FREE AI API GUIDE · REVIEWED 2026-10-30
Free AI APIs, tokens and API keys
Compare documented free AI APIs, token allowances and API key requirements. Start with the limits and eligibility that apply to your account, then choose a model for your project.
By the AIOffers.in editorial team. Official provider pages reviewed on . This comparison reviews published terms; it is not a benchmark or a promise of account approval.
Which free AI API should you start with?
Gemini offers free token usage on eligible models, Groq has account and model limits, and OpenRouter offers free model variants with a request cap. Choose the provider whose constraints fit your app. A short chatbot prototype and a long-document summarizer can hit very different limits even with the same number of users.
If you searched for free AI tokens, first decide whether you need recurring API access, a temporary credit grant or a student subscription. Those benefits are not interchangeable. This page compares API access; AI offers and student discounts are listed separately.
Free AI API comparison
| Provider | What is free | Limits to check |
|---|---|---|
| Google Gemini API | Free input and output tokens on eligible models and projects. | Model and project limits vary. Some models have no free tier; check AI Studio for your project quota. |
| Groq API | Free-plan inference subject to the limits shown for your account and model. | Request and token ceilings are separate. Limits apply to an organization, so another API key does not create a new allowance. |
| OpenRouter free models | Model variants ending in :free have zero model pricing without a credit purchase. | The documented base cap is 20 requests per minute and 50 per day for free variants. Failed attempts count toward the daily limit. |
Limits can change and may differ by account. A published free tier is an entry point for evaluation; check the provider console before relying on it for a production workload.
Google Gemini API: what to check before using it
Free-tier content can be used to improve Google products under the applicable terms. Check data-use and regional eligibility before sending data.
Read Google Gemini API official terms and limits · View the Google Gemini API offer details
Groq API: what to check before using it
Check the selected model and the current console limits before estimating a daily budget. Handle rate-limit responses in your app.
Read Groq API official terms and limits · View the Groq API offer details
OpenRouter free models: what to check before using it
The free model selection changes. Other zero-price models can still require a funded account; use the exact model variant and check its terms.
Free tokens, free API keys and credits mean different things
- Tokens
- The units a model processes in your input and its output. A long prompt can consume a large allowance before the answer is generated. Google’s token-counting guide explains how to measure a request.
- API keys
- Credentials for your account. Creating a key does not automatically include free usage. Keep keys out of browser code, screenshots and public repositories.
- Credits
- A spending allowance subject to provider prices and expiry terms. A cloud credit may cover infrastructure and still require separate billing or eligibility for a particular model service.
For example, a model can permit a number of calls each day and also enforce a token ceiling each minute. Short requests may exhaust the call count first; long conversations may hit the token ceiling sooner. Estimate both before selecting a plan.
How to get your own free AI API key
- Open the provider’s official pricing and account pages from the comparison above.
- Check eligibility, available free models, billing status and data-use terms. Confirm whether a payment method is needed.
- Create a private API key in your own provider account. AIOffers does not issue or share provider keys.
- Make a small test request to a model that is explicitly included in the free tier.
- Check usage in the provider console and set a small output limit while prototyping. Keep your key on a server or in an environment variable.
- Handle rate-limit responses without rapid retries. Upgrade only after checking how billing and allowances change.
Compare an allowance against your actual workload
Write down the number of requests you expect, the size of a typical prompt, and how much output each request needs. Test a short example and a realistic long example. This is more useful than comparing a headline number of “free tokens” across providers with different models and accounting rules.
For an app used by other people, also check what happens when the quota is exhausted. Decide whether the app should pause, show an explanation or use a paid fallback. Free access can be a good way to learn; it should not conceal an unexpected bill or a service dependency from your users.
Free AI API questions
Where can I get free AI tokens?
Use a provider account with an eligible free API tier or a free model variant. Gemini, Groq and OpenRouter have documented options with limits. The allowance belongs to that account or project; it is not an unlimited balance that AIOffers distributes.
Is a free API key the same as free API usage?
No. An API key authenticates a request. The account plan, selected model and remaining quota determine whether the request is free. Create your own key on the provider website and keep it private.
What is the difference between tokens, requests and API credits?
Tokens measure model input and output. A request is one API call. Credits are a billing allowance that can be spent according to provider pricing. A daily request cap, a token quota and a currency credit balance are different limits.
Are free AI APIs unlimited?
The options compared here have usage restrictions. Check both request and token limits, model availability, data-use terms and the billing state of your account. A free model does not imply an unlimited or guaranteed service.
Do I need a credit card for a free AI API?
This depends on the provider, model and account. OpenRouter states that its :free variants do not require a credit purchase. Check other providers’ signup and billing screens before adding a payment method; paid upgrades can change how requests are charged.
Can students use these free API tiers?
General API free tiers and student programs are different routes. Provider account and regional requirements still apply. Student benefits may require institution verification and may provide an app subscription or cloud credits rather than API tokens.
Related AI offers and developer benefits
- Gemini API free tier: eligible models and terms
- Groq free API plan and current limits
- AI tools, software offers and student discounts
- GitHub Student Developer Pack benefits
- Cloud hosting and infrastructure credits
Find an outdated term? Send a correction with an official source. See how we verify offers before deciding whether a benefit fits your account.