Free AI on Antseed, what’s the catch?
When you use a free model on Antseed, the provider covers the cost.
You can connect a coding agent, try an idea or explore a model without paying for inference. The provider still pays for the hardware and operation of its service, but chooses to offer that access at $0.
That choice makes sense in an open market. Antseed's providers set their own prices, and a free model gives a new provider a way to attract users and start building a reputation.
A way for new providers to get started
Imagine someone running an open-weight model on their own hardware. They have a working service, but buyers on the network haven't used it yet. Offering it for free gives those buyers a reason to try it.
A developer could connect their coding agent, use the model on a project, and see whether the responses and speed suit their work. The provider gets an opportunity to demonstrate its service and attract people who may return for other models or paid usage later.
Providers decide which models to offer, what to charge and how much capacity to make available. Our guide to offering a local model on Antseed explains how someone with a running model can start serving other people.
How free models contribute to reputation
Antseed's reputation system considers signals such as service history and verified identity. Offering a free model can also add a bonus to an established trust score. A new provider still needs other evidence to establish trust.
Reputation matters because buyers can set a minimum trust score for the providers serving their requests. A stronger reputation can help a provider meet that threshold and become eligible for more work. Price and availability still matter when choosing who serves a request.
How the Foundation supports free models
Free models give people a way to try AI and explore what they can build. The Antseed Foundation Provider Staking Program recognizes that contribution and gives additional consideration to providers offering them.
Through the program, the Foundation stakes ANTS behind selected providers to support their services. That backing can increase the ANTS rewards they earn from qualifying paid usage, subject to the program's rules and caps.
Offering a free model is optional and is one factor in selecting providers for support. Free requests themselves do not qualify as paid usage for ANTS rewards.
Free models have been available for months
Providers have been offering free models on Antseed for months. Our August article on accessing AI without an account described providers pricing their services at $0, and our October model list includes examples for coding, reasoning and other tasks.
Start using a free model
You can use free models in Antseed's desktop app or through its API, without adding funds.
- Install Antseed and start the local router.
- Browse the models and choose a provider offering one for free. Check that all listed token prices are $0.
- Use the model in Antseed's chat, or connect a compatible app or agent.
If you prefer to work directly with an API, follow the local buyer proxy guide to connect your tools.
Providers can set request allowances for free services, so how much you can use depends on the provider and its available capacity.
Explore Antseed and find a free model for your next project.