Free API Access Guide

A step-by-step guide to claiming free AI keys from top platforms, verified and updated based on the latest info.

Clarifai AI

Access Steps:

Signup: Use Google login.
Create Profile: Set type to 'AR Projects', role to 'Educator/Student', and use-case to 'Pre-trained models'.
API Key: Go to Playground -> API Keys tab -> Generate Key.

1,000 requests/month. Over 21 models. Great for CV + media projects.

Google AI Studio

Access Steps:

Login: Use Google account.
Explore Models: Gemini 2.0, 2.5 Pro, Gemma, Flashlight, and V2.
API Keys: Automatically managed within the platform. No manual key export.

Daily Quotas:

Gemini 2.0: 1,500/day
Gemini 2.5: 500/day
Gemma: 1,440/day

Supports multimodal output — video, voice, text.

Cerebras AI

Access Steps:

Signup: Use Google login.
Profile Info: Choose 'student' as use-case.
API Key: After signup, it is generated automatically. Copy it from dashboard.
Test Models: LLaMA 4 Scout 17B16E, etc.

14,400 requests/day. Blazing-fast inference. Ideal for live chatbots.

Mistral AI

Access Steps:

Login: Google account.
API Key: Go to API Key tab -> Generate -> Paste into Playground.
Test Model: Try Mistral Medium or GPT-4.1-mini in curl.

150 chat/day + 30 image gen/day.

Cloudflare AI

Access Steps:

Login: Cloudflare account.
Find API Key: Dashboard -> Profile -> API Tokens -> Create new token (use 'Workers AI' template).
Copy Account ID + API Token.
Run cURL: Use their pre-formatted sample in ReqBin.

10,000 req/day. Supports model deployment at edge locations.

GPT4All

Access Steps:

Setup: Join their Telegram bot -> Generate Token -> View usage stats.
Use Key: Insert into curl command for testing models like GPT4-mini.

Good mobile option. Lightweight image + chat generation.

OpenRouter

Access Steps:

Filter for Free: Set Prompt Pricing slider to 'FREE'.
Signup: Email or GitHub.
Key: Dashboard -> API Key -> Generate.
Use: One key grants access to 67+ models, including DeepSeek R1.

Supports Claude occasionally when in free promo mode.

Together AI

Access Steps:

Dashboard -> See API Key (auto-created).
Playground -> Test models like DeepSeek R1, Metal LLaMA, Flux.1, Exeoni.

Unlimited usage. Best for long-term deployment or multi-model switching. Strong support for DeepSeek.

GitHub Models

Access Steps:

Explore: Search 'Copilot models' or visit Marketplace -> Models tab.
Try It: Select model -> 'Use this model' -> Launch playground.
API: Some models provide direct keys or integrations.

Great for code, Whisper (audio), LLaMA 4, DeepSeek, etc.

Pollinations AI

Access Steps:

Access: No signup or key needed.
Use: Just enter prompt in the URL or UI.
Models: GPT-4 MiniT, TTS audio, image gen.

Pure anonymous access. No logging. Great for stealth testing.

DeepSeek Access

DeepSeek shows up on multiple platforms. Here's the best way to get it:

Together AI

Offers DeepSeek R1 and other variants.
Unlimited free access on this platform.
Works well for: chat, code generation, and vision tasks.

Go to Together AI

Eli’s Notes

Start with Together AI or Cloudflare if you need volume.
Use Pollinations or OpenRouter for instant prototyping.
Don’t sleep on Cerebras — fastest response of the bunch.
For DeepSeek: Together AI gives the best experience. OpenRouter is a good backup.