Product from Template", create a device on an "Existing Product" or create a "New Product".
1. **Add Device Information**
Datacake can auto-generate a serial number for this kind of devices, or enter your device's serial number. You will need to give the device a name, and configure a device location and tags if needed.
2. **Select Plan**: Similar to LoRaWAN devices.
Once that is done, click on Create. For API devices an HTTP Endpoint URL is created, which you can use to create a webhook or API call to fill in information to the platform. Please note that [API payload decoders](https://docs.datacake.de/generic-api-devices/access-measurements-in-api-decoders) have a different structure than [LoRaWAN decoders](https://docs.datacake.de/lorawan/payload-decoders).
**Following Steps**
After adding your first devices, you can proceed to configure automatic reports, email/SMS alarms, downlinks, and public dashboard links.
