OpenAI startup credits have ended: what to use instead
OpenAI has stopped offering startup credits. There is no application form or published credit amount on any OpenAI-owned page, and the Ramp partnership and Researcher Access routes that used to supply them are no longer offered. The one path that still reaches GPT-class models with credits is Azure OpenAI Service funded by a Microsoft for Startups grant. For a direct equivalent, Anthropic runs the closest program with published terms.
At a glance
- Max value
- Referral
- Not required
- Review time
- 0-0 days
- Stages
- Bootstrapped, Pre-seed
Can you still get OpenAI credits for a startup?
Not directly. OpenAI has stopped offering startup credits, and there is no application form or published credit amount on any OpenAI-owned page. The routes that used to work, a Ramp partnership worth about $2,500 and the Researcher Access Program at around $1,000, are no longer offered. Perks sites still listing those figures are out of date. One indirect path survives: you can consume OpenAI models through Azure OpenAI Service, funded by Microsoft for Startups Azure credits, which is now the only way to get GPT-class inference against a credit grant.
What replaced the OpenAI startup program?
Nothing from OpenAI itself. If you need model credits at an early stage, Anthropic runs the closest direct program, centered on partner discounts and credits of up to $45,000 plus VC-routed API credits. Together AI and Fireworks cover open-weight model hosting; Together AI runs tiered credits from up to $15,000 to up to $50,000, and Fireworks credits are real but the amount is not published. For GPT-class models specifically, the Azure OpenAI route through Microsoft for Startups is the practical answer, and it also unlocks broader Azure infrastructure credits alongside it.
Should you build on OpenAI or an alternative?
Choose on model fit, not on credits, because the credits are gone. If GPT-class models suit your product, build on them and route through Azure OpenAI if you want a grant behind the spend. If you are genuinely undecided, the providers that still fund startups are worth weighing: Anthropic for a direct program, and the inference hosts for open-weight models. The durable lesson from this program ending is to keep your prompt and model layer swappable, so a vendor retiring an offer costs you a config change rather than a rewrite.
OpenAI vs Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, and Together AI for startup credits
AI model credits change fast and are mostly partner-gated. Compare on the credit you can actually unlock, model fit for your use case, and how portable your code is between providers, not just the headline number.
| Option | Value | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
OpenAI for StartupsThis guide | Discontinued | No longer available | OpenAI has stopped offering startup credits. No application form or published amount exists on any OpenAI-owned page. Reach GPT models via Azure OpenAI instead. |
| Up to $45K partner discounts and credits | Long-context and safety-focused AI products | Startup Stack partner offers; up to $100K in extra API credits possible through a participating VC partner. | |
| Funded by Azure credits | Consuming OpenAI models on Azure with up to $150K credits | Access OpenAI models inside Azure, paid from your Founders Hub Azure balance. | |
| Up to $15K to $50K in platform credits by tier | Open-weight model hosting and fine-tuning | Selection-based; the $50K tier is for startups that have raised over $10M. |
Amounts and pricing change often. Verify current terms on each provider's official page before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Does OpenAI have a startup credits program?
No. OpenAI has stopped offering startup credits, and no OpenAI-owned page publishes an application form or credit amount. The Ramp and Researcher Access routes are no longer offered. You can still consume OpenAI models via Azure OpenAI, funded by Microsoft for Startups Azure credits.
Can I still get $2,500 in OpenAI credits from Ramp?
Not reliably. The Ramp partnership route is no longer offered, and perks sites that still list a $2,500 OpenAI credit are out of date. Use Azure OpenAI through Microsoft for Startups, or another provider, instead.
What happens to OpenAI credits I already hold?
Credits granted before the program ended follow the terms you received at grant, so check the expiry in your OpenAI account. Plan to use them for prototyping and validation within that window rather than banking them for later.
OpenAI or Anthropic credits, which is better for a startup?
It depends on model fit. Anthropic's startup program offers up to $45K in partner discounts and credits, plus up to $100K in extra API credits through a participating VC, and suits long-context and safety-sensitive products. OpenAI no longer offers startup credits, but GPT-class models remain available through Azure OpenAI. Many startups keep their code portable between providers.