{"registry_version":"2026.1025.387","generated_at":"2026-10-25T06:27:00Z","content_sha256":"089d16f627d9365e3d0663cc8069203706d7cb23a76c332226e29686968811a5","signed":true,"signature":{"key_id":"ed25519:74ca19268e364242","algorithm":"ed25519","expires_at":"2026-11-24T06:27:09Z","expired":false,"manifest":"/registry/manifest.json"},"id":"google/gemini-api","name":"Gemini API (Google AI Studio)","vendor":"Google","status":"researched","last_verified":null,"last_researched":"2026-10-25","summary":"Google's Gemini models through the Gemini API, with keys made in Google AI Studio. Every key lives in a Google Cloud project; the free tier works without billing, the paid tier needs a linked Cloud Billing account and prepaid credit.","account_model":{"summary":"Sign in to Google AI Studio with a Google Account. Each API key belongs to a Google Cloud project; new users get a default project and key after accepting the terms. Free tier runs without billing. Paid tier is set per project by linking a Cloud Billing account (google/cloud-billing); spend caps apply at billing account level.","accounts":[{"name":"Google Account","kind":"personal","owned_by":"the person (must be 18 or over)","required":true},{"name":"Cloud project","kind":"project","parent":"Google Account","required":true,"note":"Created automatically for new users, or imported into AI Studio from Cloud console."},{"name":"Cloud Billing account","kind":"billing","parent":"Google Account","required":false,"note":"Needed for the paid tier, and in practice for any app offered to EEA, Swiss or UK users."}],"notes":["Workspace users may need their admin to allow AI Studio [to verify for your domain].","Once a project has an active billing account, AI Studio use under that account counts as a Paid Service for data-use terms."]},"prerequisites":[{"entry":"google/cloud-billing","note":"Only for the paid tier (and required for apps serving EEA/CH/UK users)."}],"identity_requires":[],"have_ready":[{"kind":"payment_card","description":"Payment method for a Cloud Billing account and at least $5 of prepaid credit (paid tier only).","why":null,"needed_for":["billing"],"auto_check":"none","source_url":"https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/billing"},{"kind":"other","description":"Confirmation you are 18 or over and that your app is not aimed at under-18s.","why":"The Gemini API terms require both.","needed_for":["accept-terms"],"auto_check":"none","source_url":"https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/terms"}],"steps":[{"id":"accept-terms","title":"Sign in to Google AI Studio and accept the terms","summary":"Sign in with the Google Account that should own the project and accept the Gemini API terms. New users get a default project and key.","route":"guided","gate":"human_terms","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You accept the terms","depends_on":[],"optional":false,"url":"https://aistudio.google.com/","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"import-project","title":"Import an existing Cloud project (optional)","summary":"To use an existing project, open Projects in AI Studio, choose Import projects and select it. You need Editor-level IAM permissions on it.","route":"guided","gate":"none","human_only":false,"gate_label":null,"depends_on":["accept-terms"],"optional":true,"url":"https://aistudio.google.com/projects","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"create-key","title":"Create an API key","summary":"On the API Keys page create a key in the chosen project. Keys created since 28 May 2026 are auth keys, bound to a service account and limited to the Gemini API by default.","route":"guided","gate":"none","human_only":false,"gate_label":null,"depends_on":["accept-terms"],"optional":false,"url":"https://aistudio.google.com/apikey","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":"GEMINI_API_KEY"},{"id":"billing","title":"Upgrade the project to the paid tier","summary":"On API Keys or Projects, choose Set up billing for the project, link a Cloud Billing account and prepay at least $5. New users default to prepay; requests fail with 402 when the balance reaches zero.","route":"guided","gate":"human_payment","human_only":true,"gate_label":"You add payment details","depends_on":["create-key"],"optional":true,"url":"https://aistudio.google.com/projects","lead_time":{"official":{"text":"Tier upgrades usually show within 10 minutes of a successful payment; bank transfers can take several days to clear.","source_url":"https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/billing","source_title":"Gemini API billing"},"reported":null,"typical_minutes":null},"preflight":[],"captures":null},{"id":"restrict-and-alert","title":"Restrict the key and set alerts","summary":"Optionally add IP restrictions, keep the key server-side (use a backend proxy for web/mobile), store it in a secret manager and set billing alerts.","route":"guided","gate":"none","human_only":false,"gate_label":null,"depends_on":["create-key"],"optional":true,"url":"https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials","lead_time":null,"preflight":[],"captures":null}],"gates":[{"step":"accept-terms","gate":"human_terms","label":"You accept the terms"},{"step":"billing","gate":"human_payment","label":"You add payment details"}],"lead_times":[{"step":"billing","what":"Upgrade the project to the paid tier","official":{"text":"Tier upgrades usually show within 10 minutes of a successful payment; bank transfers can take several days to clear.","source_url":"https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/billing","source_title":"Gemini API billing"},"reported":null}],"outputs":[{"name":"GEMINI_API_KEY","description":"Gemini API key. Client libraries also read GOOGLE_API_KEY, which takes precedence if both are set.","secret":true,"example_format":"AIza… [to verify: auth key prefix]","environments":null}],"renewals":[],"estimated_minutes":null,"guide_url":"https://verapli.com/guides/google/gemini-api"}