Guides
Practical, original explainers on free LLM APIs. Quotas, prices and endpoints are taken from our provider list or official docs — we do not invent them.
Provider figures follow the tracker snapshot of 12 Nov 2026, 08:59 IST.
How to use free OpenAI-compatible APIs
Step-by-step guide to using free OpenAI-compatible LLM APIs in Python and JavaScript, including base URL setup, keys, and what this tracker will not invent.
Best free LLM APIs (current snapshot)
Current snapshot of the best-known free LLM API allowances, generated from this tracker’s data.json, including official providers and published tokens-per-day figures.
What is an OpenAI-compatible API?
Plain-language explanation of OpenAI-compatible APIs, what Yes, Partial and Not published mean on this tracker, and how base URLs and model ids work.
A free LLM API for beginners, step by step
Beginner walkthrough for using a free LLM API: pick a provider, create a key, set the OpenAI SDK base URL, send a first request, and read common errors.
How to keep API keys safe
Practical steps to store, use and revoke free LLM API keys, including environment variables, git mistakes, browser leaks and what to do after a key is exposed.
Relay and gateway risks for free LLM APIs
How unofficial LLM API relays and gateways work, what this tracker’s relay warning means, and how to reduce the risk of leaked prompts and keys.
Rate limits on free LLM APIs, explained
What RPM, RPD and tokens-per-day mean on free LLM APIs, how this tracker records limits, and how to handle 429 errors without inventing unpublished quotas.
Free LLM APIs for coding
How to use free OpenAI-compatible LLM APIs with coding assistants and scripts, including rate-limit caution, key safety and official versus relay providers.
Official LLM API providers vs gateways
How this tracker distinguishes official LLM API providers from gateways and relays, and how to choose between them using only published fields.
Groq free API — allowance, base URL and limits
Groq free LLM API snapshot from this tracker: published daily token allowance, request limits, OpenAI-compatible base URL, and how to call it in Python or JavaScript.
Gemini API free tier — compatibility, base URL and notes
Gemini API (Google AI Studio) free-tier snapshot from this tracker, including the OpenAI-compatible base URL, card requirement, and the note that free-tier prompts may be used to improve Google products.
Cloudflare Workers AI free allowance and compatible API
Cloudflare Workers AI snapshot from this tracker: 10,000 Neurons/day free allowance, OpenAI-compatible base URL with ACCOUNT_ID, and how to call it without inventing a token equivalent.
Cerebras API trial allowance and compatible base URL
Cerebras free-trial API snapshot from this tracker: 1,000,000 tokens/day during a $5 30-day trial, card required, OpenAI-compatible base URL, and how to call it in Python or JavaScript.
SambaNova Cloud free plan — published caps and card notes
SambaNova Cloud API snapshot from this tracker: 200,000 tokens/day per model (as of 3 Oct), 20 requests/day, card required, and the OpenAI-compatible base URL.
Mistral API free experiment tier and compatible endpoint
Mistral (La Plateforme) free-tier snapshot from this tracker, including the OpenAI-compatible base URL, what “Not published” means for limits and cards, and how to call the API in Python or JavaScript.