If you're trying to explore AI + n8n without spending much (or anything), here's what actually works right now: OpenAI still provides free tokens if you enable "share data for training" in your settings. Just make sure your account has a positive balance — even a small one — or the tokens won’t apply. OpenRouter has a bunch of models you can use without an API key. You can send HTTP requests directly from n8n. Models like LLaMA, DeepSeek, MythoMax, and others are available for free. Gemini API from Google gives free access to Gemini Flash (2.5). You can use it with an API key via Google AI Studio — generous daily limits and solid speed. Hugging Face offers some free inference credits if you're on a Pro plan. Not huge, but good enough for testing out flows. With this stack, you can already build working automations and demos without needing any paid API plans. Answer from IKDevMan on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/n8n › how can i benefit from the free api credits from openai?
r/n8n on Reddit: How can I benefit from the free API credits from OpenAI?
April 21, 2025 -
Hey guys - I know that there was (sometime ago) the possibility of getting your hands on some free credits for OpenAI api. I want to start working with n8n and I'm quite strapped for cash now.
I haven't seen any kind of new offers on the OpenAI chat and I was wondering if the promos are off the table or are available in some dark corner of the internet?
Thanks!
EDIT: Thank you all for your great inputs!
Top answer 1 of 10
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If you're trying to explore AI + n8n without spending much (or anything), here's what actually works right now: OpenAI still provides free tokens if you enable "share data for training" in your settings. Just make sure your account has a positive balance — even a small one — or the tokens won’t apply. OpenRouter has a bunch of models you can use without an API key. You can send HTTP requests directly from n8n. Models like LLaMA, DeepSeek, MythoMax, and others are available for free. Gemini API from Google gives free access to Gemini Flash (2.5). You can use it with an API key via Google AI Studio — generous daily limits and solid speed. Hugging Face offers some free inference credits if you're on a Pro plan. Not huge, but good enough for testing out flows. With this stack, you can already build working automations and demos without needing any paid API plans.
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Openrouter has a lot of free models you can try out.
Architjn
architjn.com › blog › free-openai-api-credits-how-to-get-and-use
Free OpenAI API Credits: Get & Use Guide
March 24, 2025 - Consistent results.Open Veo 3 JSON Generator · In December 2024, OpenAI introduced an initiative where organizations can receive free API tokens simply by opting to share their prompts (inputs) and completions (outputs) with OpenAI.
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18 before?
Yes, it is not only $5. It used to be $18, our internal data showed that people were able to make ~750 API calls with the $5 which was enough to get a feel for how to use the API (which is the whole goal of free trial c… Quanta Intelligence
quantaintelligence.ai › quanta intelligence › blog › technology › artificial intelligence › openai launches developer training program with free credits
OpenAI Launches Developer Training Program with Free Credits - Quanta Intelligence
November 23, 2024 - The program addresses the limited ... OpenAI will provide training, technical guidance, and free API credits to assist developers with their generative AI projects....
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › t › didn-t-receive-any-free-trial-credits › 693150
Didn’t receive any free trial credits? - Community - OpenAI Developer Community
March 21, 2024 - Hello. I’ve been trying to make an account to try the API since I knew OpenAI had a free trial, and went for it. But somehow every time I created a new account (which I created like 4 more to see if it would be fixed but…
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Does OpenAI give free 100$ Free Usage Limit? - API - OpenAI Developer Community
December 31, 2024 - Is it true? If so, why I don’t see it at my billing pages?
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Free credits expired six months before I signed up - API - OpenAI Developer Community
December 17, 2023 - I generated my first API key on 25th January 2024 but didn’t sign up. The whole process was a little confusing. However I did sign up on 3rd February 2024 and the usage page showed the $5 free credits. As I still got an …
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Issue with Receiving Free Credit on OpenAI Account - API - OpenAI Developer Community
March 20, 2024 - I created an OpenAI account but did not receive the $5 free credit. The phone number I used is clean, meaning it is not associated with any other account. I am 100% certain of this. Additionally, the email address I used…
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api › feedback
Regarding the free credits? - Feedback - OpenAI Developer Community
December 3, 2023 - I have seen tuitorials and other discussions talking about some initial free credits on generating the secret key but I have not recieved anything and keep on getting the error:
Reddit
reddit.com › r › JanitorAI_Official › comments › 18o0fz3 › did_openai_stop_doing_free_trials
[Mature Content] r/JanitorAI_Official on Reddit: Did OpenAI stop doing free trials?
March 16, 2023 - Actually reached out to openai support and said they no longer offer free trial credits or tokens to new developers or new sign ups
Reddit
reddit.com › r › JanitorAI_Official › comments › 1bmm3wp › openai_free_trial_credit_gone
Openai free trial credit gone😥😥 : r/JanitorAI_Official
August 24, 2023 - So openai doesn't give the 5$ free trial credit anymore, so how in the world am I gotta keep using j.ai, openai was my only way😭😭😭😭, janitor llm is slow and buggy and kobold is out of the question, I can't really quit cause I'm addicted to it, so how can I keep using this for free ...
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Is OpenAi free trial credits have been discontinued? - API - OpenAI Developer Community
June 10, 2024 - I don’t understand what’s wrong. I tried it with different mails and numbers but it did the same thing and when I try to use the playground it gives the “insufficient quota” error. Is OpenAi free trial credits have been discontinued? OpenAi free trial credits have been discontinued?
Reddit
reddit.com › r/roocode › openai free daily credits - includes o1, o3, gpt-4.1 & more
r/RooCode on Reddit: OpenAI Free Daily Credits - Includes o1, o3, gpt-4.1 & more
April 24, 2025 -
I'm not sure if it's available to everyone but OpenAI offers free daily credits for some of their models if you opt in to data collection: https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/data-controls/sharing
"In December 2024, we introduced a program offering free daily tokens to organizations that opted to share inputs and outputs with OpenAI. Participants can receive up to 1 million tokens per day (250,000 for Usage Tiers 1–2) shared across a set of larger models, and up to 10 million per day (2.5 million for Usage Tiers 1–2) shared across a set of smaller models. The program includes usage on the following models:
Large models group: o1 (including o1-preview), o3, gpt-4.1, gpt-4.5-preview, gpt-4o
Small models group: o1-mini, o3-mini, o4-mini, gpt-4o-mini, gpt-4.1-nano, gpt-4.1-mini
Originally set to conclude on April 30, 2025, we’re pleased to share that the free tokens program is being extended. OpenAI will provide 30 days’ notice prior to the program’s end."
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Not receiving free credits despite having a completely new phone number - API - OpenAI Developer Community
January 30, 2024 - I don’t know if it’s just me, but I can’t seem to receive the $5 dollar credits anymore. I’m having this issue for a WEEK now. I checked everywhere for proof if they removed it, from X, discord and reddit and I didn’t see they posted anything regarding to the removal of credits and ...
Ramp
ramp.com › rewards › openai
Access up to $2500 in OpenAI API credits
Start hiring internationally with $1,500 in Deel credits! ... Ramp customers now save up to 50% every time they ship with UPS. ... Startups can receive up to $2,500 in OpenAI API credits to explore the possibilities of building on top of the OpenAI platform.
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
How can I get Free Trial Credits? - Page 2 - API - OpenAI Developer Community
April 4, 2023 - When reading at the pricing section on OpenAI: Pricing It says “Start experimenting with $18 in free credit that can be used during your first 3 months.”, but I haven’t received anything What do I need to do to get my …
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Seeking Guidance on API Quota with Free Credit Situation - API - OpenAI Developer Community
June 8, 2023 - I have a $2500 free usage credit, set to expire on January 1st, 2024. Given the current date and the $120 monthly cap, I’m concerned I won’t be able to maximize this credit before its expiration.
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Does even today openai provides free api credits? - API - OpenAI Developer Community
April 20, 2023 - I was wondering if I make a new account on openai will I get free credits or have they provided this earlier and now they have stopped it?