Claude Just Gave Me $100 Free — Claim Yours Before April 17, 2026
Anthropic Is Giving Away Free Claude Credits — But Only Until April 17
If you use Claude Pro, Max, or any plan at all — stop what you're doing and go claim your free credits right now. Anthropic is handing out a one-time credit equal to your plan price, and the deadline is April 17, 2026. Miss it and the credits vanish forever.
I got $100 free. You might get $20, $100, or even $200 depending on your plan. Here's everything you need to know.
What Changed on April 4, 2026?
Anthropic changed how third-party tools are billed. Previously, if you used tools like OpenClaw, their usage was covered under your subscription. Starting April 4, 2026, these third-party tools now consume "extra usage" — meaning they eat into credits beyond your base subscription.
This is a big shift. Your Pro or Max subscription still covers Claude.ai and Claude Code as before, but third-party apps now require additional usage credits.
Your Free Credit — Claim It Now
To soften the transition, Anthropic is giving every paid subscriber a one-time free credit equal to their plan price:
- Pro plan ($20/mo): $20 free credit
- Max 5x plan ($100/mo): $100 free credit
- Max 20x plan ($200/mo): $200 free credit
DEADLINE: April 17, 2026. If you don't claim by this date, you lose the credits permanently. No extensions, no exceptions.
How to Claim Your Free Credits (Step by Step)
- Go to claude.ai/settings/usage
- Look for the "Claim your credit" banner at the top of the page
- Click the button to claim
- Done — credits are added to your account instantly
Direct link: https://claude.ai/settings/usage
It takes about 10 seconds. There's zero reason not to do this right now.
Where Do These Credits Work?
Your claimed credits (and any future usage bundles) work across everything in the Claude ecosystem:
- Claude.ai — the web interface
- Claude Code — the CLI coding assistant
- Cowork — collaborative workspaces
- Third-party apps — tools like OpenClaw and others built on the Claude platform
Credits are valid for 90 days after claiming, so use them wisely.
New Usage Bundles — Save Up to 30%
Beyond the free credit, Anthropic also introduced usage bundles you can buy for extra capacity. The bigger the bundle, the bigger the discount:
| Bundle | You Pay | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| $50 credits | $45 | 10% off |
| $250 credits | $200 | 20% off |
| $1,000 credits | $700 | 30% off |
If you're a heavy Claude user (especially with Claude Code), the $250 bundle at 20% off is the sweet spot. You get meaningful savings without overcommitting $700 upfront. The $1,000 tier gives the deepest discount but only makes sense if you're burning through credits consistently.
These bundles also work across Claude, Claude Code, Cowork, and third-party apps — no restrictions.
Learn more: Usage Bundles Documentation
What Should You Do Right Now?
- Claim your free credit immediately — Go to Settings → Usage
- Check your plan tier to know how much you're getting
- Consider a usage bundle if you use Claude Code or third-party tools heavily
- Tell other Claude users — many people will miss this deadline
Remember: These credits expire 90 days after you claim them. And the window to claim closes on April 17, 2026. Don't leave free money on the table.