FreeLLMAPI is a free, open-source LLM API that routes across every provider with a real free tier. The Cohere models below are on the free tier of Cohere — reachable through one OpenAI-compatible key, with automatic failover when a provider hits its rate limit.
Free Cohere models (19)
| Model | Context | Free limits | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| command-a-plus-05-2026 | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools, vision |
| north-mini-code-1-0 | 256K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| command-a-reasoning-08-2025 | 256K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| command-a-03-2025 | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| command-a-vision-07-2025 | 128K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | vision |
| command-a-translate-08-2025 | 256K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| tiny-aya-global | 8K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| north-small-translate-09-2026 | 33K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| tiny-aya-earth | 8K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| tiny-aya-fire | 8K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| tiny-aya-water | 8K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| command-r-plus-08-2024 | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| command-r-08-2024 | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| c4ai-aya-expanse-32b | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
| c4ai-aya-vision-32b | 16K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | vision |
| command-r7b-12-2024 | 131K | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | tools |
| command-r7b-arabic-02-2025 | 128K | 1,000 calls/month · evaluation only | tools |
| cohere-transcribe-03-2026 | — | 20 rpm, 33 rpd | — |
How to use Cohere for free
- Install FreeLLMAPI — the open-source router (GitHub). It runs locally and keeps your keys on your machine.
- Add a free key for Cohere on the Keys page — no credit card required.
- Point your OpenAI client at the local endpoint and pick a model:
from openai import OpenAI
# FreeLLMAPI runs locally; grab your unified key + endpoint on the Keys page.
client = OpenAI(base_url="http://localhost:3001/v1", api_key="freellmapi-...")
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
model="command-a-reasoning-08-2025",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}],
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)
Use every one of these through one key. FreeLLMAPI is an open-source, self-hosted router that puts all these free tiers behind a single OpenAI-compatible endpoint and fails over when one is rate-limited. Browse the catalog or go live.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cohere API really free?
Yes — these Cohere models run on genuine provider free tiers (on the free tier of Cohere). Inference costs nothing; you only add a free provider key.
Do I need a credit card?
No. The providers here offer free tiers that work without a card. You add the free key once and FreeLLMAPI routes to it.
How do I call Cohere through FreeLLMAPI?
Install the open-source router, add the provider's free key on the Keys page, then point any OpenAI SDK at your local endpoint — see the code sample above.