Exa rate limits, context window & usage caps (2026)
Exa search API rate limits and usage credits. Monthly searches, highlights and neural search credits by plan.
Exa usage limits by plan
| Api Calls | 1000 calls/month | Free tier for dev use |
| Results | 10 results/query | |
| Content | Not available | No full content retrieval |
| Rate Limit | 5 req/sec |
| Api Calls | Unlimited | $0.01–$0.25 per call |
| Results | 25 results/query | |
| Content | Included | Full page content retrieval |
| Rate Limit | 60 req/sec |
| Api Calls | Unlimited | High volume included |
| Results | 25 results/query | |
| Content | Included | |
| Rate Limit | 200 req/sec |
What happens when you hit Exa's limits?
Check the reset window - most limits refresh within 1–60 minutes
Reload or try again after the reset window passes
If you hit limits regularly, upgrade your plan to increase caps
Exa limit reset schedule
⚡
Per minute
API RPM limits - reset every 60 seconds
🕐
Per hour
Short rolling windows for message quotas
⏱
Per 5 hours
Common for consumer plan message limits
📅
Per day / month
Image gen credits and file storage caps
Exact reset period per limit type is shown in the "Notes" column of the plan table above. Exa uses rolling-window resets - quotas refresh continuously, not at a fixed midnight cutoff.
More Exa intelligence
Live status →
Check if rate limit errors are due to an active outage
Pricing →
Compare Exa plan costs and API token pricing
Free tier →
Compare free limits across all AI tools
Limits sourced from Exa's official documentation. Updated when plan changes are announced.
Exa limits - frequently asked questions
What is the Exa message limit?
Exa message limits vary by plan - see the full breakdown by tier in the table above.
Does Exa have a file upload limit?
Yes, Exa enforces file upload limits that vary by plan. See the detailed breakdown above.
When do Exa limits reset?
Reset periods vary by limit type - many Exa limits reset on a rolling window (e.g., per 5 hours or per 24 hours). Check the notes column in the table above for specific reset schedules.
What happens when you hit Exa's rate limit?
Exa will temporarily block new requests when you exceed your plan's limits. You may see an in-app message or receive an HTTP 429 response. Wait for the reset window to pass or upgrade your plan.