"We've Added a $100 Credit to Get You Started" - Third-Party Apps Extra Usage Explained
"We've Added a $100 Credit to Get You Started"
You opened Cursor, Claude Code, or another AI tool and saw this message:
Third-party apps now draw from your extra usage, not your plan limits. We've added a $100 credit to get you started. Claim it at claude.ai/settings/usage and keep going.
This is not an error. Anthropic changed how third-party app usage is billed, and the $100 credit is a transition bonus to keep your workflow running. Here is everything you need to know.
What Changed
Anthropic split Claude usage into separate billing pools. Your Pro or Team subscription still covers claude.ai and the Claude mobile app. But third-party tools that connect through your Claude account (OAuth) now pull from a separate prepaid balance called "extra usage credits."
The $100 message means Anthropic deposited a one-time credit into your extra usage balance so your third-party apps keep working under the new system.
Who Gets the $100 Credit
Not everyone receives $100. The starter credit amount depends on your plan tier and usage history:
| Plan | Monthly price | Starter credit | Who typically sees $100 | |---|---|---|---| | Free | $0 | $0 | Nobody on Free | | Pro (light usage) | $20/month | $5 to $20 | No | | Pro (heavy third-party usage) | $20/month | Up to $100 | Yes, if usage history is high | | Team | $30/seat/month | $100 | Yes, most Team accounts | | Enterprise | Custom | $200 | No, they get $200 |
The credit is one-time only
This $100 is not recurring. Once it runs out, you need to buy more credits at claude.ai/settings/usage or your third-party apps will stop working. Plan ahead based on your usage rate.
How to Claim Your Credit
- Go to claude.ai/settings/usage
- Sign in with the same account your third-party apps use
- Look for the extra usage balance section
- If you see a $100 balance, it has already been applied automatically
- If prompted to claim, click the claim button
Some accounts had the credit applied without any action needed. If your extra usage balance already shows $100 (or some amount), the credit is active.
Which Apps Draw From Extra Usage
The distinction is simple: if the app asks you to sign in with your Claude account, it uses extra usage credits. If it asks for an API key, it uses API billing.
| App | Authentication method | Draws from extra usage? | |---|---|---| | Cursor | Claude OAuth sign-in | Yes | | Claude Code (CLI) | Claude OAuth sign-in | Yes | | Windsurf | Claude OAuth sign-in | Yes | | Cline, Continue | Claude OAuth sign-in | Yes | | VS Code Claude extensions | Claude OAuth sign-in | Yes | | MCP-connected tools | Claude OAuth through your account | Yes | | claude.ai (web) | Direct | No (uses plan limits) | | Claude mobile app | Direct | No (uses plan limits) | | Your own API scripts | API key | No (uses API billing) |
How Fast Does $100 Get Used Up
The burn rate depends on which model your tools use and how often you send requests. Here are rough estimates:
| Usage pattern | Typical daily spend | $100 lasts roughly | |---|---|---| | Occasional Cursor autocomplete | $1 to $3/day | 4 to 6 weeks | | Regular Claude Code sessions (2 to 3 hours/day) | $5 to $10/day | 10 to 20 days | | Heavy agentic workflows, long context | $15 to $30/day | 3 to 7 days | | Multiple tools running concurrently | $30+/day | Under 3 days |
Opus requests cost significantly more than Sonnet or Haiku. If your tools default to Opus, switching to Sonnet for routine tasks will stretch the credit further.
What Happens When the $100 Runs Out
Once your extra usage balance hits zero, third-party apps stop working. You will see error messages like:
- "LLM request rejected: third-party apps now draw from your extra usage"
- "You're out of extra usage"
- HTTP 400 with
invalid_request_errorreferencing extra usage
Your claude.ai and mobile app access is unaffected. Only the third-party app channel stops.
To keep going, add more credits at claude.ai/settings/usage. You can set up auto-reload so your balance refills automatically when it drops below a threshold.
How to Monitor Your Balance
Check your current extra usage balance at claude.ai/settings/usage. The page shows:
- Current credit balance
- Recent usage breakdown by app
- Option to add more credits
- Auto-reload settings
Set up auto-reload early
If you rely on Cursor or Claude Code for work, set up auto-reload before your $100 runs out. A sudden stop in the middle of a coding session is disruptive. Auto-reload adds credits automatically when your balance drops below an amount you choose.
Common Questions
Is this the same as API billing? No. Extra usage credits and API billing are completely separate systems. API billing uses pay-per-token pricing on API keys. Extra usage credits cover third-party apps that authenticate through your Claude account via OAuth.
Can I transfer credits between pools? No. Plan limits, extra usage credits, and API billing are isolated pools. You cannot move balance between them.
Does my Pro subscription still work? Yes. Your Pro (or Team) subscription still covers all direct Claude usage on claude.ai and the mobile apps. The change only affects how third-party apps are billed.
Why did I get $100 instead of $20 or $200? The amount is based on your plan tier and usage history. Team plan accounts and Pro accounts with heavy third-party app usage typically receive $100. Pro accounts with lighter usage get $5 to $20. Enterprise accounts get $200.
What if I never use third-party apps? The credit just sits in your account. It does not expire (as of the current policy), and it does not affect your regular Claude usage.
Next Steps
- Check your balance at claude.ai/settings/usage
- Set up auto-reload if you depend on third-party apps for work
- Review which model your tools default to (Sonnet is cheaper than Opus for routine tasks)
- Monitor your daily usage rate for the first week to predict when you will need to add more credits