- Anthropic is giving free extra usage credits to all Claude Pro and Max subscribers.
- Step 1: Go to claude.ai/settings/usage and enable “Extra Usage” in your account.
- Step 2: Click “Claim your credit” on the banner — refresh or clear cache if the button errors out.
- Step 3: PayPal subscribers may need to add a credit card before the claim option appears.
- Pro users get $20, Max 5x users get $100, and Max 20x users get $200.
- Credits must be claimed by April 17, 2026, and expire 90 days after redemption.
- “Extra Usage” must be enabled in settings before you can claim the credit.
How to Claim Your Free Claude Credits
Anyone wondering how to get free Claude AI credits in April 2026 just needs to visit one page. Anthropic rolled out a one-time credit matching each subscriber’s plan tier. The claim button lives at claude.ai/settings/usage — if you do not see it, toggle “Extra Usage” on first. Multiple users on Reddit confirmed that single step fixed the Claude extra usage credit not showing issue.
Why Anthropic Is Giving Away Credits
This is not a random act of generosity. Starting April 4, 2026, Anthropic removed Claude subscription access for third-party tools like OpenClaw. Those harnesses now draw from a separate pay-as-you-go “extra usage” balance, billed independently from your Claude Pro or Max subscription. The free credit is compensation for that Anthropic third-party harness policy change.
“These tools put an outsized strain on our systems,” Anthropic wrote in the email sent to affected subscribers. “Capacity is a resource we manage carefully and we need to prioritize our customers using our core products.” The company is also offering up to 30% off when purchasing extra usage bundles, a clear signal that pay-as-you-go is the new default for third-party integrations.
What You Need to Know Before Spending It
The Claude free credit amount matches your tier: $20 for Claude Pro, $100 for Max 5x, $200 for Max 20x. Once claimed, it expires in 90 days. At current Claude API pricing, $100 burns through fast. Users on r/ClaudeCode estimate that amount covers roughly 3-4 heavy Claude Code coding sessions.
Disable Extra Usage once your free credit runs out. The feature automatically charges your card when you exceed Claude subscription limits, and costs add up quickly without guardrails. If you are deciding whether Claude Pro is worth it in 2026, this free credit is a risk-free way to test API-level usage before committing. Claim your credit at claude.ai/settings/usage before April 17 at 11:59 PM PT.
