Free AI API: Complete Guide to 22 Free LLM APIs in 2026
Complete guide to 22 free AI APIs in 2026. Compare free LLM APIs for chat, coding, and text generation. Find OpenAI-compatible alternatives without credit card. Updated catalog with Iran access status.
Quick answer: There are 22 verified free AI APIs in 2026. The best options for most users are GitHub Models (OpenAI-compatible, no credit card), Google Gemini API (generous free tier), and Cloudflare Workers AI (direct Iran access). For Iranian users, Cloudflare Workers AI, Kilo Gateway, and Mistral AI work directly without VPN.
The complete, timestamped catalog is available at the Free LLM API Catalog.
What is a Free AI API?
A free AI API gives developers programmatic access to large language models (LLMs) without upfront payment. Free tiers vary significantly between providers:
- Permanent allowance: Fixed daily or monthly request limit (e.g., GitHub Models: 150 RPD)
- Free models: Specific models that remain free (e.g., OpenCode Zen's 5 limited-time free models)
- Monthly credit: Free credits that reset monthly (e.g., Hugging Face: $0.10/month)
- Trial: Time-limited free access (e.g., Cerebras: experimental free tier)
See the detailed guide: Free Tier vs Trial vs Credit
Top 5 Free AI APIs Compared
| Provider | Free Type | OpenAI-Compatible | Rate Limit | Iran Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Models | Free quota | ✅ | 150 RPD | ✅ Direct |
| Google Gemini API | Free quota | ✅ | Model-dependent | 🚫 Not supported |
| Cloudflare Workers AI | Free quota | ✅ | 10,000 neurons/day | ✅ Direct |
| Hugging Face | Monthly credit | ✅ | $0.10/month | ✅ Direct |
| Mistral AI | Free quota | ✅ | Model-dependent | ✅ Direct |
Free AI API for Coding
For coding and agent use cases, prioritize providers with:
- Tool calling support
- Structured output (JSON mode)
- OpenAI SDK compatibility
- Low latency
Top coding APIs: GitHub Models (no credit card), SambaNova Cloud (20 RPD, direct Iran), Groq (30 RPM, blocked in Iran without VPN).
Free AI API Without Credit Card
The following providers do not require a credit card for signup:
- Aion Labs
- Cloudflare Workers AI
- GitHub Models (with GitHub account)
- Google Gemini API (free quota)
- Groq (free registration)
- Hugging Face (monthly credit)
- Kilo Gateway (anonymous)
- LLM7.io (anonymous with "unused" key)
- Mistral AI
- SambaNova Cloud
- SiliconFlow (China signup)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free AI API in 2026?
The "best" depends on your use case. For general chat: GitHub Models or Google Gemini. For coding: GitHub Models or SambaNova. For Iran users: Cloudflare Workers AI or Mistral AI.
Can I use free AI APIs commercially?
Most free tiers allow commercial use within their quota limits. Check each provider's terms of service. GitHub Models, Mistral AI, and Cloudflare Workers AI all permit commercial use on their free tiers.
Do free AI APIs require a credit card?
Not all of them. GitHub Models works with a GitHub account. LLM7.io and Kilo Gateway allow anonymous access. Aion Labs and SambaNova Cloud require only email registration.
What is the difference between free AI APIs and paid ones?
Free APIs have lower rate limits (typically 10-30 RPM), fewer model choices, and lower priority during high demand. The API quality and capabilities are otherwise identical.
Are free AI APIs safe to use?
Reputable providers do not store prompt content. Check each provider's privacy policy. Free models from OpenCode Zen and similar gateways may collect usage data for improvement during limited-time free periods.
How to Choose the Right Free AI API
- Define your task: Chat, coding, embeddings, or image generation?
- Check Iran access: If connecting from Iran, check the
iran_accessfield - Verify rate limits: Ensure RPM/RPD matches your expected load
- Test OpenAI compatibility: Most providers support the OpenAI SDK
- Review privacy terms: Check if your data is used for training
Browse all 22 providers in the live catalog.
Quick Start Code Example
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
api_key="YOUR_API_KEY",
base_url="https://models.inference.ai.azure.com", # GitHub Models
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="gpt-4o-mini",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "List three free AI APIs."}],
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)Related Guides
- Free LLM API list — full comparison of all free LLM APIs
- AI API Iran — providers verified working from Iran
- ChatGPT API alternatives — free OpenAI API alternatives
- Free GPT API no credit card — GPT models without payment
Summary
The free AI API landscape in 2026 offers 22 verified providers with diverse capabilities. GitHub Models offers the best balance of accessibility and features for most developers. For Iranian users, Cloudflare Workers AI and Mistral AI provide confirmed direct access. Always verify the latest status on the catalog page before building production systems.
If you have tested a provider from Iran, submit an Iran Access Report.