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[URGENT] Zen paid balance still hits FreeUsageLimitError / daily free usage limit. #33318
Description
Description
After adding a paid Zen balance of "$20", OpenCode Zen still returns:
Free usage exceeded, add credits https://opencode.ai/zen
This happens barely under 1 hour of usage, even though the account has billing/credits enabled. My understanding is that the daily free usage limit should apply only to accounts without billing/credits, not paid-balance accounts.
Expected behavior
Once Zen billing/credits are added, the request should be charged normally or fail with a proper paid-account/balance/model/provider error, not "FreeUsageLimitError".
Actual behavior
Zen still appears to apply the free/daily/IP usage limit and blocks usage with "Free usage exceeded", despite available paid balance.
Why this looks like a bug
The limiter path appears related to:
packages/console/app/src/routes/zen/util/ipRateLimiter.ts
Older/current related code paths throw "FreeUsageLimitError" from the Zen IP rate limiter. This suggests the free usage limiter may still be checked before billing/account state, or the request is being classified as free/anonymous even when using a paid Zen API key.
Possible cause
The paid API key/account/billing state may not be bypassing the IP/free-tier limiter, or the request may be missing/losing the authenticated Zen user/session context and falling back to IP-based free usage tracking.
Steps to reproduce
- Add "$20" credits/balance to OpenCode Zen.
- Use a Zen API key in OpenCode / API gateway.
- Use Zen models for normal coding-agent requests.
- Continue for under ~1 hour.
- Observe "Free usage exceeded, add credits https://opencode.ai/zen".
Additional context
This seems similar to previous reports where users had credits/balance but still received "Free usage exceeded". Please clarify whether paid Zen users are still subject to the same free daily/IP limiter, or whether this is an auth/billing-state bug.
Plugins
NA
OpenCode version
NA
Steps to reproduce
- After 1 hour worth of usage
- This Error will happen
- When changing Devices it works like normal
- Then again hit limit. Weird
Screenshot and/or share link
NA
Operating System
Python server
Terminal
NA
Activity
[-]Zen paid balance still hits FreeUsageLimitError / daily free usage limit[/-][+][URGENT] Zen paid balance still hits FreeUsageLimitError / daily free usage limit[/+]github-actions commentedon Jun 22, 2026
This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:
If your issue is distinct from these (e.g., specifically about paid balance not bypassing the limiter), please add clarifying details to distinguish it.
anomalic1 commentedon Jun 22, 2026
Bump this up
anomalic1 commentedon Jun 23, 2026
Issue bump
[-][URGENT] Zen paid balance still hits FreeUsageLimitError / daily free usage limit[/-][+][URGENT] Zen paid balance still hits FreeUsageLimitError / daily free usage limit.[/+]rahulraj80 commentedon Jun 27, 2026
I was about to pay OpenCode and stop paying OpenRouter, but it seems the only entity active from their side is the bot which goes around cross referencing (sometimes quite incorrectly) issues, and none of the issues of paying customers seem to get resolved.
Do share an update please in case this gets resolved so that we can make up our minds.
anomalic1 commentedon Jun 29, 2026
+1
zuli12-dev commentedon Jun 30, 2026
i have also just hit this problem. i do understand the Limit for free tier, however having a balance, it would be great if the balance is used against it after the free tier limit hits. Personally I like the free models from speed/cost and cannot use them after the free limit unfortunately.
anomalic1 commentedon Jul 1, 2026
No that's what is supposed to happen when you have a balance. The 200 Requests Per Day Limit should be removed from you since you have a topped up balance. Like Openrouter. This is unfair brother.
I agree with you
nox-works commentedon Jul 12, 2026
+1
rathaROG commentedon Aug 16, 2026
So is this a real bug or a legit intention to stop people from using free models outside opencode? By looking at the code, it's more like a legit intention? Just want a clarification before I say goodbye.
Edit: Now I see. The bug in OP is a separate issue I don't hit in my opencode, and error 429 for zen key outside opencode is intentional.. so I don't see why I should continue with Zen.
yibebiz commentedon Aug 25, 2026
In case it helps someone else, even if you have credits, you cannot use the Free models, but you can use one of the paid models with the cost.
plsgivemeachane commentedon Aug 30, 2026
+1
andrebrov commentedon Oct 8, 2026
+1
neriousy commentedon Oct 19, 2026
This is expected behavior. Free models (Big Pickle and the models whose names end in "Free") have their own free usage limit and never use your Zen balance, so adding credits doesn't lift that limit. To use your balance, pick one of the paid OpenCode Zen models. If you have OpenCode Go, select models from the OpenCode Go provider to use your plan. The pricing table shows which models are free and which are paid, and the free models section has more details.