New developer accounts on platform.claude.com get a starter credit balance to test Claude models via API, no card required to claim it.
What you get
- Starter API credit balance on account creation
- Access to Claude models directly via the Anthropic API
Who qualifies
Any new Anthropic Console account. Open source maintainers with real traction should apply separately to the Open Source Program for a much larger six-month Max 20x grant instead of relying on this starter balance.
How to claim
- Open the link below and create an Anthropic Console account.
- The starter credit balance is applied automatically — generate an API key to start using it.
The catch
The starter balance is small — enough for an afternoon of testing, not daily use. Once it's gone, continued API use requires adding a payment method.