How to Get Free Credits in Google Cloud?
Getting free credits in Google Cloud allows you to explore and use various Google Cloud services, including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and many more, without incurring any cost. Below are several ways you can obtain free credits on Google Cloud:
1. Google Cloud Free Trial (New Users)
Google Cloud offers a free trial for new users, which provides $300 in credits for you to use within the first 90 days after signing up. This is one of the most straightforward ways to get free credits.
How to Claim Free Trial Credits:
- Visit the Google Cloud Free Trial page.
- Sign up or log in with your Google account.
- Enter your billing information (Google does not charge you during the trial period, and no fees are applied unless you choose to upgrade).
- Receive $300 in free credits to use for Google Cloud services.
💡 Tip: The $300 free credits are valid for 90 days, so be sure to use them before they expire.
2. Google Cloud Free Tier
Google Cloud also offers a Free Tier that gives you access to many products for free, with certain usage limits. This free tier is available to all users, even after the free trial credits expire.
How to Use the Free Tier:
- Visit the Google Cloud Free Tier page.
- Explore the list of products that are included in the Free Tier, such as:
- 1 f1-micro VM in Compute Engine (US regions only)
- 5GB of Regional Cloud Storage
- Up to 1TB of BigQuery queries per month
- Cloud Functions and Cloud Pub/Sub for basic usage
- The Free Tier includes services with always free quotas, meaning you can continue to use them without any charges as long as you stay within the free limits.
💡 Tip: If you exceed the Free Tier limits, Google Cloud will charge you according to their standard rates.
3. Google Cloud Student and Educator Grants
Google offers free credits to students and educators through the Google Cloud for Education program. If you’re a student or instructor, you can gain access to Google Cloud services for your coursework or research.
How to Apply for Google Cloud Credits for Education:
- For Students: Sign up for Google Cloud for Education by using your .edu email address to verify your student status.
- For Educators: Educators can apply through Google Cloud’s Cloud for Education program to receive credits for class-related projects and coursework.
💡 Tip: You can also access free credits via Qwiklabs if you’re participating in Google Cloud-related challenges, workshops, or courses.
4. Google Cloud’s Community and Research Programs
Google Cloud offers free credits for developers, researchers, and open-source contributors as part of its Community Programs.
How to Get Credits through Community Programs:
- Participate in Google Cloud-related hackathons and events hosted by Google or its partners.
- Join open-source projects that are sponsored by Google Cloud.
- Apply for research credits if you’re conducting research in collaboration with Google Cloud.
💡 Tip: Keep an eye on Google Cloud’s official blog and social media for announcements of challenges and events that offer free credits.
5. Google Cloud Challenges & Competitions
Google Cloud occasionally offers free credits to participants in challenges, coding competitions, or events, such as the Google Cloud Skills Challenge and other cloud computing competitions.
How to Earn Credits from Competitions:
- Participate in Google Cloud Skills Challenges or other similar events.
- Complete labs and tasks to earn Google Cloud credits.
- Look for coding competitions or developer contests organized by Google Cloud, where winners are awarded free credits.
💡 Tip: Follow Google Cloud’s social media accounts to stay updated about new challenges and competitions that offer credits.
6. Use Google Cloud’s Promotional Offers
Google Cloud periodically runs promotions and special events where users can receive free credits for specific services or actions. For example, signing up for a Google Cloud event or completing specific tasks can result in free credits.
How to Find Google Cloud Promotions:
- Visit the Google Cloud Promotions Page and keep an eye out for limited-time offers.
- Sign up for newsletters and notifications from Google Cloud to receive alerts about free credit promotions.
- Participate in special Google Cloud developer programs or online learning challenges that provide credits as a reward.
💡 Tip: Promotions often coincide with large events like Google Cloud Next or Google Cloud Summit.
7. Google Cloud Open-Source Contributor Program
Google Cloud supports open-source contributions and often rewards contributors with free credits for their work on open-source cloud projects.
How to Get Credits as an Open-Source Contributor:
- Contribute to Google Cloud’s open-source projects (such as Kubernetes or TensorFlow).
- Participate in the Google Summer of Code (GSoC), which can provide you with Google Cloud credits to work on projects.
- Join open-source communities like Kubernetes or Apache CloudStack, which are often sponsored by Google Cloud.
💡 Tip: Google Cloud offers special credits for open-source contributors and developers working on projects using their cloud infrastructure.
8. Use Google Cloud Credits from Partners
Google Cloud has several partnerships with educational platforms (like Coursera or Udacity) and offers free credits as part of their courses.
How to Access Credits from Learning Platforms:
- Sign up for cloud-based courses on platforms like Coursera, Udacity, or Pluralsight.
- Some of these platforms provide Google Cloud credits as part of their course offerings.
- Enroll in Google Cloud Training and Certification Programs, which can provide free access to Google Cloud services.
💡 Tip: You can often find free credits as part of introductory offers when signing up for Google Cloud-related courses.
Summary: Best Ways to Get Free Google Cloud Credits
✅ Sign up for the Google Cloud Free Trial (includes $300 credits for 90 days)
✅ Use the Google Cloud Free Tier for always free services
✅ Apply for Google Cloud for Education credits if you are a student or educator
✅ Participate in Google Cloud challenges and competitions for free credits
✅ Join Google Cloud’s open-source programs for contributors
✅ Explore Google Cloud promotional offers and learning programs
By leveraging these methods, you can access Google Cloud services for free and start learning or building your cloud-based projects!