Lium free credits (2026): how to get $5 of GPU time
Every new Lium account gets a $5 signup credit. Here's how to claim it, what it buys, and how to ask for more.
How to claim the $5 signup credit
- Open the Lium signup page and sign up with e-mail.
- The $5 lands on your balance right away (one per person, while the day's credit budget lasts).
- Rent a GPU within 14 days. After that the credit expires.
What $5 buys right now
Lium bills per second, so $5 goes further than it sounds. Cheapest GPUs free right now:
| GPU | From $/hr | $5 lasts |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3090 | $0.16 | 31.2 h |
| RTX 5060 Ti | $0.17 | 29.4 h |
| RTX 4070 Ti SUPER | $0.22 | 22.7 h |
| T4 | $0.224 | 22.3 h |
| RTX 5070 Ti | $0.23 | 21.7 h |
| RTX 5080 | $0.28 | 17.9 h |
| CMP 170HX | $0.30 | 16.7 h |
| L40S | $0.38 | 13.2 h |
| RTX 4090 | $0.40 | 12.5 h |
| RTX A6000 | $0.42 | 11.9 h |
More credit for startups, research and open source
Lium's grants program has no fixed amount. After signing up, e-mail support@lium.io from your account with what you're building, a link to it, and the GPU model and hours you need. Lium replies by e-mail, and any credit it grants lands on your balance and expires within 90 days.
Other ways to save
- Top up with crypto, TAO or Bittensor alpha for a 2.5% bonus.
- Rent spot pods. They're cheaper, but the provider can reclaim them.
- Set a scheduled end time (
--ttl) so a forgotten pod doesn't keep billing.
FAQ
How much free credit does Lium give?
$5 when you sign up with e-mail. It lands on your balance straight away and must be used on a GPU within 14 days.
Why didn't I get the $5 credit?
Lium gives one credit per person. Signups that look automated, or that come after the day's credit budget is spent, get no credit. The credit is also skipped if an account has already signed up from the same IP address.
Can I get more than $5?
Startups, researchers and open-source projects can ask. Sign up, then e-mail support@lium.io from that account with what you're building, a link, and the GPU model and hours you need. There's no fixed amount, and granted credit expires within 90 days.
Does the referral code add extra credit?
No. The $5 is the same with or without a code. Using LIUM-ZQQPPE1W supports this site at no cost to you.
Source: lium.io/grants. Terms can change; check Lium's site before relying on them.