Add a payment card
A one-time $20 in free credits when an account saves its first eligible card.
Turn on auto-recharge
A one-time free credit matching the first automatic recharge, up to $50.
These incentives are currently rolling out. Until they are fully enabled for an account, saving a card or enabling auto-recharge behaves exactly as before and no credit is issued.
Incentive 1: $20 for adding a card
What you get
$20 of free API credits, added to your account’s free-credit balance as soon as the card is saved.Who qualifies
The credit is for accounts that are new to paying. All of the following must be true at the moment the card is saved:Two ways to save a card
- Billing information → Add payment method. The card is saved without a purchase and evaluated immediately.
- Buying credits and keeping the card on file. The card is saved as part of the purchase. The purchase itself does not count against the “no previous payments” rule, so a brand-new account’s first purchase can still earn the $20.
Examples
Incentive 2: Auto-recharge match, up to $50
What you get
When your first automatic recharge succeeds, you receive free credits equal to that recharge amount, capped at $50.When it is granted
Turning auto-recharge on does not grant anything by itself. The credit is issued when the first automatic recharge actually charges your card successfully, that is, when your balance drops below your recharge threshold and the recharge goes through. If the charge fails (declined card, expired card), nothing is granted; the credit is issued when a later first recharge succeeds. See Auto-recharge for how to configure the recharge amount and trigger threshold.Who qualifies
- Accounts that have never had a successful automatic recharge before. Accounts already using auto-recharge do not qualify when the incentive launches.
- The card charged must be a credit or debit card (same eligibility as above).
- One grant per account, and one per physical card across all accounts.
- Only the first successful auto-recharge is matched. Later recharges are regular purchases with no bonus.
Stacking with the card-add credit
The two incentives are independent. A new account that adds a card ($20), enables auto-recharge, and then has its first $50 recharge go through receives $70 in free credits in total.How the free credits behave
Frequently asked questions
I added a card but did not receive $20.
I added a card but did not receive $20.
Check the eligibility table above. The most common reasons: the account already had a card on file; the account had made a payment before; the card is prepaid; or the card was used to earn the credit before, on this or another account. Removing and re-adding a card never changes the outcome.
I turned on auto-recharge but see no credit.
I turned on auto-recharge but see no credit.
The credit is granted when the first automatic recharge succeeds, and turning the setting on by itself does not grant it. It will appear about a minute after your first recharge goes through. If a recharge failed, check the card on file under Billing information.
My first recharge was $100. Why did I only get $50?
My first recharge was $100. Why did I only get $50?
The match is capped at $50.
Can I get the credit again on a new account?
Can I get the credit again on a new account?
No. Each card can earn each incentive once across all accounts, and each account can earn each incentive once.
Will I be charged for the free credits?
Will I be charged for the free credits?
No. The incentive credits are free; only your own purchases and auto-recharges are charged to your card.
Does the incentive change my recharge amount or threshold?
Does the incentive change my recharge amount or threshold?
No. Your auto-recharge settings are unchanged; the free credit is added on top of the recharge.
When do the free credits expire?
When do the free credits expire?
3 months after they are granted. Free credits are spent before purchased credits, so any usage on the account consumes them first. Unused free credits are removed from your balance when they expire; purchased credits are unaffected.
Summary
Next steps
Developer Console
Add a payment method, enable auto-recharge, and view your free-credit balance.
Pricing
Per-endpoint rates, auto-recharge settings, spending limits, and xAI API credit rewards.