Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit
Every Vercel team gets $5 of AI Gateway credit a month on a free tier that covers a subset of models; buying credits moves the team to the paid tier and ends the monthly credit.
Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit is an AI and ML perk from Vercel worth $5/month included, with no funding required.
Inside Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit
- AI Gateway's free tier includes $5 of credit a month for a subset of models (not the full catalog), at provider list rates with per-model rate limits lower than the paid tier.
- A team may be asked to add a valid payment method before using free credits.
- Once you purchase credits, the team moves to the paid tier and the monthly free credit no longer applies.
- By default, AI Gateway does not route based on providers' training-data policies; a setting restricts routing to providers that do not train on prompts.
Source: The provider's official program page · as of Oct 4, 2026
Who it's for
- Funding / backing
- No funding needed
- Geography
- Global
- Recurring / expiry
- Monthly, until the team buys AI Gateway credits.
- Other requirements
- A subset of models only, with lower per-model rate limits. A team may be asked to add a payment method before using free credits.
How to apply for Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit
- A payment method / paid account on file
- 1Create a Vercel account and an AI Gateway API key; the free credit starts with your first AI Gateway request.
Source: The provider's official program page · as of Oct 4, 2026
Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit: common questions
How much is Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit worth?
Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit is worth $5/month included. AI Gateway's free tier includes $5 of credit a month for a subset of models (not the full catalog), at provider list rates with per-model rate limits lower than the paid tier. A team may be asked to add a valid payment method before using free credits. Once you purchase credits, the team moves to the paid tier and the monthly free credit no longer applies. By default, AI Gateway does not route based on providers' training-data policies; a setting restricts routing to providers that do not train on prompts.
Who qualifies for Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit?
Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit is open to any startup, with no funding required. A subset of models only, with lower per-model rate limits. A team may be asked to add a payment method before using free credits.
Do I need to be VC-backed or in an accelerator to get Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit?
No. Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit is open to any startup that meets the stated criteria, no investor or accelerator backing required.
How do I apply for Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit?
Create a Vercel account and an AI Gateway API key; the free credit starts with your first AI Gateway request.
How long do I have to use Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit, and does it expire?
Monthly, until the team buys AI Gateway credits.
Is Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit available outside the US?
Vercel AI Gateway Free Credit is available globally, subject to the provider's terms.
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