We prove that there is a gap between $sqrt{2}$ and $(1+sqrt{5})/2$ for the exponential growth rate of free products $G=A*B$ not isomorphic to the infinite dihedral group. For amalgamated products $G=A*_C B$ with $([A:C]-1)([B:C]-1)geq2$, we show that lower exponential growth rate than $sqrt{2}$ can be achieved by proving that the exponential growth rate of the amalgamated product $mathrm{PGL}(2,mathbb{Z})cong (C_2times C_2) *_{C_2} D_6$ is equal to the unique positive root of the polynomial $z^3-z-1$. This answers two questions by Avinoam Mann [The growth of free products, Journal of Algebra 326, no. 1 (2011) 208--217].
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