How much credit does the AWS Free Tier give new accounts?
Up to $200 in total. AWS's page says “you get $100 in credits immediately” when you create a new account, and “you can earn up to $100 more” by exploring key services, which it describes as “up to $200 over 6 months” on the Free plan. New customers on the Paid plan are eligible for the same credits.
The extra $100 is earned in five steps worth $20 each. AWS's News Blog says you “earn an additional $20 credits for each of these five AWS service activities you complete”: launching an EC2 instance, using a model in the Amazon Bedrock playground, setting up a budget in AWS Budgets, building a web app with Lambda and creating an RDS database.
The activities use real credit. AWS notes of the EC2 one that “This activity incurs AWS service charges that are deducted from your AWS Free Tier credits.” You have to finish them in time: “You will need to complete the activities within 6 months from the date you open your AWS account to earn Free Tier credits.”
Source: AWS Free Tier page, AWS Billing user guide: choosing a plan, AWS News Blog: AWS Free Tier update, AWS Billing user guide: earning additional credits, AWS Free Tier FAQs
Who qualifies for the AWS Free Tier credits, and how do I claim them?
Only new AWS customers: “You would be ineligible for the Free plan or Free Tier credits if you have an existing AWS account or have previously had one.” To claim, create an AWS account and pick a plan. AWS says a payment method “isn't required to sign up for most new customers”, though it may ask for one to verify your identity.
One account only. The Free Tier Terms say “you are not eligible to receive Free Tier Credits for more than one account”, the FAQ says “your credits cannot be transferred to another AWS account”, and AWS's promotional credit terms void credit on an account created “solely for the purpose of obtaining Promotional Credit”.
Older accounts are on the old program: AWS says “If your AWS account was created before July 15, 2025” you continue in the legacy Free Tier program.
The credits are not offered everywhere. AWS says they are “not available in the China (ZHY) and China (BJS) regions”, and the Free Tier “is not available in the AWS GovCloud (US) regions” apart from certain services.
Source: AWS Free Tier FAQs, AWS Free Tier Terms, AWS Promotional Credit Terms and Conditions, AWS News Blog: AWS Free Tier update
Is there an AWS promo code or coupon for the Free Tier credits?
No code is needed: the $100 arrives when you create the account. AWS does issue promotional credit codes for other offers, and its terms say “Promotional Credit may not be purchased for cash, and we and our affiliates do not sell Promotional Credit.” Credit that is sold is void: “Promotional Credit is void if sold for cash or other consideration.”
A code works once, on one account: “Each Promotional Credit code can only be redeemed once and only on one AWS account.” You need an account first, since “You must have a valid AWS account to redeem a Promotional Credit code.”
Promotional credit does not pay for exams. AWS lists “AWS Training, AWS Certification” among the charges it is not applied to unless AWS authorizes it, and the Free Tier Terms say “Use of the Free Tier Credits is subject to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms”. A Free Tier credit is therefore not an exam voucher.
Source: AWS Free Tier page, AWS Promotional Credit Terms and Conditions, AWS Free Tier Terms
What is the difference between the AWS Free plan and the Paid plan?
Both start with the same credits. The Free plan limits you to select services and charges nothing unless you upgrade, but AWS says it “is ineligible for other promotional credits or incentive offers, such as AWS Activate credits”. The Paid plan opens all services and charges for usage beyond the credits. AWS says you “cannot downgrade your Paid plan to the Free plan”.
A Free plan can become a Paid plan without you choosing it: AWS says it “will automatically upgrade to paid plan if you join AWS Organizations, set up an AWS Control Tower landing zone, join AWS Partner Network” and in other cases.
The Paid plan adds a spending guard: “you can set a monthly spend limit for your project starting at $20.” The Free plan is for trying things out: its terms say Free Plan accounts “are provided for evaluation purposes and should not be used for processing sensitive data.”
Source: AWS Billing user guide: choosing a plan, AWS Free Tier FAQs, AWS Free Tier Terms
When do the AWS Free Tier credits expire, and what happens when they run out?
The Free plan ends 6 months after you open the account or when the credits run out, whichever comes first, and AWS keeps your content for 90 days so you can upgrade to the Paid plan. AWS's pages disagree on how long credits last after an upgrade: its Free Tier Terms say they “expire twelve months from the date you opened your account”, while one FAQ answer says “6 months”.
AWS says “No, you cannot extend your Free plan beyond 6 months.” When it ends, “AWS suspends your account and any associated projects”, and if you do not upgrade within 90 days “AWS will permanently erase your AWS account and all its content.”
On upgrade, “your remaining Free Tier credits will automatically apply to future AWS bills until they expire.” The date that counts is the one in your account: “You can view the credit expiration date in the Settings Portal.”
Source: AWS Free Tier Terms, AWS Free Tier FAQs
How is the AWS Free Tier different from AWS Activate for startups?
The Free Tier credit is for any new AWS customer and needs no application. AWS Activate is a separate startup program: its self-funded Founders tier starts with “$1,000 USD in Activate Credits”, and AWS lists “AWS Account on Paid Tier Plan” as an eligibility rule. A Free plan account is “ineligible” for Activate credits, so upgrade to the Paid plan before you apply.
AWS's sign-up comparison table lists “Earn extra credits from AWS Activate” as No for Sign up for AWS (new) and Yes for Sign up for AWS (advanced). The Free Tier FAQ adds that “you cannot earn additional credits once you activate advanced features”, while “You can activate advanced features at any time at no cost”.
Activate Founders can reach up to $5,000 for select participants. Check the current tiers on AWS's Activate page before relying on them.
Source: AWS Activate credits page, AWS Free Tier FAQs, AWS Account Management: compare sign-up options
