Is Kimi K2.5 free?
Yes, for limited use through Kimi’s web or mobile app, according to Moonshot. That does not mean API calls are free: the Kimi API is billed separately, based on input and output tokens. (kimi.com)
Free access depends on the route
- Kimi web and app: Moonshot’s Kimi K2.5 page says limited free use is available, with paid plans for higher usage and advanced features. The page does not specify the free quota or confirm US-specific eligibility. Check Kimi K2.5 access.
- Moonshot API: The official help center documents a one-time ¥15 API voucher for new users who register with a mainland China mobile number. It expires three months after issuance, applies automatically to API usage, and API calls draw on a top-up balance after the voucher is used. The published eligibility does not include US-number registration; it does not establish that US users receive free API credits. (
kimi.com) - Local or third-party access: These are separate routes with their own costs and terms. A model download, a subscription bundle, or another provider’s free offer does not establish free Moonshot API use.
Kimi K2.5 API pricing: what is confirmed
Moonshot’s API billing guide says requests are charged separately for input and output tokens, with 1M equal to 1,000,000 tokens. It also says prices vary by model and feature; web search is listed as an additional ¥0.03 per call, and cached context can have a discounted rate. (kimi.com)
However, the official pricing information retrieved for this article does not provide a current Kimi K2.5-specific international rate card. So a reliable Moonshot-direct estimate cannot be calculated here: the current K2.5 input and output prices, applicable cache or modality rates, and any international credit or quota terms remain unconfirmed. The official Kimi API pricing guide links to the model pricing table; check those and the terms displayed in your platform account before budgeting.
In a February 4, 2026 forum announcement, Moonshot said Kimi K2.5 was available through its API and that input prices were cut by 50% compared with the previous K2 Turbo API. That is a dated comparison, not an exact current rate or confirmation of free API access.
A third-party article claims an approximately 1.5-million-token daily free API allowance in some regions, subject to change. Moonshot’s retrieved official terms do not confirm that quota, so do not rely on it for a budget. Read the third-party claim.
What production users should verify
Before estimating production spend, confirm in the account and pricing table for the exact provider and model:
- The Kimi K2.5 model identifier and current input and output rates, with currency and billing units.
- Whether credits or a free quota apply to your account and region, including eligibility, expiry, and what happens when the balance runs out.
- Any cache or feature-specific charges that apply to your requests.
- Account eligibility, rate limits, and other usage constraints that matter to your workload.
Bottom line: You can try Kimi K2.5 for limited use through Kimi’s web or app. The official API help center documents a ¥15 voucher for eligible new users with mainland China mobile numbers, not a general US free API quota. Current K2.5-specific international API rates were not confirmed in the retrieved official pricing materials; check the official pricing table and your account terms before committing to a production budget.
Sources
Kimi API Pricing and Billing Guide — Kimi Help Center
Model Inference Pricing — Kimi API Platform
Kimi API Free Trial Credit Guide — Kimi Help Center