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!
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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.
Free credit for tool builders
Hi, new here! Am developing an app to help coders. I’m integrating different providers. Gemini is easy since they do provide free keys with generous credits daily, making testing easy. I couldn’t find similar thing with OpenAPI api. Is there a provision like Gemini in openapi for builders ... More on community.openai.com
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1 week agoI accepted n8n's offer for 100 credits for OpenAI API. How do I use this?
I accepted n8n’s offer of 100 free credits for an OpenAI API. I see this credential is now in my list of credentials in my current project. There is no key or way to manage this credential. When I try to use this in an OpenAI node, it does not show in the list of valid credentials. More on community.n8n.io
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August 6, 2025Does OpenAI give free 100$ Free Usage Limit?
Is it true? If so, why I don’t see it at my billing pages? More on community.openai.com
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December 31, 2024Free credit not recevied yet
I have just sign up and didn’t get the free credit limit. Why? Is the Open AI still providing the free credit limit to try the API ? Please let me know about it. Thanks More on community.openai.com
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April 20, 2024Videos
02:15
How to Buy and Get OpenAI API Credits 2025 - YouTube
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How to Get OpenAI API Key for Free | Testing OpenAI ChatGPT API ...
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How to Add Credits to your OpenAI Account - Fun with AI - YouTube
07:04
Using OpenAI/Claude API Key vs. using Platform Credits - YouTube
OpenAI Help Center
help.openai.com › en › articles › 8381046-chatgpt-promotional-subscriptionsfree-trial-invites-faq
ChatGPT Promotional Subscriptions/Free Trial Invites FAQ | OpenAI Help Center
4 days ago - By using free trials, promotional ... transferred, may have additional conditions applied to them by OpenAI, are not valid for cash or other credits or ......
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.
Architjn
architjn.com › blog › free-openai-api-credits-how-to-get-and-use
Free OpenAI API Credits: Get & Use Guide
March 24, 2025 - OpenAI's free API credit program is a golden opportunity for businesses and research institutions, offering significant cost savings while contributing to AI model refinement.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
FREE OpenAI API Key: STOP PAYING! (Python Setup & Code for Beginners) - YouTube
Welcome to the ULTIMATE guide for getting your OpenAI API Key for FREE! 💰 Stop worrying about starting costs and dive into building with GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.T...
Published October 27, 2025
Termsoup Helpdesk
termsoup.crisp.help › en-us › article › openai-free-trial-payment-token-limits-wds3wd
OpenAI: Free trial, Payment, Token & Limits | Termsoup Helpdesk
January 25, 2025 - After signing up an OpenAI account and applying for an API key, OpenAI provides a $5 worth of free tokens. Click on Usage on the left to view your token balance. However, OpenAI now requires users to add credit card details on their website due to high demand.
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Does OpenAI give free 100$ 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?
Startupcredits
startupcredits.org › home › openai offer
Openai Startup Credits | Get Free $2500 ChatGPT API Credits
November 20, 2024 - Yes, it’s 100% free if you want to get $2500 Openai Credit From Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub.
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Free credit not recevied yet - API - OpenAI Developer Community
April 20, 2024 - I have just sign up and didn’t get the free credit limit. Why? Is the Open AI still providing the free credit limit to try the API ? Please let me know about it. Thanks
Klamp
klamp.ai › blog › open-ai-credits-what-they-are-and-how-to-use-them
How to generate your own Openai API key & add credits Blogs | Klamp.ai
August 20, 2024 - Promotions and Grants: Occasionally, OpenAI runs promotions or offers grants that provide free credits to users, particularly for research, educational purposes, or non-profit 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 - 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 it didn’t) it always shows “$0.00/$5.00 limit” but no credits granted.
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
openai.com › form › researcher-access-program
Researcher Access Program application | OpenAI
countries supported by our API(opens ... with limited financial and institutional resources. Researchers can apply for up to $1,000 of OpenAI API credits to support their work....
Medium
medium.com › @prottoyrudra7777 › get-openai-accounts-with-free-credits-8927eda3537a
Get OpenAI Accounts with Free Credits | by Water Melon
September 9, 2023 - Get OpenAI Accounts with Free Credits Get OpenAI accounts credits at over 90% discounts. To purchase or to learn more, contact on discord: acc23131 100 USD credit for 15USD 200 USD credit for 30 …
OpenAI Developer Community
community.openai.com › api
Free credits expired six months before I signed up - API - OpenAI Developer Community
December 18, 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 …
Checkmarx
checkmarx.com › blog › openai-allowed-unlimited-credit-on-new-accounts
OpenAI Allowed Unlimited Credit on New Accounts
June 9, 2024 - When OpenAI first allowed users to sign up for an account, it was offering a free credit as a trial to try their AI projects (around $7).