AWS Free Credits: What They Are and How to Claim Them in 2025

Nitin Yadav
June 30, 2025
Knowledge

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Get AWS free credits in 2025—learn how to claim up to $100,000 for startups, students, nonprofits, and new users. Step-by-step guide to eligibility, tips, and best uses.

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AWS, CI/CD Pipelines, DevOps, Devops Service Provider, SquareOps

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Introduction

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a wide range of cloud computing services—and for new users, startups, educators, and nonprofits, they provide AWS free credits to help you explore and build without upfront costs. In 2025, AWS has expanded its credit programs, making it easier than ever to launch your product, test your workloads, or run educational projects on the world’s most popular cloud platform.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about AWS free credits—how they work, who qualifies, how to claim them, and how to make the most of them.

What Are AWS Free Credits?

AWS free credits are monetary credits provided by Amazon Web Services that can be used to offset the cost of eligible AWS services. These credits function like a gift card—they reduce your bill until they’re fully used or expired.

Credits can range from $100 to over $100,000, depending on the program and your eligibility.

Who Can Get AWS Free Credits in 2025?

AWS offers credit programs for multiple user segments:

1. Startups

Through AWS Activate (Founders, Portfolio)
Credits range from $1,000 to $100,000

2. Students and Educators

AWS Educate Program
Up to $100 in credits for eligible students
Classroom credits for instructors

3. Nonprofits

AWS Imagine Grant & AWS for Nonprofits
Credits up to $5,000–$10,000

4. Hackathons & Bootcamps

AWS sponsors credits for events
Apply directly or through organizers

5. New AWS Accounts (Free Tier)

12-month free tier for new users

Always Free services: Lambda, DynamoDB, S3 (limited usage)

How to Claim AWS Free Credits

. AWS Activate (for Startups)

Visit https://aws.amazon.com/activate/
Choose the “Founders” track or apply via a partner accelerator/incubator
Provide your startup details and AWS account ID

2. AWS Educate (for Students & Teachers)

Go to https://aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate/
Register with an academic email ID
Credits issued upon approval

3. Nonprofits (via TechSoup or AWS for Nonprofits)

Apply at https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/
Verify nonprofit status (EIN or TechSoup ID)

4. AWS Free Tier for New Accounts

Receive 12-month and always-free service limits

Programs That Include AWS Free Credits

Program	Audience	Credit Amount	Duration
AWS Activate Founders	Bootstrapped Startups	$1,000–$2,000	2 years
AWS Activate Portfolio	VC/Accelerator-backed Startups	$5,000–$100,000	2 years
AWS Educate	Students	$50–$100	1 year
AWS Nonprofits Program	Registered NGOs	$1,000–$10,000	1–2 years
AWS Free Tier	All New Users	Varies by service	12 months + always-free tier

Tips to Maximize AWS Free Credits

Track Expiration Dates: Credits expire after a fixed term—often 12 or 24 months.
Tag Resources: Label services running on credits to avoid confusion.
Monitor Usage with AWS Budgets: Set alerts to avoid overspending.
Use Cost-Effective Services: Opt for spot instances, Lambda, or S3 IA.

Combine with Free Tier: Stretch your credits by staying within free usage limits.

Common Misconceptions About AWS Credits

Not All Services Are Covered: Premium support, some marketplace tools may not be included.
Credits Don’t Auto-Renew: You’ll need to re-apply or switch to paid usage.
Credits Are Non-Transferable: You can’t move credits between AWS accounts.
You Need a Valid Credit Card: Even with credits, a payment method is required.

Best Use Cases for AWS Free Credits

MVP or Product Prototype
Student Learning Projects
Open-Source App Hosting
Machine Learning Model Training
Database Migration Testing
Nonprofit CRM and Website Hosting

Conclusion

AWS free credits are one of the best ways to start building in the cloud without the upfront cost. Whether you’re launching a startup, testing an idea, or building a student project, these credits provide real value—if you know how to use them wisely.

Need help setting up a high-performance AWS architecture using your credits? SquareOps specializes in cost-optimized, secure AWS environments that scale with your goals.

Let us help you turn free credits into real success.

Frequently asked questions

Are AWS credits available to individuals?

Yes, students, developers, and individual entrepreneurs can access credits through AWS Educate, free tier, or startup programs.

Can I combine multiple credit programs?

Usually no—each credit program is account-specific. However, free tier + credits can coexist.

Do I need a credit card to use AWS credits?

Yes. Even with free credits, AWS requires a valid payment method.

Can I extend my AWS credits?

Extensions are rare but possible—contact AWS support or your program representative.

Are credits taxed?

In most regions, credits reduce billed costs, and tax is applied to net usage.

What happens when credits run out?

You’ll be charged the standard AWS rates unless you delete or pause resources.

Can I use credits on enterprise support?

No—AWS credits usually do not cover support plans.

How long does it take to get credits approved?

Usually within 3–7 business days, depending on the program.

Do credits work across all AWS regions?

Yes—credits apply globally across AWS regions.

Can SquareOps help me make the most of my AWS credits?

Yes—SquareOps helps startups and teams architect optimized AWS environments so your credits deliver maximum ROI.

Tagged AWS, CI/CD Pipelines, DevOps, Devops Service Provider, SquareOps