Free Cloud Hosting Credits

There are three major cloud providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure. While there are other smaller cloud providers, we're focused on the big three here simply because at scale, these are the ones you're likely to use or hear about.

Typically when starting out, it is often recommended that you start with a smaller cloud hosting or VPS provider and eventually migrate to one of the big three due to costs. However, there are cost effective ways to start building with these three and this post aims to highlight where you can get cloud hosting credit with the big three to get started with.

I currently use 3 different hosting providers: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Cloudflare. In fact, we publicize our subprocessors and tech stack if you're curious.

Below are resources I've found where you can apply for cloud hosting credit with the big three. Some require membership fees or for you to pay for their service, one requires you to apply and get accepted into their accelerator program, and some just require you to be working on a startup to apply with no added costs. This list is not meant to be comprehensive list. Just something I'm sharing in the hopes that it helps someone else.

Check each link below, do your own research, and apply accordingly to ones that interests or applies to you. The list may be outdated by the time you read this so double check everything.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Amazon Free Tier (with limits)
- Amazon Activate (Up to $100K)
- Amazon Proof of Concept ($300)
- Secret Membership ($99/yr for $5K)
- Stripe Atlas ($10K + $1.5K Business Support)
- Stripe Corporate Card ($5K)
- Startup School (Up to $5K)
- Y-Combinator Accelerator (7% Equity for Up to $100K + $500K funding)
- ProductHunt Ship ($59/mo for $5K)
- ProductHunt Founder's Club ($60/mo for $5K)
- Founder's Card ($499/year for $5K)
- Segment Startup Program (Up to $25K)
- Mercury Bank (Up to $100K)
- Academic Research (Up to $5k)
- Alexa Skills Developer (Potential $25/mo)
- Attending Select AWS Events and Webinars (varies)
- AWS Educate ($100-$200/yr)
- AWS Cloud Credit (Up to $5K)
- AWS Imagine Grant (Up to $100K + $150K funding)
- AWS EdStart (varies - merit based)
- AWS Marketplace (Up to $200 when subscribe to qualifying product)
- AWS Credits for Open Source Projects (varies)
- AWS Nonprofit Credit Program ($1k)
- TechSoup for Non-Profits ($1K - not sure if its the same as the above)
- Brex ($5K)
- Swoop ($5K)

Note: I do not know if all of these will stack. I've had friends that have received credit from different sources from the list above so at least from their experience, some of these do stack. There is language stating that the lifetime AWS Activate credit you can receive is $100K (+$10K Business Support). I don't know how true this is but a friend of mine received more than $100K total. Maybe things have changed.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- New Customers Tier ($300)
- Startups (Up to $100K)
- Google Cloud Research Credits (varies)

Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft Founder's Hub (Up to $150K)
- Azure Credits for Open Source Projects (varies)

If there are any I missed, please let me know and I'll be happy to update this list.