How to get free credits for AI image and video tools
AI image and video generators usually run on credits. Every image, upscale or second of video costs some of them, and video in particular can use up a monthly allowance in an afternoon. Luckily, there are several reliable ways to get extra credits without paying full price. This guide covers the main sources and a few habits that help the credits last.
Start with the free plan, but read the limits
Most image and video tools have a free plan or a small signup allowance. It is the easiest way to see whether a tool's style suits you.
Before you rely on it, check three things on the pricing page. First, whether free outputs carry a watermark. Second, whether you are allowed to use free outputs commercially. Third, whether free credits refresh every day or month, or are a one-time grant.
These details vary a lot between tools and change often. If you plan to use images or video in client work or ads, the license matters more than the number of credits.
Stability AI lists free commercial use of its models for businesses under $1M in annual revenue. Licensing terms like this are worth checking before you pick a tool for paid work.
Signup codes and bonus credits
Promo codes from creators and launch campaigns often add bonus credits on signup or cut the price of the first month. PerkRadar currently lists, among others:
- Bonus credit codes for Vidu, Pixio, Pixio ComfyUI and Fomo AI.
- First-month discounts for Runway and Hedra.
- A Tripo code with bonus credits and a discount on the first Pro month, for 3D generation.
- Discounts on getimg.ai, OpenArt and Kittl plans.
Codes are often limited to new accounts or a set number of uses. If one fails, check the offer page for the source and terms, and report it so other members know.
Creator and partner programs
If you publish content, creator programs are one of the best sources of ongoing credits. Several AI video and image companies give free plans, monthly credit grants or early model access to people who make videos, tutorials or showcases with their tools.
PerkRadar tracks creator programs from Higgsfield, PixVerse, OpenArt, Luma AI, CapCut, Krea, Hedra, Recraft, Vidu and Runware. PixVerse, for example, lists its Pro plan free for three months for accepted creators, with more at higher tiers.
Even without a formal program, it can help to be visible. Some companies offer credits to people who share good work, report bugs or write tutorials. Follow the tools you use on their official channels, where these offers are usually announced.
These programs usually expect something in return, such as regular posts, a minimum audience size, or tagging the tool. Read the terms carefully, and only join programs for tools you would genuinely recommend. Approval is up to the company.
Student, education and startup routes
If you are a student or teacher, check for education offers. PerkRadar lists Adobe Express Premium free for K-12 teachers and students, which includes Firefly generative AI features, and a discounted Meshy Pro plan for students.
If you are building a product on top of image or video models, look at startup programs from model platforms rather than consumer apps. fal.ai lists a startup program starting at $1,000 in credits and growing to $5,000, and Runware lists up to $1,000 in free credits plus bonus credits on deposits. These credits usually apply to API usage, not to a consumer subscription.
Make every credit count
Credits go further when you work in a deliberate order. These habits help with almost any tool.
- Draft at low settings. Use the smallest size, lowest quality or shortest duration while you find the right prompt.
- Lock the look with stills first. For video, settle the composition with an image, then animate it, rather than generating many full videos.
- Change one thing at a time. If you rewrite the whole prompt every run, you cannot tell what helped.
- Keep a prompt log with settings and seeds, so you can reproduce a good result without paying to rediscover it.
- Upscale and extend only the final picks, since these steps often cost extra.
Check each tool's cost table. Different models inside the same app can cost very different amounts per generation.
Compare tools before you commit
There are many image and video tools, and each one has a different style and strength. Spending free credits across a few of them is a good way to find the right fit before you pay.
Pick two or three real briefs from your own work, such as a product shot, a short social clip and a background image. Run the same brief through each tool using its free allowance. Then compare the results on what matters to you: quality, how closely it followed the prompt, speed, and how many credits it used.
Keep the outputs in one folder with the tool name and settings in each file name. After a week you will have a clear, practical comparison instead of a vague impression.
Credit costs are not comparable across tools. One tool's 10 credits may cost far more or less than another's. Compare the price per finished image or per second of video instead.
Watch out for auto-renewal
Many first-month discounts turn into a full-price subscription automatically. Unused monthly credits often do not roll over, and some tools charge annual plans upfront.
Annual plans can look cheap per month, but you pay for the whole year upfront and refunds are not always available. Unless you already use a tool every week, a monthly plan is usually the safer way to start.
When you claim a discount, write down the renewal date and price. If you are only testing, cancel right after you subscribe if the tool allows you to keep access until the period ends. Then you can decide calmly whether to come back.