Last updated: April 2026
OpenAI does not offer a permanent free tier. There is no "Gemini Flash" equivalent for GPT-5 or o-series models — every API call to OpenAI is paid, except for credits you earn through specific programs. This is the complete map of every legitimate way to get free OpenAI API credits in 2026: the $5 trial, OpenAI for Startups via VC, OpenAI Grove, the Codex Open Source Fund, and the Ramp partnership. Plus what to do when you need free LLM access and OpenAI is not the right answer.
For free LLM API access in general (Gemini, Groq, Cerebras, OpenRouter — none of which require credits), see Free LLM APIs in 2026. For broader AI startup credits (Anthropic, Mistral, Together, etc.), see Free AI API Credits.
OpenAI free-credit routes at a glance
| Route | Credits | Eligibility | Application path |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 trial | $5 | New OpenAI API account | Automatic on signup |
| OpenAI for Startups (VC) | $2,500 | VC-portfolio company with partner referral | VC sends you the code |
| OpenAI Grove | up to $50,000 | Selected cohort, in-person SF | Cohort application at OpenAI |
| Codex Open Source Fund | up to $25,000 | Qualifying OSS maintainer | Direct application |
| Founder Stack via Ramp | $5,000 | Ramp corporate card customer | Auto-applied with Ramp |
There is no permanent free tier. Every paid API call after these credits depletes is real money.
$5 trial credit
The default new-account credit. Automatic.
- Amount: $5 in credits, applies across all OpenAI models (GPT-5 family, GPT-4o, o1, o3, embeddings, image, voice)
- Validity: Expires 3 months after account creation
- Card required: Yes, eventually — you cannot use API beyond trial without a billing method
- How to start: platform.openai.com → create account → API key → start sending requests
- What it covers: Roughly 200K-500K input tokens depending on model choice. Enough for evaluation, not for production.
If you have not created an OpenAI account yet, this is your starting point. After the trial expires, you switch to paid usage or move to other providers.
OpenAI for Startups (VC partner route)
The standard "startup credits" track, but gated to VC-portfolio companies.
- Credits: $2,500 in OpenAI API credits
- Eligibility: Must be a portfolio company of an OpenAI-partnered VC fund
- How to access: Your VC sends you a unique referral code. There is no public application form
- Validity: Typically 12 months
- Includes: Credits + priority rate limits + occasional preview access to new models
- Caveat: Not stackable with the $5 trial — you pick one or the other on a given account
If you have raised a seed or Series A from a VC, ask explicitly: "Are you an OpenAI Startups partner? Can I get a referral code?" Most VCs are partners and will send the code if you ask.
OpenAI Grove ($50K cohort)
OpenAI's selective in-person 5-week program for pre-idea to early-stage founders.
- Credits: Up to $50,000 in OpenAI API credits
- Eligibility: Pre-idea to early-stage founders willing to relocate to San Francisco for 5 weeks
- How to apply: openai.com/index/openai-grove → application opens periodically, watch the page
- Selection: Highly competitive (estimated <5% acceptance rate)
- Plus: Mentorship from OpenAI staff, access to internal model previews, peer cohort
- Caveat: In-person SF only — remote-only applicants are not accepted
For technical founders with strong AI portfolios and SF flexibility, Grove is one of the highest-leverage programs to apply to in the entire startup-credits universe.
Codex Open Source Fund ($25K)
The OSS maintainer track. Specifically for code-generation work.
- Credits: Up to $25,000 in OpenAI API credits, intended for Codex (code-gen model lineage)
- Eligibility: Active maintainer of an open source project, particularly developer tools / language ecosystems / framework infrastructure
- How to apply: Direct application via OpenAI's OSS Fund page
- Plus: Recognition in OpenAI's OSS supporter list (small thing, real)
- Caveat: Reviewed for maintainer authenticity — drive-by contributors typically do not qualify
If you maintain a meaningful OSS project (think framework / library / dev tool), this is a real route to substantial free OpenAI access.
Founder Stack via Ramp
The corporate-card partnership credit. Automatic if you bank with Ramp.
- Credits: $5,000 in OpenAI API credits
- Eligibility: Active Ramp corporate card customer
- How to access: Available in Ramp's deal book / startup perks page after sign-up
- Validity: Typically 12 months from claim
- Caveat: Ramp itself is free, so this is a real free credit if you want a corporate card anyway
A similar offer exists periodically through Brex; check both deal books.
What is no longer a route
- Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub previously included direct OpenAI credits as part of the bundle. This was discontinued in mid-2025. Microsoft for Startups still includes Azure OpenAI Service credits — same models, but you call them through Azure's API endpoint, not OpenAI's. The pricing and rate limits are slightly different. See Microsoft for Startups for what is currently included.
What to use when OpenAI is not the right answer
If you want to keep paying $0/month and OpenAI's $5 trial has expired, switch to free-tier providers:
- Google Gemini API: 1,500 req/day on Flash, no credit card required
- Cerebras: 1M tokens/day on Llama 3.1 70B, no credit card required
- Groq: 30 RPM, 6K TPM, 1,000 req/day, ~315 tokens/sec on Llama 70B
- OpenRouter free models: several free routes (Mistral, Gemma, Llama)
For most non-mission-critical agent and chatbot work, you can run production on free tiers from these providers. See Free LLM APIs in 2026 for the full breakdown.
For mission-critical reasoning where you specifically need GPT-5 / o-series, save your $5 trial and stack for those queries; route everything else through Gemini Flash or Groq.
OpenAI vs Anthropic free credits
| Aspect | OpenAI | Anthropic Claude |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent free tier | No | No |
| Trial credit | $5 (3 months) | ~$5 (similar terms) |
| Direct startup program | $2.5K via VC | Up to $25K direct + Anthology |
| OSS program | Codex Open Source Fund ($25K) | Claude for Open Source ($1.2K via Max 20x for 6 months, 10K spots) |
| Cohort program | OpenAI Grove ($50K, SF) | None comparable |
| Bootstrap-friendly | Limited (Ramp $5K is the most accessible) | More accessible (direct Airtable application) |
For bootstrapped founders without VC backing, the Anthropic Startup Program (direct, rolling) is generally easier to get into than OpenAI's gated routes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get free OpenAI API credits? Five known routes in 2026: (1) $5 trial credit when you create a new OpenAI API account, expires 3 months. (2) OpenAI for Startups via VC partner referral — $2,500 in credits. (3) OpenAI Grove — $50,000 for accepted 5-week SF cohort. (4) Codex Open Source Fund — $25,000 for qualifying open source maintainers. (5) Founder Stack via Ramp corporate card — $5,000.
Does OpenAI have a permanent free tier like Gemini or Groq? No. OpenAI does not offer a permanent rate-limited free tier. The $5 starter credit expires three months after activation and is intended for evaluation only. For permanent free LLM API access, see free-tier providers like Google Gemini API (1,500 req/day Flash), Groq (30 RPM), Cerebras (1M tokens/day), and OpenRouter free models.
What is OpenAI Grove? OpenAI Grove is OpenAI's selective 5-week in-person program at OpenAI's San Francisco HQ for pre-idea to early-stage founders. Accepted founders receive up to $50,000 in OpenAI API credits, mentorship from OpenAI staff, and access to internal model previews. Selection is highly competitive — OpenAI looks for technical depth, novel use of AI, and willingness to relocate to SF for the program duration.
Who qualifies for the OpenAI Codex Open Source Fund? The Codex Open Source Fund supports active open source maintainers building developer tools or improving OSS that benefits the broader ecosystem. Qualifying maintainers receive up to $25,000 in OpenAI API credits to use Codex (the code-generation model lineage) for OSS development. Application requires demonstrated maintainer status on a meaningful project.
Can I get OpenAI credits through Microsoft for Startups? Not anymore as of mid-2025. The OpenAI credits previously bundled with Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub were discontinued. Microsoft for Startups still gives Azure OpenAI Service credits (using OpenAI models hosted on Azure with the same APIs but Azure billing). For direct OpenAI credits, use the OpenAI for Startups VC route, Grove, Codex Open Source Fund, or Ramp.
Related guides
- Free LLM APIs — including no-credit-required free tiers from Gemini, Groq, Cerebras
- Free AI API Credits — broader AI startup programs (Anthropic, Mistral, etc.)
- Claude Free Credits — Anthropic Startup Program + Claude for Open Source
- Microsoft for Startups — for Azure OpenAI Service credits
- Free Startup Credits 2026: Complete Guide
Got OpenAI credits via one of these routes? Tell me which and what worked — I update this guide with friction signals and program changes.
