What are the API rate limits?

Plain applies rate limits to activity from machine users using the Plain API. The default limit depends on your plan.

Rate limits apply to all activity using an API key. Activity from within the Plain app is exempt.

Rate limit headers

Every request made with an API key returns these response headers:

• x-ratelimit-limit: the limit for your workspace, for example 450.
• x-ratelimit-remaining: how many requests you have left, for example 0.
• x-ratelimit-reset: when the limit resets, for example 2026-01-06T15:30:00.000Z.

  You can calculate retry-after from the timestamp in the x-ratelimit-reset header.

What happens when you hit the limit

If you exceed the limit, Plain returns a 429 HTTP status code with this payload:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "Too Many Requests - Rate limit exceeded",
      "extensions": {
        "code": "RATE_LIMITED"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Your client can then use the headers above to work out when it can make the next request.