Rate Limits
Understand API rate limits and how to handle them in your application.
Overview
Rate limits protect the API from excessive use and ensure fair access for all users. Limits are applied per API key and reset every minute or hour depending on the endpoint.
Exceeding rate limits will result in 429 Too Many Requests responses. Plan your integration accordingly and implement proper retry logic.
Rate Limit Headers
Every API response includes headers to help you track your rate limit usage:
| Header | Description |
|---|---|
X-RateLimit-Limit | Maximum requests allowed in the current window |
X-RateLimit-Remaining | Remaining requests in the current window |
X-RateLimit-Reset | Unix timestamp when the rate limit resets |
Retry-After | Seconds to wait before retrying (only on 429 responses) |
Limits by Endpoint
Email API
| Endpoint | Starter | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| POST /emails | 100/min | 1,000/min | 10,000/min |
| GET /emails | 500/min | 2,000/min | 20,000/min |
| GET /emails/:id | 500/min | 2,000/min | 20,000/min |
SMS API
| Endpoint | Starter | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| POST /sms | 50/min | 500/min | 5,000/min |
| GET /sms | 500/min | 2,000/min | 20,000/min |
| GET /sms/:id | 500/min | 2,000/min | 20,000/min |
Voice API
| Endpoint | Starter | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| POST /calls | 10/min | 100/min | 1,000/min |
| GET /calls | 500/min | 2,000/min | 20,000/min |
Handling Rate Limits
JavaScript Example
async function sendWithRetry(data, maxRetries = 3) {
for (let i = 0; i < maxRetries; i++) {
const response = await fetch('/api/emails', {
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer ek_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxx',
'Content-Type': 'application/json',
},
body: JSON.stringify(data),
});
if (response.status === 429) {
const retryAfter = response.headers.get('Retry-After') || 60;
console.log(`Rate limited. Retrying in ${retryAfter}s...`);
await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, retryAfter * 1000));
continue;
}
return response.json();
}
throw new Error('Max retries exceeded');
}Python Example
import time
import requests
def send_with_retry(data, max_retries=3):
for i in range(max_retries):
response = requests.post(
'https://api.ekdsend.com/v1/emails',
headers={
'Authorization': 'Bearer ek_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxx',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
json=data
)
if response.status_code == 429:
retry_after = int(response.headers.get('Retry-After', 60))
print(f"Rate limited. Retrying in {retry_after}s...")
time.sleep(retry_after)
continue
return response.json()
raise Exception('Max retries exceeded')Best Practices
Use Exponential Backoff
When retrying after a rate limit, use exponential backoff to avoid overwhelming the API.
Monitor Headers
Check X-RateLimit-Remaining before making requests to proactively avoid hitting limits.
Batch When Possible
Use bulk endpoints to send multiple messages in a single request instead of individual calls.
Handle Gracefully
Always implement proper error handling for 429 responses in your application.
Need Higher Limits?
If your application requires higher rate limits than your current plan allows, you have two options: