As of November 9, 2026, Google lists Gemini 3.8 Flash as a stable Gemini API model, with the model ID gemini-3.8-flash. For an application, use the Gemini Developer API and the generateContent method shown below. The Gemini app is another way to use Gemini, but its Help Center describes plan-dependent model tiers without confirming that an app tier corresponds to this specific API model. (ai.google.dev)
Choose an access route
| What you want to do | Where to start | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chat with Gemini | Open the Gemini app and sign in. | You must be signed in to manually switch app models. The available models depend on your plan and remaining usage; work or school accounts may depend on their Workspace license. The current help page does not establish that an app model label is the same generation as the API model gemini-3.8-flash. (support.google.com) |
| Try the API or build an application | Create or view a key in Google AI Studio, then follow the Python example below. | This is the Gemini Developer API route, not a Gemini app subscription. A Gemini API key is associated with a Google Cloud project. (ai.google.dev) |
| Use a Google Cloud route | Start with Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform documentation. | This is a separate setup path; the Developer API key and Python instructions below are not Cloud deployment instructions. Check that platform’s current setup and billing guidance. () |
Make a Gemini API request with Python
The example uses Google’s documented generateContent method, gemini-3.8-flash model ID, and response.text output. Google’s documentation notes that the Interactions API is in beta and recommends generateContent for stable production deployments. (ai.google.dev)
- Create or view a Gemini API key in Google AI Studio.
- In a terminal, set the key as an environment variable and install the SDK. Replace the placeholder with your key; do not publish or commit a real key.
export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
pip install -U google-genai
- Save this as
gemini_test.py:
from google import genai
client = genai.Client()
response = client.models.generate_content(
model="gemini-3.8-flash",
contents="Explain how rainbows form in two sentences.",
)
print(response.text)
- Run the script:
python gemini_test.py
The SDK reads the API key from the environment variable, sends the text prompt to the selected model, and exposes the generated text as response.text. (ai.google.dev)
Check access, billing, and limits
- API model: Google’s model page lists
gemini-3.8-flashas stable. Check the current model documentation before deploying, since model availability and status can change. (ai.google.dev) - API price and free quota: Check the Gemini API pricing page for the current price and applicable limits for your model and project. This guide does not state a Gemini 3.8 Flash API price or free quota because I could not confirm the current model-specific figures from the available official pricing information. Do not treat a Gemini app plan as API billing. (
ai.google.dev) - Gemini app: Sign in to switch between models that are available to your account. Availability depends on plan and remaining usage, and the Help Center does not confirm which app tier, if any, maps to the API’s
gemini-3.8-flashmodel ID. (support.google.com) - Google Cloud: Follow the Cloud platform’s own documentation for its setup and pricing; do not apply Developer API prices or credentials to a Cloud deployment without checking that route’s terms. ()
Sources
Text generation — generateContent API
About Gemini models — Gemini Apps Help