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Anthropic’s damage control mode is in full swing following a turbulent few weeks. Existing Claude AI users can now claim free extra usage credits, but the rollout comes with eligibility hurdles and a warning about automatic billing.
If you’ve been following the world of AI lately, you’ve probably heard the noise around Claude AI. Anthropic’s flagship assistant has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons – first a massive source code leak of Claude Code, then an aggressive legal backlash that swept up thousands of innocent developers. Now, the company is trying to win back goodwill with a generous-but-flawed credit giveaway.
Depending on your subscription tier, you might be eligible for a significant top-up. Here’s everything you need to know – including the hidden catch that could cost you if you’re not careful.
What Happened? A Quick Recap of the Claude Code Leak Drama
Earlier this month, a substantial portion of Claude Code’s source code was leaked online. The repository quickly spread across GitHub and other platforms as developers rushed to analyze and archive the materials. Instead of a measured response, Anthropic fired off a wave of DMCA takedown notices that many have described as overly broad and aggressive.
The result? Thousands of legitimate, unrelated repositories were taken down in the crossfire. Critics accused Anthropic of attempting a digital cover-up rather than transparently addressing the breach. The backlash was swift and brutal across Reddit, Hacker News, and tech Twitter.
Now, it seems Anthropic is playing defense – and the weapon of choice is free usage credits.
The Offer: Free Credits for Pro, Max, and $200 Tiers
In an email sent to existing users and confirmed via the German deal platform MyDealz, Anthropic is offering bonus credits based on your current subscription level. The offer is straightforward – at least on paper:
| Subscription Tier | Free Credit Amount |
|---|---|
| Pro | $20 (approx. €17) |
| Max | $100 (approx. €85) |
| $200 Tier | $200 (approx. €170) |
But that’s not all. Alongside the one-time bonus, Anthropic is running a simultaneous promotion offering up to 30% off if you decide to purchase even more usage capacity. For heavy users of Claude AI – whether for coding, content generation, brainstorming, or automating routine tasks – this could represent substantial savings.
To check your eligibility and claim the credits, you’ll need to log into your account.
👉 Visit Claude AI login page here to see if the offer is available for you.
The Major Catch: PayPal Users Are Being Left Out
Here’s where things get messy. Several users on MyDealz – particularly those who originally subscribed via PayPal – are reporting that they cannot claim the free credits. Why? Because Anthropic requires "Extra Usage" to be enabled on your account before the gift can be applied.
And enabling "Extra Usage" currently demands a valid credit card on file. PayPal alone won’t cut it.
“I’ve been a Pro subscriber via PayPal for six months,” one user wrote. “The credit shows as available, but when I try to claim it, I’m forced to add a credit card. No workaround so far.”
For privacy-conscious users or those in regions where credit cards are less common, this is a significant barrier. There is no current indication that Anthropic plans to change this requirement before the offer expires.
Critical Warning: Turn Off "Extra Usage" After Your Credits Run Out
Even if you successfully add a credit card and claim the bonus, you’re not out of the woods yet. The "Extra Usage" feature is designed to automatically charge your payment method once your free credits (and any existing balance) are exhausted.
Imagine this: You’re in the middle of a long coding session or drafting an important article using Claude AI. Your credits hit zero at 2 AM. Without any further warning, Anthropic starts billing your card at standard overage rates. Depending on your usage, that could add up fast.
Our advice: Immediately after you’ve used up the free credits – or even right after claiming them – go back into your account settings and disable "Extra Usage" manually. It only takes a few clicks and could save you from an unexpectedly expensive bill.
What Can You Actually Do With Claude AI Right Now?
For those who haven’t tried it recently, Claude remains one of the most versatile AI assistants on the market. Whether you’re a developer, marketer, student, or business owner, the use cases are broad:
- Generating and debugging code – Claude excels at explaining complex logic and writing clean, commented snippets.
- Drafting long-form content – From blog posts to reports, Claude handles extended context windows better than many competitors.
- Brainstorming and strategy – The model’s conversational tone makes it feel like a collaborative partner.
- Automating tedious routine tasks – Summarizing emails, extracting action items from meeting notes, rewriting for tone or clarity.
With the free credits, you can push these capabilities further without immediately hitting your monthly cap. And if you’re a power user, the 30% discount on additional usage might be worth exploring – just be mindful of the auto-billing trap.
Important Dates and Fine Print
- Application deadline: All requests for the free credits must be submitted by 11:59 PM (local time) on 17 April 2026.
- The offer was live and verifiable at the time of this article’s publication.
- Prices and availability are subject to change. The promotion may be limited in time or quantity.
- All information without guarantee – always double-check your own account settings before making decisions.
For the original deal discussion and user reports (including the PayPal credit card issue), you can visit the MyDealz thread:
👉 Claude AI free extra credits & 30% off promotion on MyDealz
Final Verdict: Generous but Flawed
Anthropic’s credit giveaway is a smart piece of damage control – but the execution leaves room for improvement. The credit card requirement for "Extra Usage" effectively locks out a chunk of loyal PayPal subscribers, and the automatic billing risk could turn a gift into a hidden cost.
If you’re already a Claude AI user with a credit card on file, this is a no-brainer: claim your credits, use them wisely, and immediately disable auto-top-up. If you’re on PayPal only, you may want to weigh whether adding a card is worth the hassle – or wait to see if Anthropic changes the rules before the April 17 deadline.
Either way, the coming weeks will show whether this gesture is enough to quiet the criticism over the Claude Code leak debacle. For now, check your inbox, log into your account, and decide if the free credits are worth the hoops.
Prices are subject to change. The offer was available at the time of publication of the article, but may be limited in time or quantity. All information without guarantee.