EEA, Swiss and UK users need the paid tier
You may use only Paid Services when making apps available to users in the EEA, Switzerland or the UK. [3]
Guides · ai · Verification-gated
Gemini API (Google AI Studio)
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.
Researched · not yet run liveLast researched 25 October 2026 · Google · provider site
Researched, not yet run live. Built from the provider’s official pages (linked below). A person hasn’t walked this flow end to end yet, so check each step against the source.
Who owns what
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.
- Google Account personal owned by the person (must be 18 or over)
- Cloud project project · under Google AccountCreated automatically for new users, or imported into AI Studio from Cloud console.
- Cloud Billing account billingoptional · under Google AccountNeeded for the paid tier, and in practice for any app offered to EEA, Swiss or UK users.
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.
Have ready
- google/cloud-billing: Only for the paid tier (and required for apps serving EEA/CH/UK users).
- Payment method for a Cloud Billing account and at least $5 of prepaid credit (paid tier only). [2]Needed for: Upgrade the project to the paid tier
- Confirmation you are 18 or over and that your app is not aimed at under-18s. · The Gemini API terms require both. [3]Needed for: Sign in to Google AI Studio and accept the terms
Steps
Steps marked “human step” are ones only you can do: verapli never signs in, submits, pays or accepts terms for you.
Sign in to Google AI Studio and accept the terms
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.
Where: https://aistudio.google.com/
Import an existing Cloud project (optional)optional
To use an existing project, open Projects in AI Studio, choose Import projects and select it. You need Editor-level IAM permissions on it.
If something goes wrong (1)
- The Create API key button is greyed out.: Your Google Account lacks IAM permissions on the project (for example Project Editor); ask the project owner or use a project you own. [1]
Where: https://aistudio.google.com/projects
Create an API key
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.
verapli captures
GEMINI_API_KEYhere by plain code: encrypted in your browser, never shown to AI.If something goes wrong (2)
- Requests fail because the key is unrestricted or shows a Blocked tag.: The Gemini API rejects unrestricted standard keys; create a new key (auth key) or restrict the key to the Generative Language API. [1]
- 403 "Your API key was reported as leaked.": Generate a new key, deploy it, disable the old one and audit usage. Never put the key in client-side code or a public repo. [5]
Where: https://aistudio.google.com/apikey
Upgrade the project to the paid tieroptional
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.
- The provider says
- Tier upgrades usually show within 10 minutes of a successful payment; bank transfers can take several days to clear. [2]
If something goes wrong (5)
- Free tier error even after making a new key.: Free tier limits are per project; a new key in the same project does not help. Link an active billing account to upgrade. [5]
- HTTP 402 errors.: Prepay credit is used up; add credits (do not retry automatically). [5]
- 403 project denied or unpaid balance.: Pay any past-due balance in the billing console; access returns automatically. [5]
- Service paused for all projects mid-month.: The billing account hit its tier spend cap ($250 at Tier 1); it resets on the 1st, or qualify for a higher tier ($100 paid + 3 days for Tier 2). [2]
- Expected the $300 Cloud Free Trial to pay for Gemini.: The Cloud welcome credit cannot be used for the Gemini API or AI Studio; buy prepaid credit. [6]
Where: https://aistudio.google.com/projects
Restrict the key and set alertsoptional
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.
Where: https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials
Terms and gotchas
Plain-English summary, not legal advice. Each card links its source.
Free tier data is used to improve Google products
On unpaid services (AI Studio, unpaid API quota) Google uses prompts and responses to improve its products and human reviewers may read them. Do not send sensitive, confidential or personal data. If you are in the EEA, Switzerland or UK, the paid-tier data terms apply even to free use. [3]
Adults only, no under-18 audiences
You must be 18 or over, and may not use the API in a service directed at or likely to be used by under-18s. [3]
Banned uses
No building competing models, no reverse engineering or extracting models, no bypassing safety filters, no clinical practice or medical advice, and you must follow the Prohibited Use Policy. Agents must not bypass human-confirmation requests. [3]
Grounding results cannot be stored
Grounding with Google Search results and suggestions may not be cached, resold, analysed, trained on or used to build an index. [3]
Price changes take effect in 30 days
Google may change pricing effective 30 days after posting; continued use is consent. [3]
Old public keys can reach Gemini
Researchers reported (Feb 2026) that public Google API keys, such as Maps keys in web pages, could call Gemini and run up charges once the Gemini API was enabled in the same project. Use a dedicated project for Gemini. [7]
What you end up with
| Env var | Secret | Format | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
GEMINI_API_KEY | secret | AIza… [to verify: auth key prefix] | Gemini API key. Client libraries also read GOOGLE_API_KEY, which takes precedence if both are set. |
Pricing
- Free tier: Free tier with rate limits per project, no billing needed (content may be used to improve products outside EEA/CH/UK).
- Costs: Paid tier billed through Cloud Billing; minimum $5 prepay. Tier spend caps: Tier 1 $250, Tier 2 $2,000 (after $100 paid + 3 days), Tier 3 $20,000 to $100,000+ (after $1,000 paid + 30 days). Per-model token prices on the pricing page.
Source [2]
For agents
The same entry as JSON: /api/v1/entries/google/gemini-api · requirements /api/v1/requirements/google/gemini-api · terms /api/v1/terms/google/gemini-api.
Remote MCP (read-only, no auth)
claude mcp add --transport http verapli https://verapli.com/mcp
> "What do I need for Gemini API (Google AI Studio), and how long will it take?"
→ tools/call requirements { "provider_id": "google/gemini-api" }Sources
- Using Gemini API keys Keys created on AI Studio API Keys page; every key belongs to a Cloud project; default project for new users; import existing projects; Project Editor-level IAM needed; GEMINI_API_KEY / GOOGLE_API_KEY (GOOGLE_API_KEY wins); auth keys default since 28 May 2026; unrestricted standard keys rejected; dormant unrestricted keys blocked since 7 May 2026; security advice; limits on projects/keys shown. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- Gemini API billing Set up billing from AI Studio; minimum $5 prepay; tiers and spend caps ($250 / $2,000 / $20,000+); tier qualification; prepay 402 at zero balance; tier upgrades within about 10 minutes; Cloud trial credit not usable. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- Gemini API Additional Terms of Service (effective 23 March 2026) 18+ only; not for under-18 audiences; professional/business use; available regions; Paid Services only for apps offered to EEA/Switzerland/UK users; unpaid content used to improve products with human review; EEA/CH/UK get paid-tier data terms; no competing models; Prohibited Use Policy; no bypassing safety; no clinical use; grounding restrictions. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- Available regions for Google AI Studio and Gemini API UK, Switzerland, all EU and EEA countries are listed as available. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- Gemini API troubleshooting guide 403 project denied / unpaid balance / leaked key; 429 backoff; 402 depleted prepay; free tier restriction fixed by linking billing. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- Google Cloud Free Program The $300 Cloud Free Trial credit cannot pay for Gemini API in AI Studio. · accessed 25 October 2026 · official
- BleepingComputer: Previously harmless Google API keys now expose Gemini AI data Researchers reported public Google API keys (e.g. Maps) gaining Gemini access when the API was enabled in the same project; charges and data exposure risk. · accessed 25 October 2026 · community
Provider rules change. This page is generated from verapli registry version 2026.1025.316; spotted something out of date? Tell us. Google is not affiliated with verapli.