Gemini API defaulting to Free Tier despite being paid

Google AI Studio
,
1

I’m on a paid plan (Tier 3). Despite this my API request are going to a free tier and I’m getting a 429. This just started today.

I’m definitely using the same API key as in AI studio


2025-06-23 19:42:27,893 - root - ERROR - Failed to process exercise define_success: 429 RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED. {'error': {'code': 429, 'message': 'You exceeded your current quota, please check your plan and billing details. For more information on this error, head to: https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits.', 'status': 'RESOURCE_EXHAUSTED', 'details': [{'@type': 'type.googleapis.com/google.rpc.QuotaFailure', 'violations': [{'quotaMetric': 'generativelanguage.googleapis.com/generate_content_free_tier_requests', 'quotaId': 'GenerateRequestsPerDayPerProjectPerModel-FreeTier', 'quotaDimensions': {'model': 'gemini-2.5-pro', 'location': 'global'}}, {'quotaMetric': 'generativelanguage.googleapis.com/generate_content_free_tier_requests', 'quotaId': 'GenerateRequestsPerMinutePerProjectPerModel-FreeTier', 'quotaDimensions': {'model': 'gemini-2.5-pro', 'location': 'global'}}, {'quotaMetric': 'generativelanguage.googleapis.com/generate_content_free_tier_input_token_count', 'quotaId': 'GenerateContentInputTokensPerModelPerMinute-FreeTier', 'quotaDimensions': {'location': 'global', 'model': 'gemini-2.5-pro'}}, {'quotaMetric': 'generativelanguage.googleapis.com/generate_content_free_tier_input_token_count', 'quotaId': 'GenerateContentInputTokensPerModelPerDay-FreeTier', 'quotaDimensions': {'location': 'global', 'model': 'gemini-2.5-pro'}}]}, {'@type': 'type.googleapis.com/google.rpc.Help', 'links': [{'description': 'Learn more about Gemini API quotas', 'url': 'https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits'}]}, {'@type': 'type.googleapis.com/google.rpc.RetryInfo', 'retryDelay': '32s'}]}}
(socratify-nextjs-py3.12) adi@Adis-MBP-M2-Pro socratify-agent %

I can see the errors in cloud console and it’s linked to a billing accounts with a ton of credit and a credit card so I’m alarmed that this just started failing. It’s impacting production trafiic too…

Has anyone seen this before?

3

Hi @socratify,

Welcome to the Forum, The error message confirms that your API calls are being routed to the free tier, not your paid plan. Can you please double check the billing status and make sure you’re using the same API key as in AI Studio and that it’s associated with the correct project? If you are still experiencing the error, please DM me your Project ID to help us investigate further.

Thank you!

4

I’m having the exact same issue. Upgraded to a Tier 1 account and I’m getting 429 errors saying that I’ve exceeded my quota. The error indicates that the API requests are being routed as free tier requests. Will try to DM you the Project ID.

5

Thanks for responding!

It starting working again the next day (after ~12 hours). I didn’t make any changes so not sure what is different now. Everything is fine … but I’m a bit worried about production traffic if something similar happens again

7

Hi, I am getting the same exact problem as the original poster. I will DM you my project ID if you tell me how - I don’t see such an option in the UI.

9

im also having the same exact issue. I’ve been upgraded to tier 1 account and am getting 429 errors saying I’m on free tier and have exceeded the quota. Will try DM the project ID as well though not sure how to exactly..

11

Hi @Michael_Han @borisdan @JohnH,

I sent you a direct message. Can you please provide the full error message and the Project ID there?

Thank you!

12

i am getting the same error then i contact live chat, they are saying “Please note that this is an expected behaviour from the system.” :face_with_diagonal_mouth: