Quick answer
Perplexity API documents cumulative credit thresholds as Tier 1 at $50; Tier 5 at $5,000 cumulative credits. Once reached, tiers are retained and do not downgrade.
Verified Aug 22, 2026Official source
Current limits
| Constraint | Current value | Scope | Verified source |
|---|---|---|---|
| cumulative credit thresholdsOnce reached, tiers are retained and do not downgrade. | Tier 1 at $50; Tier 5 at $5,000 cumulative credits | API accounts | PerplexityAug 22, 2026 |
Why does this limit matter?
Tier qualification uses cumulative purchases rather than the current remaining balance.
This value is scoped to API accounts; a different plan, runtime, model, endpoint, region, or account can produce a different effective constraint.
What should you check?
- Use the API Platform console to confirm both total purchased credits and current tier.
- Confirm the exact plan, model, runtime, endpoint, region, and account that serve the failing workload.
- Record the observed value, response headers or configuration, timestamp, and source without logging secrets.
Important caveats
- Higher custom limits beyond Tier 5 require a separate request.
- Treat the official source and live account configuration as authoritative if they differ from this verified snapshot.
HyperObserve reports the documented platform constraint. Your application, SDK, gateway, provider, region, or account can impose a lower effective limit.
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