Gemma 4 API
Access Gemma 4 through hosted APIs - no infrastructure to manage
Use Gemma 4 models through Google AI Studio, Gemini API, Vertex AI, or OpenRouter. Instant access, free tiers available, and production-ready scaling without managing GPUs or model weights.
API providers
Multiple paths to Gemma 4 API access
Choose the API provider that fits your needs. From free prototyping to enterprise-scale production.
API Providers
Hosted access to all Gemma 4 models
Google AI Studio offers free access for prototyping. Vertex AI provides enterprise-grade deployment. OpenRouter and other providers offer pay-per-token access with OpenAI-compatible endpoints.
All providers support the instruction-tuned variants. Some also offer base models for fine-tuning via API.
Free tier available
Google AI Studio
Free API access for prototyping and development. Generous rate limits for getting started.
Gemini API compatible. Supports all Gemma 4 IT variants. Free tier with rate limits.
Enterprise
Vertex AI
Production-grade deployment on Google Cloud. SLA-backed, scalable, and secure.
Managed endpoints, auto-scaling, VPC support, and enterprise security features.
Pay per token
OpenRouter
OpenAI-compatible API. Drop-in replacement for existing integrations.
Simple pay-per-token pricing. Compatible with any OpenAI SDK or client library.
Full control
Self-hosted API
Run your own API with vLLM, TGI, or Ollama. Complete control over infrastructure.
OpenAI-compatible endpoints via vLLM or Ollama. Deploy on your own GPUs.
API features
What you can do with the Gemma 4 API
The Gemma 4 API supports text generation, multimodal input, function calling, and streaming responses.
Text generation
Chat completions, text generation, and instruction following. Supports system prompts, multi-turn conversations, and configurable thinking modes.
Multimodal input
Send images alongside text for visual understanding, document analysis, and chart comprehension. Variable resolution support.
Function calling
Native function calling for building agents. Define tool schemas, receive structured JSON calls, and build autonomous workflows.
Streaming
Server-sent events for real-time token streaming. Build responsive chat interfaces with instant feedback.
Batch processing
Process large volumes of requests efficiently. Ideal for data processing, content generation, and evaluation pipelines.
Fine-tuning API
Fine-tune Gemma 4 models via Vertex AI or locally. Customize for your specific domain and tasks.
Quick start
Your first API call in 30 seconds
Get an API key from Google AI Studio and make your first call with curl or any HTTP client.
Google AI Studio
- 1. Visit aistudio.google.com and sign in
- 2. Create an API key (free)
- 3. Use the Gemini API endpoint with your key
- 4. Model name: gemma-4-31b-it or gemma-4-26b-a4b-it
- 5. Compatible with OpenAI SDK (change base URL)
OpenRouter
- 1. Sign up at openrouter.ai
- 2. Add credits (pay per token)
- 3. Use OpenAI-compatible endpoint
- 4. Model: google/gemma-4-31b-it
- 5. Drop-in replacement for existing OpenAI code
API performance
Latency and throughput across providers
API performance varies by provider, model size, and request complexity. Here's what to expect.
Hosted APIs handle infrastructure scaling automatically. Choose based on your latency, throughput, and cost requirements.
Google AI Studio: Free tier with generous rate limits for prototyping
Vertex AI: Enterprise SLA with auto-scaling and low-latency endpoints
OpenRouter: Pay-per-token with OpenAI-compatible API
Self-hosted: Full control over latency and throughput
Provider comparison
API providers at a glance
Compare pricing, features, and compatibility across Gemma 4 API providers.
| Benchmark | AI Studio Free | Vertex AI Enterprise | OpenRouter Pay/token | Self-hosted DIY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Free tier Getting started | Yes | Trial credits | No | Your cost |
OpenAI compatible SDK compatibility | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes (vLLM) |
Function calling Tool use support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Multimodal Image input | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
SLA Uptime guarantee | No | 99.9% | No | Your SLA |
Best for Use case | Prototyping | Production | Integration | Full control |
Pricing and features as of April 2026. Check provider websites for current information.
Free Access
Start building with Gemma 4 API for free
Google AI Studio provides free API access to all Gemma 4 instruction-tuned models. No credit card required. Generous rate limits for prototyping and development.
- Free API key from Google AI Studio
- All Gemma 4 IT models available
- Generous rate limits for development
OpenAI Compatible
Drop-in replacement for existing OpenAI code
The Gemini API and OpenRouter both support OpenAI-compatible endpoints. Change the base URL and model name in your existing code - everything else stays the same.
- Same SDK, same format, different model
- Works with LangChain, LlamaIndex, and other frameworks
- Streaming, function calling, and multimodal all compatible
Enterprise Ready
Production deployment with Vertex AI
Vertex AI provides enterprise-grade Gemma 4 deployment with SLA guarantees, auto-scaling, VPC support, and compliance certifications. Deploy with confidence.
- 99.9% uptime SLA
- Auto-scaling based on demand
- VPC and private endpoint support
Get API access
Start using the Gemma 4 API
Choose your provider and get started in minutes.
Documentation
API references and guides
Complete documentation for integrating Gemma 4 APIs.
Self-hosted
Run your own API
Deploy Gemma 4 as an API on your own infrastructure.
API ecosystem
Build with Gemma 4 APIs
A growing ecosystem of tools and frameworks supports Gemma 4 API integration.
Get started
Start building with the Gemma 4 API today
Get a free API key from Google AI Studio, or try Gemma 4 through our chat interface first. No credit card required.