How much credit does Akamai Cloud (Linode) give new users?
Akamai's sign-up page is headed “Try Akamai Cloud with a US$100 Credit”. Its pricing FAQ uses “a $100 credit for 60 days” as the example of a sign-up promotional credit, but the sign-up page itself states no length.
You can use the credit “toward many of our Compute plans (GPU plans are excluded from this promotion), Object Storage, Block Storage, or NodeBalancers offerings”.
A valid payment method is required “to confirm your identity, but we will not charge you during your trial”.
Source: Akamai Cloud free credit sign-up page, Akamai Cloud pricing page and FAQ
Who qualifies for the Linode new user credit, and how do I claim it?
Only new customers: “Promotional credits are available only to new customers who have not yet signed up for a free trial.” Sign up with Google, GitHub or email on the sign-up page and add a valid payment method. Akamai's rules add “Each individual business can redeem one promo code.”
If you or your business redeemed a promo code in the past, Akamai's rules say “you cannot redeem another”.
Source: Akamai Cloud free credit sign-up page, Akamai promotion redemption rules and conditions
Is there a Linode promo code, and can I buy one?
Akamai's sign-up and pricing pages print no code for the credit, which comes with the sign-up page. Codes do exist, and Akamai's rules are strict: “Promo codes are nontransferable. Transferring a promo code will result in account termination.” Codes also “expire after one year”.
Akamai's docs say “You can add a promo code when signing up for an account.” Later, the account must be “less than 90 days old” and have no other promo code applied; in Cloud Manager open Administration, then Billing, and choose “Add a promo code”.
The rules add that “Credit amounts are nonstandard and granted at the sole discretion of the Akamai sales team.” and that codes do not apply to any Marketplace product or third-party service.
Source: Akamai promotion redemption rules and conditions, Akamai Cloud docs: add a promo code
Does a Linode referral link give a bigger credit?
No, the same amount, with the length stated. Akamai's docs say “A new user receives a $100 60-day credit” when they sign up through a referral link, after adding a valid payment method. The referrer receives a “$25 non-expiring credit” later.
Akamai's referral page says the friend gets a “60-day credit after adding a valid payment method”, and the referrer “must spend $25” to activate a personal referral link.
Source: Akamai Cloud docs: referral program, Akamai Cloud referral program page
What happens when the Linode credit runs out or expires?
You pay standard rates. The sign-up page says “You must spend your service credits during the trial period. Unused service credits will automatically expire”, and any service over the credit is charged at standard rates.
The pricing FAQ says the card “gets charged after you have exhausted the promotional credit amount or after the promotional credit window expires”. In its example, spending $50 of a $100 credit within the 60 days means no charge, and spending $150 means a $50 charge.
Source: Akamai Cloud free credit sign-up page, Akamai Cloud pricing page and FAQ
How is this different from the Akamai Cloud Rise startup program?
Rise is a separate, reviewed program. Akamai describes it as “a three-year start-up program” that provides “up to US$120,000 in cloud credits during the first year” to businesses “fewer than seven years old”, added “After acceptance”. The $100 credit needs no application.
Akamai's home page also offers “Get up to US$5,000 in cloud credits” through a request form: “Offer available to new and existing enterprise customers.”
Source: Akamai Cloud Rise start-up program page, Akamai Cloud home page
