API Rate Limit
A cap on how many API requests you can make per second, minute, or day. Hitting rate limits causes automation failures. Well-built automations include throttling and backoff logic to stay within limits gracefully.
Expert insight
Zapier and Make don't automatically handle rate limits you hit them, your workflow stops silently.
In a real workflow
A nightly sync of 20,000 HubSpot contacts sends requests in batches with a short pause between them, staying under HubSpot’s per-second limit instead of failing halfway.
Common mistakes
- Firing requests in a tight loop and treating the resulting 429 errors as random failures.
- Ignoring the Retry-After header that tells you exactly how long to wait.
Complexity level
Requires some familiarity with automation concepts.
Related terms
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Go deeper
Guides that cover API Rate Limit
Make.com tutorial: build powerful automations without code in 2026
Make.com is the most capable visual automation platform available but most beginners never get past basic linear scenarios. This guide covers everything from your first scenario to advanced routers, iterators, and data stores.
Airtable Automation With n8n: 10 Workflows That Make Your Base Actually Work
Airtable is where teams store their operational data, projects, clients, inventory, content. But Airtable alone is an island. These 10 n8n workflows connect your Airtable base to the tools around it, automate record management, and turn static data into active operational intelligence.