You send a Claude Guest Pass. Your friend gets excited about a free week. You check your account, expecting a neat little $10 thank-you. Nothing.
That's because the free week and the referral reward have different triggers. One is a ticket for your friend. The other is a coupon that may not unlock until much later. Naturally, the coupon is for more Claude.
When does the sender get anything?
Reports published in September and October 2026 describe a seven-day trial for an eligible friend. They say the sender gets $10 in extra-usage credit only if that friend later signs up for a paid plan. Sharing the link, or watching your friend try Claude, doesn't count.
And the $10 isn't cash. It doesn't take $10 off your Pro or Max bill either. Anthropic explains that usage credits pay for extra use after you've used up what your plan already includes. If you never hit your limits, the reward may just sit there.
It's a peculiar thank-you: "Thanks for introducing someone to Claude. Please enjoy... more Claude."
Can anyone get the free week?
Not necessarily. Anthropic's general promotion rules favor people who haven't had a paid plan before. Current or former paid users, and some people who subscribed through an app store, may not qualify. The full public terms for this particular Guest Pass offer, including every credit condition, can't be checked. So treat the reported seven days and $10 as details of one offer, not a lifetime promise.
Before accepting, your friend should check the offer screen for eligibility, the end date, billing and cancellation terms. Seven free days doesn't mean day eight is free.
So share the pass because someone wants to try Claude, not because you expect a small payday. Your friend's trial is the main event. Your possible credit is the after-credits scene.
