Free Trial / Sign-up Bonus API Relays
9 relays listed
A lot of AI API relays give new sign-ups a small amount of free credit, or otherwise offer a very low-friction way to try the service. Using that free balance to test a relay's reliability, model coverage, and response speed before committing real money is the safest way to pick a relay.
Every relay below is tagged "Free Credits." Keep in mind the free balance is usually small and won't last long — once you've used it to evaluate the relay, top up as needed and favor relays with a longer track record and real community feedback.
Relays9
Verify each provider yourself, and test with a small deposit before topping up more
Runs a full, unthrottled GLM 5.2 deployment on a dedicated H200 cluster — no hidden rate limits, built for agent workloads, batch jobs, and long-document development. One-stop access to the latest Chinese models including Kimi K3, Seedance 2.0, and Vidu Q3 Pro, with free credits for new users, a dedicated student discount, and open reseller partnerships.
OpenAI
Claude
Gemini
OpenAIClaudeGemini+2
OpenAIClaudeGemini+2
OpenAIClaudeGemini
How to choose one
Run your usual workload against the free balance to check response speed and model availability before deciding whether to commit.
Confirm how the credit is earned (just signing up, ID verification, a referral) and how much you actually get, plus any expiry.
Free credit is a way to sample a relay, not a reason to pick one — your long-term primary relay should still be chosen on multiplier and reliability.
Frequently asked questions
Are there actually free AI API relays?
Most "free" offers are sign-up credits — a small free balance on registration that you use before topping up. This page collects the relays that offer one.
What can I do with free credits?
They're good for testing response speed, verifying the workflow end to end, and comparing model output quality before you commit real spend.
What happens when the free credit runs out?
Top up as needed. It's worth keeping 2-3 relays you've tested and liked as your primary and backup options.
Browse relays by category
Find the right AI API relay by model, payment method, or sign-up bonus.