Can I get a free tier for LLM APIs?
Common free options
Major providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google often give new users free credits (e.g., $5 to $20) that expire after a few months. Some offer a permanent free tier with rate limits, such as a certain number of requests per minute or tokens per day. Others provide free access to smaller models.
Open-source models like Llama, Mistral, or Gemma can be run locally for free if you have the hardware. Cloud providers may also offer free tiers for their AI services, though with usage caps.
What to watch for
Free tiers usually have strict rate limits, lower priority, and may not include the latest models. Some require a credit card even for free usage, and you may be charged if you exceed the limit. Always read the terms to avoid surprise bills.
Free credits often expire, so check the expiration date. If you need consistent, high-volume access, a paid tier is usually more reliable.
- New user credits (e.g., $5-$20, expire in 1-3 months)
- Permanent free tier with rate limits
- Free access to small or older models
- Self-hosted open-source models
- Free trials for cloud AI platforms
Common mistakes
- Assuming free tiers have no limits; they often have strict rate and token caps.
- Forgetting that free credits expire and may require a credit card on file.
- Thinking free tiers include the most advanced models; they usually don't.
