How to Get a Free Google Gemini API Key (2026)
2 free models available — no credit card required. Get your Google Gemini API key →
Overview
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)
Quick Start Guide
- 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 2.5 Flash | 1.0M | 65K | 10 RPM, 250 RPD | — | Online | Details | |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | 1.0M | 65K | 15 RPM, 1,000 RPD | — | Online | Details |
Pricing & Limits
Credit Card Not required
Free Tier Permanently free
Context Range 1.0M
Total Models 2 free
Rate Limits 10 RPM, 250 RPD · 15 RPM, 1,000 RPD
API Compatibility Google Gemini REST API (also via OpenAI-compatible wrapper)
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