Tokens vs Google Gemini API
Google's Gemini API has a free tier, Batch at half price and Search grounding. Tokens serves Gemini Flash in OpenAI and Anthropic formats, billed in BDT.
The Gemini API from Google AI Studio starts with a free tier, where content is used to improve Google's products, then moves to a paid tier that Google describes as prepaid, then pay-as-you-go. Gemini 3.8 Flash and 3.7 Flash cost $0.75 / $3.75 per million tokens through 31 December 2026 and $1.50 / $7.50 from 1 January 2027; the Batch API halves those rates. Google also offers grounding with Search and Maps and wide multimodal input. Tokens serves Gemini Flash through its OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible endpoints rather than Google's native format, so code written for Google's SDK needs an OpenAI-compatible client. The case for Tokens is paying in BDT and running Gemini beside Claude, GPT and open models with one key and per-key caps. For free-tier experiments, batch jobs or Google-only features, go direct.
Tokens
- Pricing model
- Prepaid plan or USD wallet, paid in BDT; per-model prices in USD and BDT on /models
- Payment methods
- Invoice via billing portal
- Currencies
- USD and BDT
- Model prices
- Live in the model catalog, in BDT and USD
Google Gemini API
- Pricing model
- Free tier, then prepaid pay-as-you-go in USD; Batch 50% off; Gemini 3.8 and 3.7 Flash rates double on 1 Jan 2027
- Payment methods
- Paid tier: prepaid, then pay-as-you-go in USD, Free tier (no payment; content used to improve Google products)
- Prices checked
- 3 Oct 2026, paid tier
- Gemini 3.7 Flash, to 31 Dec 2026 (per 1M tokens, in / out)
- $0.75 / $3.75
- Gemini 3.8 Flash, to 31 Dec 2026 (per 1M tokens, in / out)
- $0.75 / $3.75
- Gemini 3.8 Flash, from 1 Jan 2027 (per 1M tokens, in / out)
- $1.50 / $7.50
- Gemini 3.8 Flash cached input, to 31 Dec 2026 (per 1M tokens)
- $0.075
- Gemini 3.8 Flash Batch, to 31 Dec 2026 (per 1M tokens, in / out)
- $0.375 / $1.875
Side by side
A tick marks the better option for that row. Some rows go to the other side.
| Topic | Tokens | Google Gemini API |
|---|---|---|
| Free usage | Usage needs a plan or wallet balance | Free tier for Gemini 3.8 and 3.7 Flash (content used to improve Google's products) |
| Price | Set per model by Tokens; see /models | Google's list price, with Batch at 50% off |
| API format | OpenAI-compatible (https://tokens.bd/v1) and Anthropic-compatible (https://tokens.bd) | Google's native Gemini API and SDKs |
| Grounding and tools | Not offered | Grounding with Google Search and Maps (5,000 free requests a month, then $14 per 1,000) |
| Paying from Bangladesh | BDT invoice through the billing portal | USD billing. Bangladesh Bank FE Circular 26 (2019) limits international-card online payments to USD 300 per transaction |
| Providers on one key | Gemini plus Claude, GPT, Grok, DeepSeek, Kimi, GLM, Qwen and others | Google models only |
| Network path | One extra gateway hop | Direct to the model maker |
Choose Tokens when
- Pay a BDT invoice for paid Gemini usage instead of a USD card.
- Call Gemini with the OpenAI SDK or from Anthropic-format tools such as Claude Code, using the same key as your other models.
- Per-key monthly spend caps and model allow-lists, with usage alerts.
- Gemini usage shows up in the same receipts, usage history and support desk as your other models.
Choose Google Gemini API when
- No free tier; Google's free tier is the cheaper place to experiment.
- No Batch discount, Search or Maps grounding, or Google's native API format.
- Adds a gateway hop and one more party in the data path (Tokens does not store prompt or response content).
Switch your client
Point the client at Tokens and swap the key. Your code and agent setup stay the same.
bash
# Before: Google GenAI SDK with GEMINI_API_KEY (native generateContent format)
# After: any OpenAI-compatible client pointed at Tokens
export TOKENS_API_KEY=tok_live_your_key
# Find the exact Gemini ids your key can call
curl -s https://tokens.bd/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKENS_API_KEY" | grep -i gemini
curl https://tokens.bd/v1/chat/completions \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKENS_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"model":"google/gemini-3.8-flash","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Hello"}]}'Other comparisons
- Tokens vsAlibaba Cloud Qwen API (Model Studio)Alibaba Model Studio sets Qwen's list prices, with regional rates and input-length tiers. Tokens bills Qwen in BDT beside other providers.
- Tokens vsAnthropic API (Claude)Anthropic's API has Claude at list price, a half-price Batch API and first-party tools. Tokens puts Claude next to other providers on one BDT-billed key.
- Tokens vsCommand CodeCommand Code is a coding agent sold with credit plans from $1/month. Tokens is a gateway, paid in BDT, for the agents you already use.
- Tokens vsDeepSeek APIDeepSeek's own API sets the list price for its models and halves it off-peak. Tokens adds BDT billing and other providers on the same key.
- Tokens vsMoonshot Kimi APIMoonshot sells Kimi K3 and K2.x at flat prices in OpenAI and Anthropic formats. Tokens adds BDT billing and other providers on the same key.
- Tokens vsOpenAI APIOpenAI's API has GPT at list price with Batch and Flex at half price. Tokens puts GPT beside Claude, Gemini and open models on one key billed in BDT.
- Tokens vsOpenCode ZenZen sells tested coding models at cost plus card fees, and OpenCode Go adds $10 and $40 plans. Tokens bills in BDT with one base URL per API format.
- Tokens vsOpenRouterOpenRouter has the larger catalog, free models and fine routing controls. Tokens lets you pay in BDT and sets spend caps and model lists per key.
- Tokens vsZ.ai GLM APIZ.ai sells GLM-5.3 and GLM-5.3 Flash at flat list prices, plus a GLM Coding Plan from $18/month. Tokens bills GLM in BDT beside other providers.