Getting Your Google Gemini API Key
Used for: Gemini image generation, including Batch API (50% cost saving on bulk jobs)
Cost: Free tier available (60 requests/minute, 1,000 requests/day). Paid tier starts low — see pricing below.
Sign-up required: Yes — Google account required. No credit card needed for the free tier.
Recommended starting point — Google Gemini is the most cost-effective option for most users, with a generous free tier and the lowest per-image cost at paid tiers.
Step 1 — Go to Google AI Studio
- Go to aistudio.google.com.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- If this is your first visit, accept the terms of service when prompted.
Step 2 — Create an API Key
- In the left sidebar, click Get API key.
- Click Create API key.
- Select a Google Cloud project to associate the key with. If you do not have one, click Create API key in new project — Google creates a project automatically.
- Your API key is generated and displayed. It begins with
AIza. - Copy the key now. You can retrieve it again later from the same screen if needed.
Step 3 — Add the Key to PF Create
- Go to your API Keys & Services page.
- Paste your
AIza…key into the Google Gemini API Key field. - Click Save.
PF Create will verify the key. You can now generate images using Gemini models and submit batch jobs at 50% of standard pricing.
Step 4 (Optional) — Enable Billing for Higher Limits
The free tier (1,000 requests/day) is sufficient for most casual use. If you need higher volume:
- Go to console.cloud.google.com.
- Select the project your API key is associated with.
- In the left menu, go to Billing and link a billing account.
- Once billing is enabled, rate limits increase substantially and pay-as-you-go pricing applies.
Pricing Reference
| Model | Input | Output / Image |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3 Flash | $0.50 / 1M tokens | ~$0.008 per image |
| Gemini 3.1 Pro | $2.00 / 1M tokens | ~$0.030 per image |
| Batch API (all models) | 50% of standard pricing | |
Prices are approximate. Check ai.google.dev/pricing for current rates.
Troubleshooting
Key shows as invalid — Confirm you are copying from AI Studio (aistudio.google.com), not from a different Google Cloud console page. The key begins with AIza.
Requests fail with “quota exceeded” — You have hit the free tier daily limit (1,000 requests). Either wait for the next day or enable billing in Google Cloud Console to increase limits.
Gemini image generation not available in your region — Gemini image generation is subject to Google’s regional availability. Check ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/available-regions for the current list of supported regions.
Rotating a key — In AI Studio, go to Get API key, delete the old key, and create a new one. Update it on your Services page.