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How to Check Your Gemini CLI & API Usage
Gemini enforces both requests-per-minute and requests-per-day caps, with separate quotas per model. Here's how to track both live and stop hitting 429s mid-flow.
Last updated July 2026 · By Soren Starck
Quick answer
To check Gemini usage, open Google AI Studio for API-key usage, or Google Cloud Console for quota, billing, and logs on paid projects. Those official dashboards are the source of truth for account totals, but they are not a live coding HUD.
If you are using Gemini CLI on macOS and need to know whether you are about to hit RPM/RPD limits while coding, SessionWatcher for Gemini keeps live usage, token burn, and limit alerts in the menu bar.
Comparing tracker options first? See the best Gemini usage trackers for Mac for a side-by-side view of AI Studio, Cloud Console, Gemini CLI status, and always-on monitoring.
Understanding Gemini Usage Limits
Gemini limits are stricter than most LLM APIs because they cap on three axes: RPM (requests per minute), RPD (requests per day), and TPM (tokens per minute). Each model - Gemini 2.5 Pro, Flash, Flash-Lite - has its own caps.
On the free tier, Pro is the most restricted (5 RPM / 100 RPD). On Tier 1 (paid), caps jump to 360 RPM and 10,000 RPD. The 1M-token context window doesn't change rate caps - it just means a single request can be very expensive.
Method 1: Google AI Studio (Free Tier)
- Open aistudio.google.com
- Click Get API key in the sidebar
- Open the key's usage view to see RPM/RPD per model
Method 2: Google Cloud Console (Paid Tier)
- Go to console.cloud.google.com
- Open Quotas & System Limits → search “Generative Language”
- Review per-model RPM, RPD, and TPM
- For costs, open Billing → Reports
Both dashboards lag 5–60 minutes and don't alert you in real time. If your CLI session is hammering Gemini, you'll know only after you've already hit the cap.
Method 3: Real-Time Monitoring with SessionWatcher
SessionWatcher for Gemini is a native macOS menu bar app that tracks Gemini CLI activity live.
- RPM in last 60 seconds - see how close to throttle you are
- Daily request count vs RPD cap
- Token burn per model - Pro vs Flash vs Flash-Lite
- Cost estimate for paid tier - real-time spend
- macOS notifications at 80% and 95%
SessionWatcherStop chasing 429s.
Watch your RPM live.
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Free vs Tier 1 Limits (Approximate)
| Model | Free RPM / RPD | Tier 1 RPM / RPD |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | 5 / 100 | 150 / 1,000 |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | 10 / 250 | 1,000 / 10,000 |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | 15 / 1,000 | 4,000 / 30,000 |
Numbers shift as Google rebalances. Always cross-check against the official docs. The pattern stays: Pro is the tightest, Flash is in the middle, Flash-Lite is the most permissive.
SessionWatcher vs. Cloud Console
| Feature | SessionWatcher | AI Studio / Cloud Console |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time RPM | Yes | Lagged |
| Daily quota count | Live | Snapshot |
| 429 prevention | macOS notifications | None |
| Setup required | 10 seconds | Login each time |
| Workflow interruption | None (menu bar) | Switch to browser |
| Cost | $59 one-time (Pro) | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my Gemini usage?
Free tier in aistudio.google.com, paid tier in console.cloud.google.com. Both lag. SessionWatcher for Gemini shows live RPM/RPD/tokens in the macOS menu bar.
What are the Gemini free-tier limits?
Pro is the tightest (~5 RPM, 100 RPD). Flash and Flash-Lite are higher. Always check the docs - Google rebalances them.
Why does Gemini CLI sometimes 429?
You hit your RPM cap. Gemini returns 429 with retry-after. SessionWatcher tracks RPM in real time so you can pace before the cap.
Is there a Gemini monitor app for macOS?
Yes - SessionWatcher for Gemini. Part of Pro ($59 one-time), 10-second setup.