AI Perks curates and provides access to exclusive discounts, credits, and deals on AI tools, cloud services, and APIs to help startups and developers save money.
Can students use Claude Code for free?
Not on the Free plan, but students can still run it on credits. The biggest listed offer is $20,000 in Anthropic API credits. Its card shows who qualifies and how to claim.
Claude Code is included in all paid plans and shares usage limits with the rest of the plan. The pricing table marks it "No" on Free and "Yes" on the paid plans. So the practical question for a CS student is how to pay for it as little as possible.
There are two routes. You can subscribe to a plan, or you can point Claude Code at an API key and spend credits. AI Perks tracks more student and educator offers around both routes, and this guide shows where each fits.
This page is about Claude Code specifically. For the broader Claude chat product, see the Claude student discount guide.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Claude $240 per seat
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
Which Claude plans include Claude Code?
Every paid plan includes it. Your terminal work and your chats draw from the same pool, so heavy chatting leaves less for coding.
| Plan | Claude Code | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | No | Not included |
| Pro | Yes | $20 per month, or $17 per month on annual billing ($200 up front) |
| Max 5x | Yes | 5x the Pro per-session usage allowance |
| Max 20x | Yes | 20x the Pro per-session usage allowance |
| Team | Yes | Included in every seat, Premium seats get more usage |
Check the Max prices on Anthropic's pricing page before you plan a budget. For a full cost breakdown, read Claude Code pricing: Pro, Max and API costs.
What do the usage limits mean for a student?
Pro and Max plans have a five-hour session limit and a weekly limit. Activity in Claude and Claude Code counts against the same limits. A long debugging session in the terminal and a few essay-style chats can both eat into one allowance.
When you hit the limit, you are not stuck. Paid Pro and Max users can turn on usage credits, which switch requests to consumption-based pricing at standard API rates instead of blocking them. That is convenient, but it is still metered spend, so it helps to have credits behind it.
Pro also does not include API usage through the Claude Console. Pay-as-you-go API use is a separate bill from your subscription.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Claude $240 per seat
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
How do API credits cover Claude Code?
If you set an API key, Claude Code uses it instead of your subscription. That results in API usage charges rather than drawing on your plan. This is exactly where free credits matter, because they pay those charges.
The $20,000 Anthropic API card is the headline amount. Open it to see who qualifies and how to claim. For a walkthrough of keys and credits, see how to get a free Anthropic API key.
A trap with Max plan credits
Max 5x, Max 20x and Team plans include monthly API credits of $100, $200 and up to $500 (Team, pooled). These cover API products such as the Claude API, Managed Agents, the Agent SDK and the playground. They cannot be used in Claude Code itself, and they cannot be used in the Claude apps either.
New subscribers can claim them after seven days on an eligible plan, and claiming means linking a Claude Console organization to the plan. Do not buy Max expecting those credits to fund your terminal sessions.
Which free credits can a CS student stack?
Claude Code is one tool in a student toolkit. These catalogue amounts sit next to it, and each row opens its own card.
| Company | Free credits | How to get |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropic API | $20,000 | Get this perk |
| OpenAI Codex (students) | $100 | Get this perk |
| GitHub (students) | Up to $120 | Get this perk |
| JetBrains (students) | $199 | Get this perk |
| OpenRouter | Up to $3,000 | Get this perk |
| Google Gemini (students) | $240 | Get this perk |
Total across the six cards: $20,000 + $100 + $120 + $199 + $3,000 + $240 = up to $23,659, with the Anthropic card as the biggest piece.
Each card shows who qualifies and how to claim, so you can open one and start the trial right away. Amounts and terms differ per card.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Claude $240 per seat
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
Is there a Claude Code student discount?
A third-party guide states there is no public individual student coupon for Claude Pro or Claude Code. Anthropic's own pricing pages do not list one either.
The same guide says education access through a university can include Claude Code via the institution, at no cost to the student. That depends on your school, so it is worth asking your department. If your school has no such arrangement, credits are the realistic way to avoid paying list price.
How do you get started step by step?
Step 1: Get credits through AI Perks
Open getaiperks.com and go to the Anthropic API card with the $20,000 amount. It lists who qualifies and how to claim, and you can start from there.
Step 2: Choose your billing route
Decide whether Claude Code runs on a subscription or on an API key. Setting a key moves you to API usage charges, which is what your credits pay for.
Step 3: Add the student developer perks
Open the Codex, GitHub and JetBrains student cards from the table above. They cover coding assistance and tooling alongside Claude Code.
Step 4: Watch your limits
If you use a subscription, remember the five-hour session limit and the weekly limit. Chat and terminal usage share them.
Step 5: Use usage credits only when you need them
Extra usage bills at standard API rates. Turn it on for a deadline week, not as a default.
Top AI Credits for Startups
Apply directly through these verified programs.
Claude $240 per seat
Eligible for early-stage startups
ChatGPT $80
Eligible for early-stage startups
Google Gemini $240
Eligible for early-stage startups
GitHub Up to $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Notion $120
Eligible for early-stage startups
Figma $1,080
Eligible for early-stage startups
FAQ
Is Claude Code free for students?
Not on the Free plan. The pricing table shows Claude Code as "No" on Free and "Yes" on paid plans. Students can still run it on credits through an API key. The Anthropic API card shows the $20,000 amount, who qualifies and how to claim.
Is there a Claude Code student discount?
A third-party guide says there is no public individual student coupon for Claude Pro or Claude Code. Pro costs $20 per month, or $17 per month billed annually at $200 up front. Credits are the cheaper path, and getaiperks.com lists the current amounts.
Can I use Max plan API credits inside Claude Code?
No. The monthly API credits on Max 5x ($100) and Max 20x ($200) cover the Claude API, Managed Agents, the Agent SDK and the playground. They cannot be used in Claude Code or the Claude apps, including for extra usage. Plan around that before buying Max.
What happens when I hit my usage limit?
Pro and Max have a five-hour session limit and a weekly limit, shared across Claude and Claude Code. If you enable usage credits, requests continue at standard API rates instead of being blocked. Free credits from getaiperks.com can help absorb that spend.
Does an API key use my subscription?
No. With an API key set, Claude Code authenticates with the key instead of your subscription. That results in API usage charges. Credits from the Anthropic API card are what make that route cheap for a student.
What does AI Perks track?
AI Perks catalogues free AI credits and API keys from many companies, including student and educator offers. The same site covers AI coding tools and API credits. For a wider look at what costs nothing, see is Claude Code free in 2026.
Start with the $20,000 card
Open the Anthropic card, check who qualifies and how to claim, then add the Codex, GitHub and JetBrains student cards.
Get free AI credits at getaiperks.com →
Browse every student and developer perk at getaiperks.com.
