Gemini API free tier in 2026: which models are included and when billing starts

Google's Gemini API still offers a free tier as of October 2026, but it is more restricted than before. Developers can call several Gemini Flash and Flash-Lite models, Gemma 4, and certain audio and embedding models at no cost, without a credit card or billing account. Gemini 4 Argon, image models, and video models are paid-only, and the free tier is granted per project and per model rather than per API key. Google no longer publishes per-model RPM and RPD figures in its documentation, and charges apply only after a billing account is linked and at least $5 is prepaid. The article notes that access to Gemini 2.5 models may be restricted for new projects, and that developers are being steered toward newer models.
This is an AI-generated summary. ShortSingh links to the original source for the complete article.
Discussion (0)
Log in to join the discussion and vote.
Log in