Kimi API Free Access — Is Kimi API Free in 2026
Quick Answer
Yes, kimi api is free to start. Moonshot AI provides free tier credits for new accounts, and nvidia kimi 2.5 api free access is available through Nvidia's API Catalog with no credit card required. The free kimi api includes access to both K2 and K2.5 models with limited monthly tokens.
Is Kimi API Free
The kimi free api question has a clear answer: yes, kimi api offers genuine free access through two separate channels. Developers can start building with Kimi's language models without spending a single dollar, making it one of the most accessible AI APIs available in 2026.
Moonshot Platform Free Tier
Moonshot AI's platform provides free starter credits automatically when you create an account:
- Free token credits upon registration
- Access to all models: K2, K2.5, K2 Instruct, and thinking variants
- Rate limited to approximately 3 requests per minute
- Daily token consumption caps
- No credit card required for initial sign-up
Nvidia Free API Access for Kimi K2.5
Nvidia kimi 2.5 api free access is available through Nvidia's API Catalog (NIM). This is one of the easiest ways to use kimi k2.5 free api without any cost:
- Completely free — no credit card required
- Access to Kimi K2.5 (flagship model)
- Generous rate limits for development and testing
- Same OpenAI-compatible API format
- Nvidia developer account required (free to create)
Free vs Paid Kimi API Comparison
| Feature | Free Tier (Moonshot) | Free (Nvidia NIM) | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | Pay-per-token |
| Models | All (K2, K2.5) | K2.5 only | All models |
| Rate Limit | ~3 RPM | Moderate | High (scales) |
| Daily Limit | Limited tokens | Limited tokens | No limit |
| Credit Card | Not required | Not required | Required |
| Best For | Development | Testing K2.5 | Production |
How to Get Free Kimi API Access
Follow these steps to start using kimi api for free today:
- Option A (Moonshot): Visit platform.moonshot.cn → Create account → Generate API key → Start calling
- Option B (Nvidia): Visit developer.nvidia.com → Search "Kimi K2.5" → Sign up for free → Get API key
For detailed key setup instructions, see our API Key Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kimi API
Is Kimi API completely free?
Kimi API offers a free tier with limited tokens per month. Nvidia provides additional free access to K2.5 with no credit card required. For unlimited usage, paid plans start at $0.14 per million input tokens for K2.
How do I get free Kimi K2.5 API access through Nvidia?
Visit developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-nim, search for Kimi K2.5, and sign up for a free Nvidia developer account. No credit card is required. You'll receive an API key for free access with generous rate limits.
What are the free tier limits?
Moonshot's free tier provides starter credits upon registration with limited requests per minute and daily token caps. Nvidia NIM provides a separate free allocation. Exact limits may change — check each platform for current quotas.
Can I use Kimi free API for production?
Free tier is designed for development and testing. For production workloads with higher rate limits and guaranteed availability, upgrade to a paid plan. Nvidia NIM free access may have rate limits unsuitable for high-traffic production use.
Do I need a credit card for Kimi free API?
No credit card is required for Nvidia NIM free access. Moonshot's platform may require payment information for account verification but will not charge until you exceed free tier limits.
Summary
Kimi api offers genuine free access through both Moonshot's platform and Nvidia's API Catalog, making it one of the most accessible AI APIs for developers. Start free today and upgrade to paid plans only when your usage grows. See our complete pricing guide for paid tier details.