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 Perks sites still listing those figures are out of date.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 equivalent with published terms and an open application. Mistral and Cohere publish their own credits with more open licensing. Together AI, Fireworks, and Modal cover open-weight model hosting with tiered credits from roughly $15,000 upward. 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 with published terms, Mistral and Cohere for more open licensing, 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 Mistral 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 $100K top tier | Long-context and safety-focused AI products | Standard tier ~$1K-$5K; larger tiers for equity-funded startups under 4 years old. 12-month validity. | |
| 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. | |
| API credits | Open-weight and European data-residency needs | More open licensing and self-hosting options; smaller ecosystem than OpenAI or Anthropic. |
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?
OpenAI does not run a broad public self-serve credits program in 2026. Credits are mostly routed through partners: a Ramp account commonly unlocks about $2,500, VC and accelerator partners can grant more, and accelerators like Y Combinator bundle larger allocations. You can also consume OpenAI models via Azure OpenAI, funded by Microsoft for Startups Azure credits.
How do I get $2,500 in OpenAI credits from Ramp?
Open a Ramp corporate card account and check the Ramp partner perks marketplace, which has commonly included an OpenAI credit around $2,500 for eligible startups. Terms change, so confirm the current offer inside Ramp after your account is approved.
Do OpenAI startup credits expire?
Yes. Partner-routed OpenAI credits typically expire about 12 months after they are granted, and unused balances are forfeited. Plan to use them for prototyping and validation within the 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 has a larger advertised top tier (up to $100K) and suits long-context and safety-sensitive products; OpenAI credits are smaller and partner-routed but give access to widely used GPT-class models and tooling. Many startups take both and keep their code portable between them.
Related programs
Anthropic Startup Program
$1K–$25K+ in Claude API credits plus priority rate limits for startups building with Claude.
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub
The easiest-to-qualify major cloud program, up to $150K Azure credits (investor-referred), no VC required for entry tiers.
NVIDIA Inception
Free membership for incorporated AI startups under 10 years old. Preferred GPU pricing arrives as a supplier rebate, not an NVIDIA invoice. No credit figure is published.