Google AI Studio

What it does

Google AI Studio takes prompts and, per Google, works with multimodal Gemini models, including a 1 million token context window. It produces model responses in the browser, and it issues Gemini API keys so the same models can be called from your own applications.

People use it to try prompts, browse a gallery of example prompts, and move from experimenting to integrating Gemini into apps. A Build mode lets eligible accounts publish up to two full-stack applications through the Google Cloud Starter Tier without setting up a Google Cloud project or billing account. A Dashboard shows API usage, and a Billing page manages credits and payment methods.

It suits developers and technical teams evaluating Gemini. You sign in with a Google account. New accounts start on a free tier limited to certain models and rate limits. Paid tiers require linking a billing account and prepaying at least $5, and unlock higher rate limits and advanced models. Prepaid credits expire after 12 months and are non-refundable. When the balance reaches $0, all API keys on that billing account stop working.

What it can do

• Prompt and test Gemini multimodal models in the browser
• Work with a 1 million token context window
• Create and manage Gemini API keys and projects
• Browse a prompt gallery of example prompts
• Build and publish up to 2 full-stack apps via Build mode on the Google Cloud Starter Tier
• Monitor API usage and manage billing from the AI Studio dashboard

Example workflows

Prototype a prompt, then call it from an app

Input: a task description and sample content. Steps: sign in, try prompts with a Gemini model, get an API key, and integrate the key in your app. Output: a working prompt and an authenticated API setup.

Upgrade a project to the paid tier

Input: a free-tier project and a payment method. Steps: open the API keys or Projects page, click Set up billing, link a billing account, and prepay at least $5. Output: a paid-tier project with higher rate limits.

Before you choose

• Free tier covers only certain models and has rate limits; free-tier data handling differs from paid, where prompts and responses are not used to improve Google products
• Prepay balance reaching $0 stops all API keys on that billing account with HTTP 402 errors
• Billing data can lag by about 10 minutes, so overages are possible

Listed under

• Coding
• Code review and testing
• AI models
• AI prototyping
• API keys
• Developers
• Developer tools

Get started

Free tier on new accounts; paid tier needs billing setup

1. Sign in to Google AI Studio with a Google account
2. Get a Gemini API key from the API keys page
3. Set up billing and prepay credits if you need paid-tier limits

New accounts start on a free tier with model-specific rate limits. Paid use is billed per Gemini API usage; model rates are on the Gemini API pricing page, not confirmed here. Prepay credits (min $5, max $5,000) expire after 12 months; Postpay is offered to some accounts.

Source: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/billing, checked 28 Oct 2026. Prices can change; check before you buy.

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 28 Oct 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• Google AI Studio | Gemini API  |  Google AI for Developers ↗ai.google.dev
• Billing  |  Gemini API  |  Google AI for Developers ↗ai.google.dev

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Last checked 28 Oct 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.