Free Azure and AWS Credits

09 Nov 2026|10 Min Read| views

Cloud infrastructure costs can add up quickly while a startup is building an MVP, testing an AI product, or bringing a SaaS platform to market. Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) each offer free-tier and startup-credit programs that may help eligible companies offset some cloud usage for a limited time.

This guide draws on the Free Azure and AWS Credits for Startups program overview. It explains the main options, how they differ, what founders should check before applying, and how to plan for billing after promotional credits end. Program details can change, so confirm current eligibility and terms directly with Microsoft or AWS.

How Can a Startup Explore Free Azure or AWS Credits?

Startups can review Microsoft for Startups for Azure benefits and AWS Activate for AWS credits. New customers may also be eligible for a separate Azure free-account offer or the AWS Free Tier. These are distinct programs with different requirements, account rules, eligible usage, and credit periods.

Public program pages describe potential maximums of up to $150,000 in Microsoft for Startups credits over time, up to $5,000 for AWS Activate Founders, and up to $200,000 for AWS Activate Portfolio. These figures are not guaranteed awards or starting balances. Provider review, eligibility, milestones, award terms, and service restrictions determine what a company may receive. The two providers' credits are separate and should not be assumed to combine.

Azure and AWS Credit Programs at a Glance

Program	Typical audience	Publicly described offer	What to keep in mind
Azure free account	Eligible new Azure customers	Up to $200 for the first 30 days, plus selected free services for 12 months	A general new-customer offer, separate from Microsoft for Startups.
Microsoft for Startups	Eligible startups developing their own software product or service	Initial credits and milestone-based benefits, potentially up to $150,000 over time	Eligibility, verification, progress, usage, and program terms apply.
AWS Free Tier	Eligible new AWS customers	Up to $200 in credits under the current new-customer experience	Separate from AWS Activate; plan and expiration rules apply.
AWS Activate Founders	Eligible self-funded or bootstrapped startups	Starts at $1,000; selected startups may qualify for up to $5,000	Application and eligibility requirements apply.
AWS Activate Portfolio	Eligible startups connected with an AWS Activate Provider	Up to $200,000	Requires an eligible provider relationship and its Organization ID.

An Azure credit cannot pay an AWS bill, and an AWS credit cannot pay an Azure bill. Credits are promotional benefits rather than cash. Check the specific program's current terms for covered services, excluded charges, account requirements, activation deadlines, and expiry.

Microsoft Azure Credits for Startups

Microsoft for Startups is a startup-focused program for eligible businesses building software products or services. Microsoft's public materials describe initial credits and additional benefits that may become available as a startup meets program requirements. The advertised maximum is a potential cumulative benefit, not an amount every applicant receives.

Who may qualify for Microsoft for Startups?

Published criteria generally focus on privately held, for-profit businesses developing a software-based product or service they own. Company structure, location, funding, product ownership, previous Azure credits, and account history can matter. Some organization types and business activities may be excluded. Microsoft makes the eligibility decision, so review the latest criteria before applying.

A practical Microsoft for Startups application checklist

Check current eligibility

Read Microsoft's current program criteria and confirm that the company and product fit the program before preparing an application.

Prepare accurate company details

Gather the company name, website, product description, location, ownership, founding date, and relevant funding information.

Check the account and referral requirements

Review Microsoft account restrictions and determine whether an Investor Network referral applies. Obtain any referral code from the participating organization.

Apply through Microsoft's official program

Submit consistent, truthful information through the official application process and follow the instructions provided with any decision.

Activate and monitor credits

Check the acceptance agreement, activation deadline, validity period, eligible services, and milestone requirements shown for your account.

Azure free account versus Microsoft for Startups

The Azure free-account offer is intended for eligible new Azure customers and includes a limited introductory credit and selected free services. Microsoft for Startups is a separate startup program for eligible product businesses, with its own review and potential milestone-based benefits. Prior use of a Microsoft offer may affect eligibility for another offer.

Depending on the specific sponsorship terms, Azure credits may help offset eligible usage for SaaS hosting, databases, storage, development and test environments, analytics, or selected AI services. Verify service coverage before deployment; Marketplace purchases, support, and other charges may be handled differently.

AWS Credits for Startups

AWS offers a general Free Tier experience for eligible new customers and startup-specific promotional credits through AWS Activate. Activate Founders and Activate Portfolio are separate pathways. Review current AWS criteria and account-plan requirements before choosing one.

AWS Activate Founders

Activate Founders is intended for qualifying self-funded or bootstrapped startups. AWS describes a starting award of $1,000, with selected participants potentially qualifying for up to $5,000. Requirements may include being new to Activate credits, having a functioning company website, and meeting the program's company-age and funding criteria.

AWS Activate Portfolio

Activate Portfolio is for eligible startups connected to an AWS Activate Provider, such as a participating investor or accelerator. The provider supplies an Organization ID (Org ID) for the application. AWS advertises up to $200,000 for this pathway, but eligibility, prior awards, funding stage, account requirements, and the final award are subject to AWS's current terms.

A practical AWS Activate application checklist

Create or sign in with an AWS Builder ID and use accurate company information.
Choose the pathway that fits the startup's funding and provider relationship.
Confirm the AWS account plan meets the current Activate requirements before applying.
For Portfolio, request the Org ID directly from the actual AWS Activate Provider; do not guess or borrow one.
Prepare the product description, website, founding date, funding stage, and planned infrastructure use.
Submit through the official application, then confirm the award amount, expiry, eligible services, and restrictions in the AWS account.

AWS Free Tier versus AWS Activate

The AWS Free Tier is a new-customer offer with its own free-plan, eligible-service, and expiration rules. AWS Activate is a separate startup-credit program. A Free plan account may not meet Activate account requirements; changing an account plan can also expose the company to charges not covered by credits. Read AWS's current account-plan guidance before making changes.

AWS promotional credits may cover eligible service usage depending on the specific award. Compute, storage, databases, developer environments, and selected AI services may be relevant to a startup workload, but do not assume every AWS charge, Marketplace purchase, tax, or support cost is covered.

Which Program Should Your Startup Explore?

The best program is the one that matches the product, company stage, account history, and cloud architecture—not necessarily the one with the largest headline maximum. A startup already building on Azure may prioritize Microsoft for Startups; a self-funded AWS startup may investigate Activate Founders; and a startup backed by a participating provider may check Activate Portfolio.

AI and generative AI startups: Estimate model usage, inference volume, data storage, GPU hours, and expected request load before choosing services.
SaaS companies: Account for application hosting, databases, backups, monitoring, and separate development, staging, and production environments.
Data and machine-learning teams: Track compute duration, data movement, storage growth, and experiment frequency; shut down idle resources.
Software product companies: Explain the product the company owns and verify program fit; a consultancy or agency may be treated differently.

Common Cloud Credit Application Mistakes to Avoid

Treating an advertised maximum as a guaranteed award or available starting balance.
Confusing a free trial or Free Tier with a startup-credit program.
Applying under the wrong company, account, or funding profile.
Providing inconsistent company details or overstating product capabilities.
Assuming every investor or accelerator is an approved provider, or guessing a referral code or Org ID.
Assuming every service, Marketplace purchase, support charge, or tax is eligible.
Ignoring activation deadlines, credit expiration, usage limits, and previous-credit history.
Building production infrastructure around credits that have not been approved.
Failing to budget for normal cloud charges after the promotional credits expire.

Plan for the Day After Credits End

Before relying on promotional credits, estimate the expected monthly bill at normal rates. Set budgets and alerts, track credit consumption, shut down idle compute, review storage lifecycle policies, and confirm how production workloads will be funded after the offer expires. Credits can support experimentation, but a sustainable architecture needs a post-credit cost plan.

How Office Solution AI Labs Can Help

Office Solution AI Labs can help startups compare publicly available Azure and AWS pathways, organize company and product information, map expected infrastructure needs, and identify questions to verify with each provider. Support can also include planning for usage, expiry, eligible services, and post-credit costs. Microsoft and AWS independently review applications and determine eligibility, approval, award amounts, and terms; Office Solution AI Labs cannot issue or guarantee provider credits.

Explore Azure and AWS cloud credit options

Discuss your startup profile and planned cloud workload with Office Solution AI Labs.

Contact Our Team

Official Program Resources

Program figures and terms are based on the referenced draft and can change. Confirm the latest details with Microsoft and AWS before applying. Do not send passwords, access keys, payment-card information, or other sensitive credentials when seeking application guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Can a startup apply for both Azure and AWS credits?

A.A startup can explore both providers' programs, but each provider evaluates applications independently. Credits use separate billing systems and should not be assumed to combine or transfer.

Q.How much Azure credit can a startup receive?

A.Microsoft's public program information describes milestone-based benefits that may reach up to $150,000 over time for eligible startups. This is not a guaranteed award or starting balance; eligibility, milestones, usage, and current terms apply.

Q.How much AWS Activate credit is available?

A.AWS currently describes up to $5,000 for selected Activate Founders participants and up to $200,000 for eligible Activate Portfolio startups. Requirements and the final award depend on AWS's current program terms and review.

Q.Is the Azure free account the same as Microsoft for Startups?

A.No. The Azure free account is a general offer for eligible new Azure customers. Microsoft for Startups is a separate program for qualifying startups developing software products or services.

Q.Is AWS Free Tier the same as AWS Activate?

A.No. AWS Free Tier is a new-customer offer; AWS Activate is a startup-credit program with its own pathways and eligibility rules. Check account-plan requirements before applying.

Q.Does Office Solution AI Labs guarantee or issue cloud credits?

A.No. Microsoft and AWS control their program criteria, application decisions, credit amounts, and terms. Office Solution AI Labs can help eligible businesses understand options and prepare, but cannot approve or issue credits.

Q.What should I prepare before asking for help?

A.Prepare your company name, website, product description, founding date, location, funding stage, current cloud provider, previous credit history, and a rough infrastructure estimate. Do not share passwords, payment-card details, or access keys.