All Docs
FeaturesSidekickUpdated March 11, 2026

Spending & Rate Limits Per Integration

Spending & Rate Limits Per Integration

Sidekick lets you configure usage limits on each connected integration to prevent runaway costs and API abuse. Limits are enforced autonomously — the agent respects every cap you set and alerts you before thresholds are reached.

Overview

Every integration can have its own independent limit. This means you can allow high-frequency actions on free-tier integrations while applying strict caps on paid APIs, all from the same dashboard.

Three types of limits are supported:

Limit TypeApplies ToExample
Max messages / dayChat platformsSlack, Discord, Microsoft Teams
Max emails / hourEmail integrationsGmail
Spending capPaid API integrationsAny integration billed per request/token

Configuring Limits

Limits are set per integration from the Integrations section of your dashboard:

  1. Navigate to Dashboard → Integrations.
  2. Select the integration you want to configure.
  3. Open the Limits tab.
  4. Enter the desired threshold value and save.

Limits take effect immediately. The agent will enforce them on any new actions from that point forward within the current time window.

How the Agent Enforces Limits

When the agent is about to take an action on an integration:

  1. It checks current usage against the configured limit for that integration.
  2. If under the limit — the action proceeds normally.
  3. If at or over the limit — the action is paused for that integration until the usage window resets. Other integrations are unaffected.
  4. If approaching the limit (default threshold: 80% consumed) — an alert is sent to you via your configured notification channel.

The agent never silently exceeds a limit. If a limit is reached mid-task, the agent will surface a notification explaining which integration hit its cap and when the window resets.

Alert Notifications

You will receive an alert when:

  • Usage on an integration crosses the 80% threshold of the configured limit.
  • A limit is fully reached and the agent has paused actions for that integration.

Alerts are delivered through your primary notification channel (configurable in Dashboard → Notifications).

Usage Window Resets

Limit TypeWindow
Max messages / dayResets at midnight UTC
Max emails / hourResets at the top of each hour
Spending capMonthly, aligned to your billing cycle

Example: Capping Gmail Sends

To ensure the agent sends no more than 30 emails per hour via Gmail:

  1. Go to Dashboard → Integrations → Gmail → Limits.
  2. Set Max emails / hour to 30.
  3. Save.

The agent will now send up to 30 emails in any 60-minute window. If the cap is reached, outbound email actions will queue until the next hour begins. You'll receive an alert once 24 emails (80%) have been sent within a window.

Example: Setting a Spending Cap on a Paid API

To prevent a paid API integration from exceeding $50/month:

  1. Go to Dashboard → Integrations → [Your Paid API] → Limits.
  2. Set Spending cap to 50 (in your account currency).
  3. Save.

The agent will track estimated spend against this cap in real time and halt autonomous actions on that integration if the cap is reached before the billing cycle ends.

Notes

  • Limits apply to agent-initiated actions only. Actions you take manually in external apps are not counted against Sidekick limits.
  • Spending cap accuracy depends on cost data reported by the third-party API. Sidekick uses best-effort estimation where real-time pricing is not available.
  • Removing a limit takes effect immediately with no cooldown period.