How to Get Free Credits in AWS?
Getting free credits in AWS can be helpful, especially if you’re starting out with cloud computing and want to explore AWS services without incurring charges. AWS provides several ways to obtain free credits or access services for free. Below are the key options to get free credits in AWS:
1. AWS Free Tier
AWS offers a Free Tier for new users, which allows you to use a limited amount of various AWS services for free within the first 12 months after signing up. The Free Tier includes both always free and 12-month free services.
Key features of the AWS Free Tier:
- Always Free: Some services are always free for certain usage levels, such as 1 million Lambda requests, 25GB of S3 storage, or 750 hours of EC2 t2.micro instances each month.
- 12-Month Free: After signing up, AWS gives you access to a variety of services free for 12 months, such as 750 hours of EC2 usage, 5GB of S3 storage, and 1 million requests on Lambda.
For detailed information, you can visit the AWS Free Tier page.
2. AWS Educate
AWS Educate is a program for students, educators, and educational institutions that provides access to AWS credits for learning purposes.
Benefits of AWS Educate:
- Students can receive AWS credits to use for their projects and coursework.
- Educators and institutions can integrate AWS tools into their courses and get credits to support teaching.
- AWS Educate also offers training resources and tools to help you learn cloud computing.
To get AWS Educate credits, you need to be eligible by being a student or educator, and you can sign up for the program at the AWS Educate page.
3. AWS Activate for Startups
AWS Activate is designed for startups and offers free AWS credits as well as additional technical support and resources to help you grow your business.
Key features of AWS Activate:
- Free credits up to a certain limit (the amount varies depending on the level of the program).
- Access to AWS technical support and architecture reviews.
- Exclusive offers for startups, such as discounts on third-party services.
To apply for AWS Activate, you must be a startup that meets specific eligibility criteria. More details can be found on the AWS Activate page.
4. AWS Promotional Credits
Occasionally, AWS offers promotional credits for specific purposes, such as participating in AWS events, webinars, or hackathons.
Ways to earn promotional credits:
- AWS Events and Conferences: Attend AWS events like AWS re:Invent, AWS Summits, and other specialized events where they may offer free credits for attending or participating.
- Hackathons and Challenges: AWS often partners with organizations to host hackathons, coding challenges, and contests, where participants can win AWS credits.
- AWS Webinars and Training: Sometimes AWS provides credits as part of their training or educational webinars. These credits can be used to try out various AWS services.
Keep an eye on AWS events and special promotions by subscribing to AWS newsletters or visiting the AWS Events page.
5. AWS Activate for Nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations can apply for AWS credits through the AWS Activate program tailored specifically for nonprofits. This program provides AWS credits, technical support, and resources that nonprofits can use to develop and deploy cloud solutions.
To apply, visit the AWS Activate for Nonprofits page to learn more and submit an application.
6. Referrals and AWS Partner Offers
AWS occasionally offers referral bonuses or promotions to users who refer others to AWS. If you refer someone to AWS and they sign up, you may earn AWS credits, although this varies depending on the program.
In addition, AWS has various partner offers where third-party companies and organizations may offer AWS credits to new users who sign up for their services. These partner offers are often available through AWS Marketplace or associated partners.
7. AWS Promotional Credits from Third Parties
Some organizations, events, or services offer AWS credits as part of their promotions. For example, cloud-native platforms, developer communities, and certain software vendors provide AWS credits for using their services or platforms.
Examples of third-party promotional credits:
- Cloud Conferences: Conferences such as Google Cloud Next, Microsoft Ignite, or other cloud-native events may provide AWS credits as part of their promotional campaigns.
- Technology Partner Programs: Some technology providers offer AWS credits for integrating their services with AWS.
8. AWS Research Grants
If you are a researcher or working on an academic research project, you may be eligible for AWS Research Grants. AWS collaborates with universities, academic institutions, and researchers to offer cloud computing credits for scientific and academic research.
Key benefits of AWS Research Grants:
- Access to free credits to conduct research.
- Use of AWS services such as EC2, S3, and other data-intensive computing tools.
- Assistance from AWS’s technical experts to support research.
Researchers can apply for these grants through the AWS Research page.
9. Social Media and Promotions
AWS sometimes runs social media promotions or contests where users can win AWS credits. These promotions are often advertised on AWS’s official social media channels such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
10. Cloud-Based Competitions and Contests
AWS frequently sponsors or participates in cloud competitions, coding challenges, and startup contests where you can win free AWS credits. Participating in these events can give you access to AWS resources while enhancing your skills in cloud computing.
Check out platforms like Devpost, Kaggle, or other competitive platforms where AWS contests and challenges may be held.
Conclusion
Getting free credits in AWS is achievable through several different programs and opportunities. From the AWS Free Tier for beginners to AWS Activate for startups, AWS Educate for students and educators, and special promotions and events, there are many avenues to obtain free credits. It’s worth exploring these options depending on your needs, whether you’re learning, developing a startup, or working on a research project.
Remember to always monitor your usage to ensure that you do not exceed the free credit limits or free-tier usage quotas, as you may incur charges once the credits or free usage period expires.