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The SeamlessOS API implements generous rate limits designed to accommodate normal usage patterns while protecting against abusive calling patterns that could impact service quality.

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How It Works

Generous limits: Our rate limits are set well above typical integration needs, allowing you to build robust applications without worrying about hitting limits during normal operation. Fair usage: Rate limiting protects all users by preventing excessive requests that could degrade performance for everyone. We focus on identifying and limiting abusive patterns rather than restricting legitimate usage. Automatic reset: Rate limit windows reset automatically, so temporary spikes in usage won’t permanently impact your integration.

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When Limits Apply

Rate limits are applied per API key and are designed to catch:
  • Runaway scripts or infinite loops
  • Bulk operations without proper throttling
  • Unusually high request volumes that exceed normal business patterns

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Rate Limit Exceeded

When limits are exceeded, you’ll receive a 429 Too Many Requests response with a Retry-After header indicating how long to wait: 
HTTP/1.1 429 Too Many Requests
Retry-After: 60

{
  "message": "Rate limit exceeded",
  "code": "RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED",
  "hint": "Wait before retrying or reduce request frequency"
}

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Best Practices

Respect Retry-After: When you receive a 429 response, use the Retry-After header value to determine how long to wait before retrying. Implement exponential backoff: For retries without a Retry-After header, use exponential backoff with jitter to avoid thundering herd problems. Batch operations: For bulk operations, process items in batches with delays between requests rather than sending all requests simultaneously. Cache responses: Cache API responses when appropriate to reduce the number of requests needed.

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Example Retry Logic

async function makeRequestWithRetry(url, options, maxRetries = 3) {
  for (let attempt = 0; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
    const response = await fetch(url, options);

    if (response.status !== 429) {
      return response;
    }

    if (attempt === maxRetries) {
      throw new Error('Rate limit exceeded after max retries');
    }

    // Use Retry-After header if provided, otherwise exponential backoff
    const retryAfter = response.headers.get('Retry-After');
    const delay = retryAfter
      ? parseInt(retryAfter) * 1000
      : Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000;

    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));
  }
}
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