Free Claude API credits
Offered by Anthropic · checked October 2026
Anthropic's startup program gives venture-backed startups founded in the last four years free Claude API credits and its highest API rate limits. Anthropic does not publish an amount.
What you get
- Free Claude API credits (first-party Claude API via the Claude Console only)
- Acceptance upgrades you to Anthropic's highest API rate limits
- Community: hackathons, Founder Days and meetups; early news of launches and model releases
- Separate VC partner program lets investors give portfolio founders credits
Who qualifies
- Equity funding from an institutional investor
- Founded within the last four years
- Not previously received Anthropic startup credits
- A Claude Console account, company email and website
How to apply
- Create a Claude Console (API) account
- Fill out the ~2-minute application on the program page; mention your investor (or Anthropic partner VC/accelerator)
Good to know: Anyone building with Claude can join the community side of the program, but credits need institutional funding. Credits work on the Claude API only — not on Amazon Bedrock or Google Vertex AI.
Sources
Read in October 2026 from Anthropic's own pages. Programs change often; the vendor's page is the final word.
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