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Token Limit Workaround for GPT API: Seeking Solutions and Ideas

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🔧 Token Limit Workaround with GPT API – Need Help or Ideas! Hey Clay fam 👋 I’m running into a challenge that might be familiar to some of you. Maybe someone has found a smart workaround? Here’s the deal: ⚙️ My Setup: • Using Claygent + my own GPT-4 API key (Tier 1 = 30,000 tokens/min limit) • Running 500+ rows in Clay • Claygent works super fast – no issues at all • But my custom GPT columns (API) throw tons of Error due to token limit overload 💥 The Problem: • I can’t upgrade to Tier 2 until I’ve spent $50, which I haven’t yet • I’d love to run things in one flow, but slower, e.g. 10 rows/min • Currently there’s no built-in throttle I can set per GPT-connected column 😕 🧠 What I’m looking for: • Any workaround to force Clay to run the table at a slower pace? • Maybe a way to delay execution per row or per column? • Or something like a “run selected rows in intervals”? 💬 Has anyone solved this? Or built a workaround using Run buttons / batches / Make etc.? Would love your ideas 🙏

6 comments

Clay
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For API tier limits like your GPT-4 Tier 1 (30,000 tokens/min), process data in smaller batches of around 50 rows at a time. Use conditional runs to control execution: 1. Go to Run Settings of your GPT column 2. In the "Only run if" box, add conditions to limit which rows run 3. Use the "Use AI" button for plain language instructions Best practice: Always test with 5-10 rows first, then scale to 50, then 500. Turn off table auto-runs while building to prevent accidental full-table processing. You can also filter existing rows and run the column only on selected batches, then use the "merge columns" feature to combine results.
Sources: Guide: Ways to save Clay credits | Documentation | Clay University Best Practices To Maximize Your Credits - Clay University
Sonny
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🔁 I was hoping for a way to set Clay to automatically run a batch every few minutes – like: • Run 15 rows • Wait 2 minutes • Run the next 15 • …and so on, until the full table is done Otherwise I need every minute to click rows for hours. We talk about 1000's 🥵
Clay
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Clay's scheduled columns feature runs tables on hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly intervals - not the minute-level batching you need. The scheduling options are designed for keeping data current over longer periods, not for managing API rate limits. For your GPT API token limit issue, you'll need to manually process batches using conditional runs or row filtering rather than automated timed intervals. What specific batch size would work best for your 30,000 tokens/minute limit - would processing larger batches less frequently be an option?
Sources: Scheduled columns | Documentation | Clay University Scheduled columns | Documentation | Clay University Scheduled columns | Documentation | Clay University Guide: Ways to save Clay credits | Documentation | Clay University
Sonny
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It didn't help, but thank you anyway.
Bo (.
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Hey — one workaround is to prepay a bit more into your OpenAI account. That usually unlocks the ability to upgrade to Tier 2 even before hitting the $50 threshold. In the meantime, you can batch your runs in Clay. Just click the first row, hold Shift, select the last row in your batch, then right-click and choose “Run Selected Rows.” That’ll help control the pace manually. Let me know if you want help setting up a smoother batching flow.
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Sonny
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Thank you very much 😊 🙏🏻 💪🏻

Token Limit Workaround for GPT API: Seeking Solutions and Ideas | Clay