Build and test your bot on a free tier before you pay
Several AI providers let you try their API or app for free. Use that to prove your bot works before you put a card on file, and know what you give up on the free tier.
What the bot does
- Runs your bot on a free plan or free API tier while you test it.
- Uses small, realistic test runs (a day's email, one web page).
- Shows you how many tokens each run uses, so you can estimate a real bill.
- Moves to a paid plan only once it's doing a job you'd pay for.
What you end up with
A bot you know works, a realistic cost estimate, and no surprise bill while you were experimenting.
Copy-paste prompt
Fill in the [brackets]. Then paste it into any tool below.
I'm testing a bot on a free tier. After each run, tell me roughly how many input and output tokens you used, and keep a running total for this test. Use only the sample data I give you: [sample].
Tools that can do it today
- chatGeminiGemini API has a free tier on some modelsFree plan; paid plans add more
- chatClaudeNew API users get a small amount of free creditFree plan; paid plans add more
- chatChatGPTChatGPT has a free planFree plan; paid plans add more
- chatGrokFree to try on the web and in the appsFree plan; paid plans add more
Plans and limits change; check each tool's page.
Watch out
- Google says content sent on the Gemini API free tier is used to improve its products; paid-tier content isn't. Don't test with private data on a free tier.
- Free tiers have lower limits and some models aren't included (Gemini 4 Argon isn't on the free tier).
Questions people ask
Which AI tools can do this?
Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT or Grok can do this today. Paste the copy-paste prompt on this page into any of them and fill in the [brackets].
How hard is it to set up?
It's rated Easy. Start with the steps under “What the bot does”.
What should I watch out for?
Google says content sent on the Gemini API free tier is used to improve its products; paid-tier content isn't. Don't test with private data on a free tier.
Sources
- docsGemini API pricing: free tier, "Content used to improve our products"
- docsAnthropic pricing FAQ: "New users receive a small amount of free credits to test the API"
- docsChatGPT pricing: "The free version of ChatGPT is available to everyone"
- docsxAI: Grok is "Free to try on the web and in the apps"
Last checked Oct 21, 2026. Self-reported results from posts are the poster's own claims.