AWS Credits Explained: Credit Codes, Vouchers, and How to Use Them in 2025

Nitin Yadav
September 24, 2025
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Discover how AWS credits, credit codes, and vouchers help startups & enterprises cut cloud costs in 2025. Learn to redeem, optimize, and save up to $100K+.

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AWS Activate credits, AWS Activate Founders, AWS billing optimization, AWS cloud credits, AWS cost savings, AWS credit code, AWS credit voucher, AWS Credits, AWS credits for sale, AWS FinOps, AWS free credits, AWS partners, AWS Startup Credits, redeem AWS credits

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most popular cloud provider, powering millions of applications, startups, and enterprises. But there’s one challenge every AWS user faces: managing cloud costs.

Whether you’re a founder running a SaaS platform or an enterprise scaling across regions, AWS bills can grow fast. That’s where AWS cloud credits come in. These credits often delivered as AWS credit codes or AWS credit vouchers act like free money to offset your cloud spend.

In 2025, understanding how to obtain, apply, and maximize AWS credits can save your business tens of thousands of dollars. In this guide, we’ll cover:

What AWS credits are and how they work.
The difference between AWS credit codes and vouchers.
Risks of buying AWS credits for sale online.
How to use AWS credits effectively to optimize costs.
Who is eligible for AWS credits.
The future of AWS credits in 2025 and beyond.

What Are AWS Credits?

AWS credits are promotional funds provided by Amazon Web Services to help businesses, developers, and researchers use AWS services at reduced or no cost.

These credits can be applied to almost any AWS service, including:

Compute: Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda, ECS, EKS.
Storage: Amazon S3, Elastic Block Store (EBS), Glacier.
Databases: Amazon RDS, DynamoDB, Aurora.
AI/ML: SageMaker, Rekognition, Comprehend.
Networking: CloudFront, VPC, Route 53.

Credits appear directly on your AWS billing dashboard and are deducted from usage charges until they expire.

AWS Credit Codes Explained

An AWS credit code is a unique alphanumeric string that you redeem in your AWS account to apply credits.

Where to Get AWS Credit Codes

Hackathons & Developer Events: AWS often provides credit codes to participants.
Promotional Campaigns: Special events, conferences, or training programs may include codes.
Educational Programs: Students or researchers may receive credit codes via AWS Educate.

How to Redeem an AWS Credit Code

Log into the AWS Billing & Cost Management Console.
Go to Credits.
Enter the credit code.
Confirm, and the credit amount is applied instantly.

Limitations of Credit Codes

Expiry dates (usually 3–12 months).
Not transferable between accounts.
Not valid for third-party marketplace purchases.

AWS Credit Vouchers Explained

An AWS credit voucher differs from a one-time code. Vouchers are often higher in value and tied to programs like AWS Activate.

Common Sources of AWS Credit Vouchers

AWS Activate Founders: Offers up to $1,000 in credits for self-funded startups.
AWS Activate Portfolio: Offers $5,000–$100,000+ in credits for VC or accelerator-backed startups.
AWS Partner Programs: AWS managed services partners can help enterprises access vouchers.
AWS Educate & Research Grants: Students, professors, and researchers may get vouchers for academic use.

Example: Voucher Use Case

A startup in an accelerator program receives a $25,000 AWS credit voucher. Over the next year, this covers:

EC2 for hosting infrastructure.
S3 for storage.
RDS for database workloads.

Result: Cloud costs are reduced to nearly zero, allowing the company to focus on growth.

AWS Credits for Sale: Myth vs. Reality

Search online and you’ll find ads offering AWS credits for sale. Tempting? Maybe. Safe? Absolutely not.

The Risks of Buying AWS Credits Online

Violation of AWS Terms of Service: Using purchased credits outside official programs can result in account suspension.
Fraud Risk: Many sellers provide expired or invalid credits.
No Support: AWS does not honor credits obtained unofficially.

Always acquire AWS credits through official AWS programs or partners to stay compliant and avoid disruptions.

How to Use AWS Credits Effectively

Getting credits is only the first step. Using them wisely ensures maximum value.

1. Apply Credits Strategically

Focus on compute, storage, and databases the biggest cost centers.
Use credits for production workloads rather than small experiments.

2. Combine with Free Tier

AWS Free Tier provides 12 months of free usage for some services.
Combine Free Tier with credits for extended savings.

3. Rightsize Instances

Don’t run oversized EC2 or RDS instances.
Use AWS Compute Optimizer to match instance size to workload.

4. Automate Shutdowns

Non-production environments (dev/test) should auto-stop outside working hours.

5. Use Spot Instances

For batch jobs or ML training, use Spot Instances to cut costs by up to 90%.

6. Apply Storage Policies

Use S3 lifecycle policies to move old data to lower-cost storage tiers, such as Glacier.

7. Monitor Usage Closely

Track credits in the Billing Dashboard.
Set alerts with AWS Budgets to avoid surprises.

Who Can Get AWS Credits?

AWS credits are not just for startups multiple groups can access them.

Startups
- Via AWS Activate.
- Portfolio companies (backed by VCs, accelerators) can access up to $100K+.
Enterprises
- Via AWS Partners or enterprise-level agreements.
- Credits often tied to migration projects or innovation programs.
Students & Researchers
- Via AWS Educate or academic grants.
- Great for AI/ML research, big data projects, or student startups.
Developers
- Via hackathons, events, and AWS training programs.

Case Study: Startup Scales with AWS Credit Voucher

Company: A SaaS startup building an AI-driven CRM.
Challenge: Monthly cloud bills projected at $8,000 are unsustainable for an early-stage company.
Solution:

Applied for AWS Activate Portfolio credits via their accelerator.
Secured $50,000 in AWS credit vouchers.
Optimized usage with Reserved Instances and lifecycle policies.
Results:
Saved nearly $45,000 over 12 months.
Extended runway by 9 months.
Reinvested savings into hiring developers and acquiring customers.

The Future of AWS Credits in 2025 and Beyond

AWS continues to evolve its credit programs. Expect:

More AI/ML Credits
- Expanded credits for machine learning workloads in SageMaker.
Sustainability-Linked Credits
- Credits tied to green initiatives or carbon-aware cloud practices.
Multi-Cloud Expansion
- Enterprises may balance AWS credits with Azure and GCP incentives.
FinOps Integration
- Credit usage will be tracked as part of financial operations (FinOps) frameworks.
Stricter Compliance
- AWS will tighten rules to prevent credit misuse and resale

Conclusion

AWS credits whether delivered as credit codes or vouchers are a game-changer for startups, enterprises, and researchers. They help reduce cloud spend, extend runway, and unlock innovation.

But credits must be used wisely. Mismanagement can waste value, and purchasing AWS credits on the secondary market is a risky, non-compliant shortcut.

At SquareOps, we help businesses:

Unlock AWS credit vouchers through official programs.
Apply credits strategically to reduce costs by up to 40%.
Build long-term cloud cost management strategies.

Want to save thousands on AWS cloud spend?
Book a Free AWS Credit Consultation with SquareOps today.

Frequently asked questions

What are AWS credits?

AWS credits are promotional funds provided by Amazon Web Services that reduce your cloud bill. They can be applied to services like EC2, S3, RDS, and Lambda to cut costs.

What is an AWS credit code?

An AWS credit code is a unique alphanumeric string that you redeem in the AWS Billing Console to apply free credits to your account. They are often distributed via events, hackathons, or promotions.

What is an AWS credit voucher?

An AWS credit voucher is a bulk credit allocation usually higher in value provided through programs like AWS Activate, AWS Educate, or via AWS Partners.

Where can I get AWS credit codes or vouchers?

You can get AWS credits through the AWS Activate program, educational initiatives like AWS Educate, promotional events, hackathons, or official AWS partners.

Are AWS credits for sale online legitimate?

No. AWS credits for sale from third-party sellers often violate AWS terms of service. Using them risks account suspension. Always obtain credits through official AWS programs.

How do I redeem an AWS credit code?

Log into the AWS Billing & Cost Management Console, go to the “Credits” section, enter the code, and confirm. The credits will be applied to eligible services.

Do AWS credits expire?

Yes. AWS credits usually have an expiration date between 3 months and 2 years, depending on the program. Unused credits after expiry cannot be recovered.

What services can AWS credits be applied to?

AWS credits can be used for most core services including compute (EC2, Lambda), storage (S3, EBS), databases (RDS, DynamoDB), AI/ML services (SageMaker), and networking (CloudFront, Route 53).

Who is eligible for AWS credits?

Startups, enterprises, students, and researchers may be eligible for AWS credits through AWS Activate, AWS Educate, or AWS Partner programs.

How does SquareOps help businesses use AWS credits?

SquareOps helps startups and enterprises unlock AWS credit vouchers, apply them strategically, and implement cost optimization to save up to 40% on AWS bills.

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