What are the Gemini API rate limits and how do they differ between free and paid tiers?

The Gemini API enforces rate limits on three dimensions: requests per minute (RPM), requests per day (RPD), and tokens per minute (TPM). Limits vary significantly by model and whether you are on the free tier or a paid billing tier.

import time
from google import genai
from google.api_core import exceptions

client = genai.Client()

# Handle rate limiting with exponential backoff:
def generate_with_retry(prompt, model="gemini-2.5-flash", max_retries=3):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        try:
            response = client.models.generate_content(
                model=model, contents=prompt
            )
            return response.text
        except exceptions.ResourceExhausted:  # 429 rate limit error
            wait = 2 ** attempt
            print(f"Rate limited. Waiting {wait}s (attempt {attempt+1})")
            time.sleep(wait)
    raise Exception("Max retries exceeded")

# Tips for free tier:
# - Add delays between calls (1-2 seconds minimum)
# - Use Flash-Lite (higher RPD: 1,000/day)
# - Monitor quota in AI Studio dashboard
# - Enable billing for Tier 1 ($250/month cap available)

Key changes: Google reduced free tier limits by 50-80% in December 2025. Tutorials and documentation written before that date will show stale (higher) numbers. Always check current limits in the AI Studio quota dashboard.

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