October 28 catch-up
OpenAI’s October 28 release notes add promotional API credits for eligible paid ChatGPT Pro and Business subscriptions. These fund one linked API organization, rather than adding ChatGPT or signed-in Codex usage. API-key Codex usage is excluded too. [1][2]
Eligibility comes before the headline amount
The documented monthly Pro allowances are $100, $200, or $500 for the corresponding tiers. Business gets $20 per paid Standard seat and $100 per paid Premium seat, pooled up to $500 per workspace per monthly billing period. The first grant is prorated; annually prepaid Business grants have separate annual timing and a $6,000 cap. [3]
The paid subscription must be at least seven days old. The person activating must own both the subscription or workspace and the receiving API organization, with matching account email. A Business admin role alone is insufficient. Plus, trials, and complimentary subscriptions do not qualify; availability also depends on country and enabled cohort. Eligibility does not establish that a grant was issued. [2]
A promotional balance is not a spending cap
Unused credits expire at the relevant subscription billing-cycle end and do not roll over. An active grant needs no API payment method. However, promotional credits are used before purchased API credits: requests can continue drawing on an existing purchased balance after the grant runs out. With no balance left, requests fail. Rate and model limits remain separate. [3]
Our take
For a business already on an eligible plan, this could fund a small approved prototype. First verify the receiving organization, actual grant, and expiry, then examine purchased balances and recharge settings. Judge the project’s ongoing cost after the promotion; a credit offer does not make every future request free.
We reviewed public documentation and did not activate an offer or test an account.