OpenAI vs Anthropic vs Google Gemini: free API credits compared
Every free API credit, free tier, startup and research program we track from the three largest LLM API vendors. Perq has no verified xAI (Grok) API credit offer in its dataset, so xAI is not in this table. This table covers 10 offers from 5 vendors (1 closed); 3 of the 9 live offers need no application, and the largest stated one-time USD credit is $100,000 (Anthropic (Claude)).
10 offers · built only from our verified dataset · latest verification . We don’t rank or score offers; the quotes speak for themselves. Published by Avatar 8.
At a glance
| Provider | Offers tracked | No application | Offer types | Headline values (vendor wording) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | 4 | 1 | startup program, free tier, student/education | |
| Anthropic | 4 | 1 | startup program, accelerator perk, signup credit, student/education | Discounts and credits worth up to $45,000 from partner companies (+ Claude API credit for members) · source |
| Google Gemini | 2 | 1 | free tier, student/education |
OpenAI
| Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | startup program | API credits + dedicated support through eligible VC partners (amount not stated) | Yes | Startups backed by eligible OpenAI VC partners | Via your VC partner (OpenAI Startups) | “Unlock credits and dedicated support through eligible VC partners” source ↗ | |
| OpenAI | free tier | Free daily token quota (e.g. 1M tokens/day on eligible models) when sharing traffic with OpenAI | No | Eligible API orgs that enable data sharing (offer shown in settings) | Enable data sharing in API org settings; check for the offer | “You're eligible for free daily usage on traffic shared with OpenAI” source ↗ | |
| OpenAI | student/education | Up to $1,000 of OpenAI API credits, valid 12 months | Yes | Researchers (esp. with limited resources); reviewed quarterly | Apply via Researcher Access Program form | “Researchers can apply for up to $1,000 of OpenAI API credits” source ↗ | |
| OpenAI (Codex) | student/education | $100 in ChatGPT credits to use in Codex (2,500 credits), valid 12 months | Yes | Current students at degree-granting universities in the United States or Canada, residing there when claiming; verified through SheerID; one offer per student. Requires a ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus or Pro account. | Click Claim now on the Codex for Students page, sign in with your ChatGPT account and verify with your university email. Credits are added automatically to your ChatGPT account. | “Verified university students in the United States and Canada can claim $100 in ChatGPT credits to use in Codex.” source ↗ |
Anthropic
| Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic (Claude) Closed on Oct 21, 2026 | startup program | Discounts and credits worth up to $45,000 from partner companies (+ Claude API credit for members) | Yes | Early-stage founders accepted to Claude Startups | Applications are paused. Anthropic's page offers a newsletter to hear when applications open for the next cohort. | “Our current cohort is now full, and we’re not accepting new applications right now.” source ↗ | |
| Anthropic (Claude) | accelerator perk | Up to $100K in additional API credits, claimed through your VC | Yes | Startups backed by a VC in Anthropic's partner network | Ask your VC to claim credits on your behalf | “You may be eligible to receive up to $100K in additional API credits, claimed through your VC” source ↗ | |
| Anthropic (Claude) | signup credit | Monthly Claude API credits included with paid plans: $100 USD (Max 5x), $200 USD (Max 20x), up to $500 USD (Team, pooled) | No | Active Claude Max 5x, Max 20x or Team plan (including discounted Nonprofit and Scientists Team plans) in good standing; new subscribers can claim after 7 days. Free, Pro and Enterprise plans aren't eligible. | On claude.ai go to Settings > Billing (Max) or Organization settings > Billing (Team), and in the API credits section link a Claude Console organization. Credits arrive each billing cycle in the Console's Promotional credits section and don't roll over. | “Monthly amount $100 USD (Max 5x), $200 USD (Max 20x), up to $500 USD (Team, pooled*)” source ↗ | |
| Anthropic (Claude) | student/education | Up to $20,000 in API credits for a 6-month period | Yes | Researchers in academia and nonprofit organizations applying AI to high-priority scientific research, with a particular focus on biology and life sciences. | Complete the AI for Science Program application form linked from the help article. Submissions are evaluated on the first Monday of each month; unsuccessful applicants don't get individual replies. | “If successful, we will apply up to $20,000 in API credits to your account for a 6-month period.” source ↗ |
Google Gemini
| Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google (Gemini API) | free tier | Free of charge input/output on Free Tier models (rate-limited) | No | Anyone with an AI Studio API key (free tier project) | Create an API key in Google AI Studio | “Start building free of charge with generous limits” source ↗ | |
| Google (Gemini) | student/education | Free 1-year Google AI Pro student plan | Yes | Eligible U.S. college students 18+ | Claim free student plan | “Google Gemini: Free student plan for 1 year” source ↗ |
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