MiniMax M3 and M2.7 are free on AI Gateway

Vercel announced that MiniMax’s M3 and M2.7 models will be available at no cost through its AI Gateway platform via GMI Cloud until September 6, 2025. Users must specify the free model IDs—minimax/minimax-m3-free or minimax/minimax-m2.7-free—to access the offer. After the promotional period, these IDs will no longer function unless replaced with paid alternatives. The free access is limited to the designated timeframe and model identifiers.

To maintain access beyond the free period, users can switch to the standard model ID (minimax/minimax-m3) and configure GMI Cloud as the preferred provider. This setup allows fallback to another provider if GMI Cloud cannot serve the request. Both the free and standard configurations are compatible with all AI Gateway API endpoints. The transition ensures uninterrupted service without requiring changes to existing integrations.

Developers integrating MiniMax models into coding agents can follow Vercel’s coding agents guide to enable the feature. The process involves running vercel ai-gateway coding-agents setup to connect supported agents such as Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor, and Pi. Within the agent, users must select the free model ID (minimax/minimax-m3-free) to utilize the promotional offer during the active period.

Vercel’s AI Gateway serves as a unified interface for routing AI model requests across multiple providers, simplifying access to third-party models like MiniMax. The platform supports dynamic provider selection and fallback mechanisms, reducing dependency on a single service. This initiative highlights Vercel’s effort to lower barriers for developers experimenting with advanced AI models while maintaining flexibility for long-term usage.