Gemini models through API key suddenly generate cost?

[Koleboxx]

Where does the bug appear (feature/product)?

Somewhere else…

Describe the Bug

I’ve noticed my usage of Gemini models through Gemini API key to generate cost. It was not the case in the past. What has changed and why? Why use of a model through my own API key / provider is generating any cost?
I’ll attach screenshots from 07.10 with no cost, and another one, more recent, with cost generated.

Steps to Reproduce

Add Gemini API key, add Gemini 2.5 pro model, use it → cost generated

Expected Behavior

No cost generated by models used through API keys / external providers.

Screenshots / Screen Recordings

Operating System

MacOS

Current Cursor Version (Menu → About Cursor → Copy)

Version: 1.9.0-pre.2.patch.0 (Universal)
VSCode Version: 1.99.3
Commit: 2c68a0136322d6944de6f75556127ae683790860
Date: 2025-10-21T08:31:09.849Z
Electron: 34.5.8
Chromium: 132.0.6834.210
Node.js: 20.19.1
V8: 13.2.152.41-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 25.0.0

Does this stop you from using Cursor

No - Cursor works, but with this issue is generating unexpected cost - previously not present

[Koleboxx]

Got it.
Usage-based pricing has a Cursor Token Rate of $0.25 per million processed tokens. This covers codebase indexing/search, custom model executions (e.g. taking the LLM output and applying it to your codebase), and infrastructure/processing.This was done to replace the flat markup we had on all API usage to provide an incentive for customers who want to bring their own keys while covering the costs associated with handling those requests. For your situation with Gemini, you would only be charged the Cursor Token Rate as any API usage is included with those keys.