Google (Gemini): Gemini API usage tiers revamped and Billing Account spend caps introduced.
Old Previous usage tiers (not stated)
New Revamped usage tiers (thresholds not stated in changelog); Billing Account spend caps
Why it matters: If you use Gemini API (usage tiers), this changes how much you can send before requests are limited. The source does not state a separate effective date.
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| Product | Gemini API (usage tiers) |
|---|---|
| Category | rate-limit |
| Announced / detected | 2026-03-16 Backfilled |
| Backfilled | Yes: added retroactively |
| Quote verified against | https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/changelog |
| Effective | not stated in source |
| Before | Previous usage tiers (not stated) |
| After | Revamped usage tiers (thresholds not stated in changelog); Billing Account spend caps |
| Official source | https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/changelog |
| Source quote | Introduced revamped Usage Tiers and Billing Account spend caps for a better user billing experience. |
| Archive | No post-change Wayback capture found |
| Snapshot hash | sha256:80043c5c36dc4a9df4d7040f179cdbe531e95a652783dcac061f922e83e7b763 |
| Status | verified |
All Google (Gemini) changes · Dispute or correct this entry
Previous changes from Google (Gemini)
- between 2026-06-23 and 2026-06-27 Backfilled: Spend-based rate limits per rolling 10-minute window added alongside RPM/TPM.
- between 2026-03-29 and 2026-04-03 Backfilled: Priority inference gets its own rate limits, defaulting to 0.3x the standard limit per model and tier.
- between 2026-03-21 and 2026-03-29 Backfilled: Usage tier qualification lowered for Tier 2 and re-based on first payment for Tier 3; billing tier caps listed.
- 2026-03-23 Backfilled: Prepay and Postpay billing plans rolled out in AI Studio; existing accounts may be affected.
- 2026-03-12 Backfilled: Project-level spend caps added to billing in AI Studio.
- between 2026-02-02 and 2026-02-03 Backfilled: Grounding with Google Search billing beyond the free allowance moved from 'Coming soon' to active for models listed with 1,500 free requests per day (models not identified in capture text).