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Free AI and cloud credits for startups in 2026

The programs that give startups free credits for AI models and cloud computing, side by side: what each gives, its status and a full guide to applying. The figures come from each program's own pages.

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Programs open and close: Claude for Startups paused new applications in October 2026 when its cohort filled. Leave your email and we'll tell you when it and other credit programs open, plus our weekly startup brief.

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How to get the most from startup credits

Credits are worth most when they cover what you would have paid for anyway. Start with the provider your product already runs on: a team building on Claude gets more from Anthropic's API credits than from a cloud program it would have to migrate to. Add cloud credits for hosting and storage, and keep a note of each expiry date: credits don't last forever, and Claude's API credits expire after six months.

Bigger tiers usually need a partner: an investor, accelerator or incubator in the provider's network. If you're raising, ask your investors which programs they partner with: their tier is often far larger than the self-serve one.

Finally, guard the balance. Set spending limits or budget alerts on day one; a runaway job can burn through credits overnight, and most programs won't restore them.

Frequently asked questions

Can a startup take credits from several programs at once?
They're separate programs run by different companies, so founders commonly apply to more than one: cloud credits from one provider and model credits from another, for example. Each has its own terms, and some tiers are only for companies that haven't had that provider's credits before, so check the eligibility section of each guide.
Do I need investors to qualify?
Not for the entry tiers. Most programs have a self-serve tier for bootstrapped and pre-seed companies, and a larger tier for startups backed by a partner investor or accelerator. The key numbers on each card come from the program's own pages.
Which should I apply to first?
The one you'll actually spend in the next few months. Credits expire (Claude's API credits after six months), so apply to the cloud or model provider your product already runs on, then add others as you need them.
How current is this page?
Each program links to a guide that's re-checked against the program's official pages every month; every card shows when it was last checked. Claude for Startups is checked daily for whether applications are open.

StartupReader is independent and isn't paid by any of these programs. Offers change; each program's own application page is the source of truth. All founder guides.