This policy explains the limits on the Rally & Roam API and MCP server and what we mean by fair use. The numbers for each plan are on the plans page of the developer centre and in the headers of every answer.

The limits

Per minute. Each key may make a set number of calls a minute: the plan's limit for developer keys, 120 for partner keys. Past it, calls are answered with 429 rate_limited and a Retry-After header.
Per month. Each developer account has a monthly allowance, counted across all its keys, live and test, from the start of the billing period (the calendar month in UTC on the free sandbox). Past it, calls are answered with 429 quota_exceeded until it resets, unless the plan includes overage.
Overage. Plans with overage keep answering past the allowance and charge for the extra calls per 1,000, part thousands rounded up, on the next invoice.
MCP protocol messages. Listing tools, discovery and similar messages do not count against the allowance, but are limited to 300 a minute per key. Each tool call counts as one call.

What counts as a call

Every request that reaches an endpoint with a valid key counts, whatever its answer, including validation errors and look-ups that find nothing. Requests we refuse at the door because of the key, the plan or a limit do not count.

Fair use

The limits are ceilings, not targets. We expect you to:

cache data that changes slowly, as our best practice guide describes, rather than asking for the same thing again and again;
back off when you get 429 or a server error, and not retry in a tight loop;
spread large jobs over time rather than sending them in bursts;
use test keys for automated tests, and keep the number of calls in a test run modest.

If your use puts the service at risk for others, even within your limits, we may slow your key down or ask you to change how you call us. We will tell you why, and work with you on a fix.

Changing the limits

We may raise limits at any time. We will give at least 30 days' notice by email before lowering the limits of a paid plan, and the change starts at your next billing period after the notice ends. If you need more than any plan offers, contact us.

API rate limits and fair use