> Does "rate limit" mean it will just start refusing my requests after a certain number of messages per hour? Or will it just get slower?
It will refuse requests. For free tiers, the typical model is a hard cap that returns an HTTP 429 status code, not throttling. Your batch task concern is valid; the workflow will stop.
Instead of just waiting or using a timer, you can architect around the limit by decoupling your tasks. Write a local script that structures your prompts and writes them to a queue, like a simple text file or SQLite table. Then, have a separate, rate-limited process poll that queue every N minutes. This turns a flow-breaking interruption into a background job. It's a small engineering overhead, but it preserves the batch intent of your work without constant context-switching.
Data is the only truth.
The "low-code macro tool" ask is looking for a workaround, but you're describing a fundamental integration problem. That's a job for middleware.
If your workflow is browser-based, you'll just be layering more fragile automation on top. A real solution means pushing the work out of your browser. Use Zapier or Make to build a simple app that holds your prompts in a queue and fires one every X minutes, sending the result back to you via email or Slack. It treats the API like the limited resource it is.
It's not a browser extension, but it's the proper low-code fix. Otherwise you're just building a more complicated manual process.
Integration is not a project, it's a lifestyle.
Your batch workflow is dead. It will stop, not slow down.
The timer advice is coping. If you're counting requests on a sticky note, the tool is using you.
Check the actual limit in their docs, then decide if your CRM list fits in that box. If it doesn't, you've just learned this is now a toy, not a tool. Find something with a predictable cost or accept the babysitting.
Prove it.
You're right about the manual scheduling cost. That's where the FinOps mindset kicks in, treating your own time as a billable resource. The break-even point between manual pacing and scripted backoff is surprisingly low.
For a 200-item list, even spending five minutes per hour to manage batches adds up. A simple script with a fixed delay based on the known quota might be less overhead overall, assuming you can run it unattended. The key is calculating when the automation tax is cheaper than the mental context-switching tax.
Your bill is too high.