How much credit does DigitalOcean give new users?
DigitalOcean's documentation says “When you create your first team, DigitalOcean automatically applies a $5 signup credit.” and that “Signup credits expire 90 days after signup.” Its pricing page uses the same $5 for 90 days as its worked example.
The credit “applies to all products except SaaS Add-Ons”. DigitalOcean also says “You must add a valid payment method before you can create Droplets or other resources.” The docs page is marked “Last verified 15 Jul 2026”.
Source: DigitalOcean docs: Signup Credit, DigitalOcean pricing page
Is there a DigitalOcean promo code or coupon?
None is needed for the signup credit: the docs say “No promo code is required.” No larger sign-up offer appears on DigitalOcean's signup credit page, its pricing page or its referral page, so a bigger figure from a coupon site is not one DigitalOcean states there.
DigitalOcean's Droplets pricing FAQ says only that “DigitalOcean often provides promotional credits for new users” and tells readers to “Check the DigitalOcean website for the latest offers.”
Where a code does exist, DigitalOcean's terms say “Each Promotional Credit or Discount code can only be redeemed once and only on one DigitalOcean account.” It must be redeemed in time, because credits “are valid for a limited time only”.
Source: DigitalOcean docs: Signup Credit, DigitalOcean Droplets pricing page, DigitalOcean Promotional Credit & Discount Terms
Does a DigitalOcean referral link give a new user more credit?
DigitalOcean's referral page says a referrer gets “$25 after they spend their first $25” and that the friend gets “access to all of DigitalOcean's Agentic Inference Cloud products and benefits!” It names no credit amount for the friend, so the page gives no reason to expect more than the signup credit.
The referrer's side is spelled out separately: “You earn $25 after they reach $25 in billings.”
Source: DigitalOcean Referral Program page
Are DigitalOcean codes from coupon sites or resellers valid?
DigitalOcean's terms rule out buying credit: “Promotional Credits and Discounts may not be purchased for cash, and we and our affiliates do not sell Promotional Credits or Discounts.” A credit sold for cash or other consideration is void under the same terms.
The terms also say “You may not sell, license, rent, or otherwise transfer the Promotional Credit or Discount.” Credit on accounts “created solely for the purpose of obtaining Promotional Credits or Discounts” is void, and DigitalOcean reserves the right to “cancel any Promotional Credit or Discount at any time”.
Source: DigitalOcean Promotional Credit & Discount Terms
What happens when the DigitalOcean signup credit runs out or expires?
Your card is charged. The pricing FAQ says “Your card will be charged only after you have utilized the free credits or after the credit expiration period.” The credit lasts 90 days, and “you won't be able to use any remaining credit after the 90-day period expires.”
The FAQ's example: spend $3 of the $5 within the 90 days and the card is not charged, but if you spend $10 then “the $5 credit will be fully utilized, and your card will be charged only $5.”
Source: DigitalOcean pricing page
How is the signup credit different from DigitalOcean's startup program?
The signup credit is automatic and small. DigitalOcean's startup program (listed here as Hatch) is a separate application that offers “12 months of DigitalOcean credits”, set at “DigitalOcean credits (amount varies)”, and “Free access to Standard-tier paid support for 15 months”.
DigitalOcean adds that “Selected startups will be invited to apply for GPU credit packages.”
Source: DigitalOcean Startups page
