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Claude API credits: what to do while the cohort is closed

· · Offers verified 21 Oct 2026

The short answer

The general Claude Startups cohort is full and new applications are closed. Existing members keep access. A separate partner-VC route may provide up to $100,000 in first-party Claude API credits, claimed through that VC. AWS Activate is the documented startup-credit route to Claude on Bedrock. A free Claude chat account or Team subscription does not provide API credit.

Do not start with a general application: the cohort is closed. Anthropic’s current programme page, checked 21 October 2026, is the source for the routes below. The earlier $1,000 API-credit announcement is historical, not an available sign-up promise.

1. If you are already a member

Use the official programme page’s member sign-in. Existing members retain access to programme resources and events. Do not assume membership alone creates an additional credit balance; check your actual account and award terms.

2. If you are backed by a partner VC

Ask your VC whether it is in Anthropic’s partner network and whether your company qualifies for the separate API-credit route. Anthropic describes up to $100,000, not a guaranteed grant. Obtain the current redemption instructions and validity terms through that VC. We have not tested a member account, submitted an application or redeemed a VC award.

These credits pay for the first-party Claude API through Console. They do not pay for Claude on AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI or another third-party platform. Claude Team is a chat product, separate from API credits.

3. If you qualify for AWS Activate

AWS Activate authorises eligible third-party model charges on Amazon Bedrock, including Claude. Check the Activate application guide: Founders and Portfolio have different eligibility and ceilings, and require an AWS account on a paid plan.

This is an AWS programme and balance. It does not transfer credits into Anthropic Console.

4. If none of those routes fits

We have not confirmed a general free Claude API sign-up credit. A free Claude chat account is not API access. For API experiments without startup eligibility, compare free API tiers or the OpenAI, Claude and Gemini API comparison.

Do not rely on these cloud balances for Claude:

Our previous AWS new-account recommendation was corrected in October; the dated change log preserves that correction. Use the Claude hub for current availability and the offer record for sources and verification date.

The offers in this guide

  • Anthropic (Claude) Startup program
    Applications closed

    Claude Startups — general applications closed

    The Claude Startups cohort is full and is not accepting new applications. Current members keep access. Startups backed by a partner VC may separately qualify for up to $100,000 in first-party Claude API credits.

    Free value
    No fixed amount
    Card required
    Card: not stated
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    No public validity period is stated for the conditional partner-VC credits.
    Who
    No new applications are currently accepted for the general cohort. Existing members continue in the programme. The separate API-credit route requires backing by a VC in Anthropic's partner network and is subject to eligibility, not a guaranteed grant.

    The general cohort is full and new applications are closed. Current members retain access; a separate partner-VC route may offer up to $100,000 in first-party API credits.

    View current provider terms Claude Startups — general applications closed (opens in a new tab) Details
  • Amazon Web Services Startup program
    Open

    AWS Activate startup credits

    Eligible startups can get up to $200,000 in AWS Activate credits — usable across eligible AWS services, including third-party models such as Anthropic's on Amazon Bedrock. You apply with an AWS account on a paid plan, which AWS says you reach by entering a payment method.

    Free value
    Up to $200,000
    Card required
    Card required
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    Usually 1–2 years depending on the package; use the expiry assigned in the AWS console.
    Who
    Pre-Series B startups founded within the last 10 years with an AWS account on a paid plan, new to Activate credits (or requesting more). The Portfolio tier requires an Organization ID from an AWS Activate Provider (accelerator, incubator or VC).

    Available subject to the provider eligibility and usage conditions.

    Check eligibility & claim AWS Activate startup credits (opens in a new tab) Details
  • Amazon Web Services Cloud AI credits
    Open

    AWS Free Tier credits (route to Bedrock)

    New AWS accounts get up to $200 in credits — $100 on signup plus up to $100 more for completing activities — usable on Amazon Bedrock. AWS now says most new customers can sign up without a card, but may ask for one.

    Free value
    Up to $200
    Card required
    Card: conditional Most new customers can sign up without a payment method; AWS may request one to verify identity.
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    AWS FAQ conflicts: General Q6 and Advanced Features Q2 say 6 months after account creation; Free Plan Q8 and activity-credit Q5 say 12 months. Check the expiry shown in your AWS account.
    Who
    New AWS customers, on the Free or Paid plan. AWS says a payment method "isn't required to sign up for most new customers" on its new sign-up flow, but may request one to verify identity; you are not charged while you stay on the Free plan.

    Available subject to the provider eligibility and usage conditions.

    Check eligibility & claim AWS Free Tier credits (route to Bedrock) (opens in a new tab) Details
  • Google Cloud Cloud AI credits
    Open

    Google Cloud free trial — $300 credit

    New Google Cloud accounts get a $300 welcome credit to spend over 90 days — usable on Google's own Gemini models in Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform (formerly Vertex AI), but not on the standalone Gemini API or on third-party partner models. A payment method is required.

    Free value
    $300
    Card required
    Card: conditional A credit card or another supported payment method is required; available methods depend on country.
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    90 days after signup
    Who
    New customers who have never been a paying user of Google Cloud, Google Maps Platform or Firebase, and who haven't signed up for the Free Trial before.

    Available subject to the provider eligibility and usage conditions.

    Check eligibility & claim Google Cloud free trial — $300 credit (opens in a new tab) Details
  • Google Cloud Startup program
    Open

    Google for Startups Cloud Program

    Eligible startups get Google Cloud credits — up to $2,000 on the Start tier, or up to $200,000 over two years on the Scale tier (year 2 covers 20% of usage). AI-first startups can reach $350,000. Third-party models are not covered.

    Free value
    Up to $200,000
    Card required
    Card: conditional A Cloud Billing account is required. Self-serve accounts use a supported payment method; separately approved invoiced accounts are another option.
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    Start: 12 months; Scale/AI: coverage over two years, with 20% of eligible spend covered in year two. Award-specific start and expiry dates are not stated here.
    Who
    Apply to the tier matching your stage. Google's Start page requires an MVP, a clear business model, plans to seek venture funding, founding within 24 months, and no credits beyond the free trial. The Scale page requires recent pre-seed to Series A funding, founding within five years, and no more than $5,000 of prior Google Cloud credits. The overview gives a broader three-to-five-year criterion depending on tier; use the specific tier page and application for your eligibility. A company domain and Google Cloud billing ID are required.

    Available subject to the provider eligibility and usage conditions.

    Check eligibility & claim Google for Startups Cloud Program (opens in a new tab) Details
  • Microsoft Azure Startup program
    Open

    Microsoft for Startups — Azure credits

    Microsoft for Startups offers $1,000 in starter Azure credits after account setup and approval-dependent expansion up to $150,000. It is for eligible early-stage B2B startups; a personal Microsoft account with no prior Azure use and card details are required.

    Free value
    Up to $150,000
    Card required
    Card required
    Application deadline
    No deadline stated
    Credit validity
    Credit stages have different validity periods. Azure for Startups advertises 90 days initially and 180 days after verification; these are not the validity of every $150,000 award.
    Who
    B2B startups building software, AI or technology solutions — privately held and independent (not a subsidiary), pre-seed through Series B (Microsoft says you must "Not have raised Series C funding or later"), working toward or already at an MVP, and headquartered in a supported region. Open to founders with or without an investor referral code. A Microsoft account already used for the Azure free account, Azure for Students or another Azure offer is ineligible.

    Available subject to the provider eligibility and usage conditions.

    Check eligibility & claim Microsoft for Startups — Azure credits (opens in a new tab) Details

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit a new Claude Startups application?
The general cohort is currently closed. There is no published reopening date. Read the current programme page rather than treating its October launch announcement as an open application.
What can existing members do?
Use the member sign-in on the official programme page for current member benefits. Membership is separate from a promise of new credits.
Can a partner VC provide credits?
Anthropic says eligible startups backed by a VC in its partner network may receive up to $100,000 in additional API credits through that VC. Confirm eligibility and terms with the VC; the amount is not guaranteed.
Can I transfer those credits to Bedrock or Vertex?
No. Anthropic’s programme credits apply to its first-party Claude API through Console. AWS Activate credits are a separate AWS balance for eligible Bedrock charges. Google Cloud’s trial and startup credits exclude partner models such as Claude.