Does Activating the Paid Tier in Gemini API Billing Remove Free Usage Limits?

Understanding Billing for the Gemini API: Free Usage vs. Paid Tier

As I delve into the intricacies of the Gemini API, I’m contemplating the necessity of enabling the billing feature. With the recent updates, users on the free tier will no longer have access to pro models, which raises a few important questions regarding usage costs.

Key Inquiry: How Does the Paid Tier Affect Free Usage?

The crux of my concern lies in whether enabling billing for the Gemini API retains any free usage allowance. Specifically, does signing up for the paid tier mean that users will still benefit from a free tier rate limit? Or, conversely, does it imply that all actions become billable once billing is activated?

These considerations are crucial for anyone looking to utilize the Gemini API efficiently while managing costs. Understanding the balance between free and paid services will help users make informed decisions about their API usage and budgeting strategies.

If you have insights on how the Gemini API billing works or experiences to share, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!