One‑Line Flow: Pick a provider → Apply for credits → Build & monitor → Repeat.
Quick‑Start (First 60 Seconds)
- No company? → Start with Microsoft Founders Hub.
- Still in school? → Grab student packs from Azure, GCP, DO.
- Just wanna try stuff? → Use free tiers + training sandboxes.
Clean Credit Stacks (100% Free)
Microsoft Founders Hub
- $1,000–$5,000 in Azure credits for early projects.
- Apply in minutes. No startup funding needed.
- Activate Azure within 90 days to claim.
https://www.microsoft.com/en/startups
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-for-startups/benefits/azure-credits-billing
AWS Activate – Founders
- $1,000 in AWS credits for projects with a simple site.
- Website or profile required (Notion/GitHub okay).
- Don’t sell or transfer—accounts get nuked.
https://aws.amazon.com/startups/learn/applying-for-aws-activate-credits-a-step-by-step-guide
https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits
https://www.amazonaws.cn/en/promotional-terms/
Azure for Students
- $100 credit for 12 months. No card needed.
- School email required. Auto-renew yearly.
- One account per person, no sharing.
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/students
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/offers/ms-azr-0170p
Google Cloud Trial
- $300 for 90 days + Always Free stuff.
- Auto-stop when funds run out. Safety first.
https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features
https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs
Google Education/Research
- Student coupons + grants for academics.
- Faculty can redeem classroom credits.
- Researchers can pitch ideas for more.
https://cloud.google.com/edu
https://cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/edu-grants
GCP Innovators & Skills Boost
- 35 credits/month for hands-on training.
- Arcade events = bonus labs (free).
https://cloud.google.com/innovators
https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/training-certifications/members-of-google-cloud-innovators-get-free-training-and-labs
Oracle Cloud Free Tier
- $300 trial + Always Free machines, DB, etc.
- Use trial within 30 days. Forever tier lasts.
https://www.oracle.com/cloud/free
https://www.oracle.com/cloud/free/faq
IBM Cloud Trial
- $200 for 30 days. Use fast.
- May ask for card to verify.
https://www.ibm.com/cloud/free
https://cloud.ibm.com/registration
DigitalOcean Credits
- Route A: $200/60‑days for new users.
- Route B: Students get $200 for 1 year via GitHub.
https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing
https://www.digitalocean.com/github-students
Practice Without Credits
- AWS Free Tier → t4g.micro & friends for 12 months.
https://aws.amazon.com/free - Microsoft Learn Sandbox → free labs, no card needed.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2154367 - GCP Arcade + Innovators → monthly lab credits for training.
Budget Setup (Do This First)
- AWS → Billing → Budgets → Alerts at 50%/90%.
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cost-management/latest/userguide/create-cost-budget.html - GCP → Billing → Budgets → Add alert thresholds.
https://cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/budgets - Azure → Cost Mgmt → Budgets → Optional: Stop VMs via Automation.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/tutorial-acm-create-budgets
Starter Recipes (Build Like a Pro)
Non‑Students:
- Founders Hub ($5k) → GCP Trial ($300)
- Oracle ($300) → IBM ($200) → DO ($200)
Students:
- Azure for Students ($100) → GCP Edu/Skills Boost
- DO GitHub Student Pack ($200 for 1yr)
Do Not Attempt (Unless You Love Getting Banned)
- Selling cloud credits
- Buying shady “preloaded” accounts
- Faking edu emails
- Sharing free tier limits across accounts
Reality Check
- “Unlimited free credits” don’t exist.
- Most bans = ToS violations from resale or abuse.
- Official paths are enough—stack smart, not shady.
Final Thought
Free credits are like gym memberships in January—most folks waste them. You? Don’t.
!