diff --git a/src/backend/src/services/ReferralCodeService.js b/src/backend/src/services/ReferralCodeService.js
index 7c8cde93e..7a9e9d824 100644
--- a/src/backend/src/services/ReferralCodeService.js
+++ b/src/backend/src/services/ReferralCodeService.js
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ class ReferralCodeService extends BaseService {
 
         // TODO: rename 'sizeService' to 'storage-capacity'
         const svc_size = Context.get('services').get('sizeService');
+        /** @type {import('./MeteringService/MeteringService').MeteringService} */
+        const meteringService = this.services.get('meteringService');
         await svc_size.add_storage(user,
                         this.REFERRAL_INCREASE_RIGHT,
                         `user ${user.id} used referral code of user ${referred_by.id}`,
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ class ReferralCodeService extends BaseService {
                             field_a: referred_by.referral_code,
                             field_b: 'REFER_R',
                         });
+        await meteringService.updateAddonCredit(user.uuid, 25 * 1_000_000); // give them 25 cents
         await svc_size.add_storage(referred_by,
                         this.REFERRAL_INCREASE_LEFT,
                         `user ${referred_by.id} referred user ${user.id}`,
@@ -147,6 +150,7 @@ class ReferralCodeService extends BaseService {
                             field_a: referred_by.referral_code,
                             field_b: 'REFER_L',
                         });
+        await meteringService.updateAddonCredit(referred_by.uuid, 25 * 1_000_000); // give them 25 cents
 
         const svc_email = Context.get('services').get('email');
         await svc_email.send_email (referred_by, 'new-referral', {
diff --git a/src/gui/src/i18n/translations/en.js b/src/gui/src/i18n/translations/en.js
index 52cf903f8..abfad4389 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/i18n/translations/en.js
+++ b/src/gui/src/i18n/translations/en.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ const en = {
         confirm: 'Confirm',
         confirm_2fa_setup: 'I have added the code to my authenticator app',
         confirm_2fa_recovery: 'I have saved my recovery codes in a secure location',
-        confirm_account_for_free_referral_storage_c2a: 'Create an account and confirm your email address to receive 1 GB of free storage. Your friend will get 1 GB of free storage too.',
+        confirm_account_for_free_referral_storage_c2a: 'Create an account and confirm your email address to receive 1 GB of storage and $0.25 worth of usage credit for resources (AI, Bandwidth, KV, etc.). Your friend will get the same too!',
         confirm_code_generic_incorrect: 'Incorrect Code.',
         confirm_code_generic_too_many_requests: 'Too many requests. Please wait a few minutes.',
         confirm_code_generic_submit: 'Submit Code',
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ const en = {
         recent: 'Recent',
         recommended: 'Recommended',
         recover_password: 'Recover Password',
-        refer_friends_c2a: 'Get 1 GB for every friend who creates and confirms an account on Puter. Your friend will get 1 GB too!',
+        refer_friends_c2a: 'Get 1 GB of storage and $0.25 worth of usage credit for resources (AI, Bandwidth, KV, etc.) for every friend who creates and confirms an account on Puter. Your friend will get the same too!',
         refer_friends_social_media_c2a: 'Get 1 GB of free storage on Puter.com!',
         refresh: 'Refresh',
         release_address_confirmation: 'Are you sure you want to release this address?',