How to Get a Free Google Gemini API Key (2026)
4 free models available — no credit card required. Get your Google Gemini API key → Test free models →
Google Gemini FreeLLM Score
A usable option, though it may have noticeable restrictions or older models.
What is Google Gemini?
Google's generous free tier — 1M context, multimodal, 500 RPD.
Google AI Studio provides free API access to the Gemini family of models, including Gemini 2.5 Flash with a 1-million token context window and native multimodal support (text, image, audio, video). The free tier offers up to 500 requests/day for Flash-Lite and 10–20 RPM depending on the model. No credit card is required to start.
- Gemini 2.5 Flash: 1M context window
- Multimodal: text, image, audio, video
- Up to 500 RPD on Flash-Lite
- No credit card required
API Compatibility: Google Gemini REST API (also via OpenAI-compatible wrapper)
How to Get a Google Gemini API Key
- 1 Go to Google AI Studio aistudio.google.com — sign in with Google account.
- 2 Click "Get API Key" in the left nav
- 3 Create API key in a new or existing project
- 4 Pick a Gemini model Gemini 2.5 Flash recommended for best free limits.
- 5 Configure OpenAI client Base URL: https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta
All Free Google Gemini Models — Context Windows & Rate Limits
| Model | Context | Max Output | Modality | Rate Limit | Released | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3.5 Flash | 1.0M | 64K | 15 RPM, 1,500 RPD | May 19, 2026 | Online | |
| Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | 1.0M | 65K | 30 RPM, 1,500 RPD | Mar 3, 2026 | Online | |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | 2.0M | 65K | 5 RPM, 50 RPD | Jun 5, 2025 | Online | |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | 1.0M | 65K | 15 RPM, 1,500 RPD | May 20, 2025 | Online |
Google Gemini Free Tier Limits & Pricing
Google Gemini API Setup Tutorial & Tools
Google Gemini is fully compatible with popular AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, and more. To see step-by-step API configuration instructions for your favorite tool, please visit our Global Configuration Guide →
Use Cases
What Google Gemini's free models are best for, based on aggregated model capabilities:
Limitations & Caveats
- 10 RPM is tight for production or multi-user apps
- Free tier prompts may be used for product improvement
- Some features (Grounding, Search) not available on free tier
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google use my free tier API prompts for training?
Google's free tier terms state that prompts may be used for product improvement. If this is a concern, use the paid tier which has a no-training guarantee.
Why am I getting 429 errors on Gemini free tier?
The free tier has both per-minute (RPM) and per-day (RPD) limits. Gemini 2.5 Flash allows 15 RPM / 1,500 RPD. Flash-Lite allows 30 RPM / 1,500 RPD. Space out your requests or implement exponential backoff.
What's the difference between Google AI Studio and Vertex AI for Gemini?
Google AI Studio is the free developer playground — easier signup, no GCP project needed. Vertex AI is the enterprise platform with SLAs, VPC support, and higher rate limits. For free tier usage, stick with AI Studio.