Without a key, the API lets each IP address create 20 new links per minute and 300 per day. The MCP server has its own limits: 120 calls per minute and 5,000 per day per IP address.
API rate limits at a glance
| Where | Per minute | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Website and REST API, no key | 20 new links | 300 new links |
| MCP server | 120 calls | 5,000 calls |
Links you create on the website count toward the same limits as the API. In a bulk request (POST /links/bulk, up to 100 URLs), each URL counts as one link.
Check how many you have left
Every API response includes three headers:
X-RateLimit-Limit: the number of links allowed in the current windowX-RateLimit-Remaining: how many you can still createX-RateLimit-Reset: when the window resets
Add -i to see them with curl:
curl -i -d url=https://example.com https://api.blinkhop.com/v1/linksWhen you hit a limit
The API answers with HTTP 429 and the error code rate_limited, plus a Retry-After header with the number of seconds to wait.
- Wait for the time given in
Retry-After, then retry. - Back off instead of retrying in a tight loop.
- Store the short links you create instead of requesting them again.
- For many URLs at once, send one
POST /links/bulkrequest instead of many single requests. Each URL still counts toward the limit.
Higher limits
Higher limits come with an API key, which is part of accounts (early access): 1,000 links per day with a free account, 50,000 links per month on Pro and 250,000 per month on Team. Which plan do I need? compares the plans, and the API reference covers every endpoint.
Still stuck? Contact us.
