I've been using ChatGPT API for a few projects, but I've run out of accounts. I'm familiar with the OpenAI API, so I'm not looking to switch to another LLM just for small projects for my college and hackathons. Is there any way to get free access to the ChatGPT API without creating a new account? I've tried all the methods I know, but I'm still stuck.

People kept asking how I got all the free AI credits for my app, so I put everything in one place.

I kept seeing people say “use free credits” and never saw an actual list, so I spent way too long hunting them down. Sharing so you can skip the rabbit hole.

quick hits first, links right there so you do not have to google anything:

Microsoft for Startups - Founders Hub solo founder friendly, no investor needed at the beginning, gives you Azure credits you can use on Azure OpenAI plus GitHub etc https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups

AWS Activate startup focused AWS credits, smaller chunks if you are independent, bigger if you get into an accelerator or have a VC, having an LLC and real site helps a lot https://aws.amazon.com/activate/

Google Cloud AI Startup Program for AI first startups that already raised (seed/Series A), huge Google Cloud credits if you qualify, good if you want to live on Vertex AI and Gemini https://cloud.google.com/startup/ai

ElevenLabs Startup Grants if you are doing voice or conversational audio this is crazy useful, big pool of free characters for TTS and voice cloning for early stage teams https://elevenlabs.io/blog/elevenlabs-startup-grants-just-got-bigger-now-12-months-and-over-680-hours-of-conversational-ai-audio

Cohere Catalyst Grants API credits for research, public good and impact projects, especially if you are in academia or doing civic / nonprofit stuff https://cohere.com/research/grants

MiniMax free AI voice, music and LLM testing, you get a chunk of free monthly credits on the audio side so you can try voices and music before paying, defintely worth a spin if you need sound https://www.minimax.io/audio

if you want a bigger list of recources, sites like CreditForStartups keep updated directories of tools and credit bundles from clouds, dev tools, etc, but the ones above are the stuff I would hit first

I am using this whole free credit stack to build my app Dialed. it helps ADHD brains actually start tasks with short personalized pep talks instead of staring at the screen. a bit over 2,000 people are already using it to get themselves moving. if you deal with task paralysis or ADHD inertia, search Dialed on the App Store and try a pep talk next time your brain refuses to start something.

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!