# Free credits

> Every new Nodaro Cloud account gets a one-time grant of 1,500 free credits. Learn when they arrive, when activation asks for a card, and what they cover.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/get-started/free-credits

Every new Nodaro Cloud account gets a one-time grant of **1,500 free credits**. In most cases they are added the first time you open the app after you sign up, with nothing to buy and nothing to enter. The grant is the balance of the free tier: it works with every model the free tier can run, and it has no daily cap.

This page is about Nodaro Cloud. A self-hosted install uses your own model keys, or the credits of a connected Nodaro Cloud account.

## What you get

| What | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| **Amount** | 1,500 credits, once per account |
| **When** | The first time you open the app after you sign up, in most cases |
| **Price** | Free. You buy nothing to get them. |
| **Models** | Every model that the free tier can run |
| **Watermark** | Results carry a watermark until your first purchase |
| **Daily cap** | None |

Your balance shows at the top of the sidebar. The price of every node shows on its **Run** button before you run it, so you always know what a run takes from the grant.

## When activation asks for a payment method

Occasionally the grant is not applied automatically. Your account still works normally, and a banner at the top of the home screen explains how to activate the free credits. In this case, activation asks you to add a payment method:

- **Nothing is charged.** It is a standard card-on-file step, handled by Stripe, and no subscription starts.
- **The credits arrive at once.** They are added as soon as the card is saved.
- **One card, one account.** A card can activate free credits on one account only.

If you believe your grant should have applied and you prefer not to add a card, contact support from the same account.

## What the grant covers

- **The free tier's models.** The grant pays for every model that the free tier can run. The first purchase unlocks every model.
- **Watermarked results.** Results made on the free tier carry a watermark until your first purchase.
- **No daily cap.** You can spend the whole grant in one day or over several weeks.

The [pricing page](https://app.nodaro.ai/pricing), also under **Pricing** in the sidebar, lists what each plan includes. [Credits](https://nodaro.ai/docs/concepts/credits) explains subscriptions, top-ups and how credits are spent.

## Make the credits go further

- **Start from a template.** Copying a [template or a tutorial](https://nodaro.ai/docs/get-started/tutorials-and-templates) is free, and each template shows the credits of one run.
- **Run one node at a time.** While you try ideas, run single nodes instead of the whole workflow, so you pay only for the step you change.
- **Draft cheap, finish sharp.** Try ideas on a cheaper model or a lower resolution, then switch for the final version. See [Choosing a model](https://nodaro.ai/docs/guides/choosing-models).
- **Failures are refunded.** When a node fails, its reserved credits come back automatically in almost every case. See [Running workflows](https://nodaro.ai/docs/concepts/running-workflows#failures-and-refunds).

## On a self-hosted install

A self-hosted install can use Nodaro Cloud models through the **Connect nodaro.ai** button. Connecting signs you in to a Nodaro Cloud account, or creates one. A new account receives the same one-time grant of 1,500 credits. Free-account results are watermarked until the first purchase, and use through a connected install has no daily cap. See [Connect to Nodaro Cloud](https://nodaro.ai/docs/self-hosting/cloud-connect).

## Frequently asked questions

### How many free credits does a new Nodaro account get?

Every new Nodaro Cloud account gets a one-time grant of 1,500 credits. You buy nothing and enter nothing to get them in most cases.

### Do I need a credit card to get the free credits?

Usually not. Occasionally activation asks you to save a card. Nothing is charged, no subscription starts, and one card can activate free credits on one account only.

### Are results made with free credits watermarked?

Yes. Results carry a watermark until your first purchase. The first purchase also unlocks every model.

### Is there a daily limit on the free credits?

No. The free tier has no daily cap, so you can spend the whole grant in one day.

### Can I use the free credits on a self-hosted install?

Yes. Connecting a self-hosted install to Nodaro Cloud signs you in to a Nodaro Cloud account, and a new account gets the same one-time grant. Runs through the connection use that balance.