GitHub Codespaces Free

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud development environment you open from a GitHub repository. Personal GitHub accounts get a monthly quota of compute and storage.

GitHubUpdated monthly · checked 26 h ago

GitHub Codespaces Free is a developer tools perk from GitHub, offering a free plan (120 hours, 15 GB), with no funding required.

Who qualifies
No funding needed
Benefit type
Free plan

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While you apply

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What you get

Inside GitHub Codespaces Free

Every personal GitHub account includes a quota of free compute time and storage for Codespaces: 120 core hours and 15 GB of storage each month. A 2-core codespace gets 60 hours of run time. Usage beyond the included amounts is billed to the personal account, starting at $0.18 an hour of compute and $0.07 per GB of storage.

Eligibility

Who it's for

Funding / backing
No funding needed
Geography
Global
Recurring / expiry
The free quota resets every month.
Other requirements
The free quota is for personal GitHub accounts. GitHub plans for organizations and enterprises do not include a free quota for Codespaces.
How to claim

How to apply for GitHub Codespaces Free

Steps to apply
  1. 1Sign in to GitHub and create a codespace from any repository.
Good to know: Plans read on github.com/features/codespaces and docs.github.com on October 28, 2026.
Value is the headline maximum GitHub advertises. What your company actually receives depends on your eligibility and how you use the program, and terms can change. A comparison, not endorsed by the programs listed. A link labeled as a referral link may earn us a commission, and a program labeled Same owner comes from the company that runs StartupPerks. Confirm current terms on the provider's page.
Through your bank or card

Other ways to get a deal on GitHub

Mercury gives its customers a deal on GitHub. It is separate from GitHub Codespaces Free, with its own conditions, and partners usually allow one startup deal per company, so compare who qualifies before you apply.

  • Mercury Perks$10,000 in GitHub creditsFor Mercury business account holders
    • This perk is for funded startups only. You must have raised outside equity funding (up to Series B) from investors. Companies that are bootstrapped, self-funded, grant-funded, etc are not eligible.
    • New to GitHub Enterprise (or have not been on a GitHub Enterprise plan within the past six months)
    • Have not previously received GitHub for Startups credits or GitHub Enterprise licenses
    Compare all 273 Mercury Perks On Mercury: the GitHub perk

Read from each platform's own perks page on or after October 28, 2026.

Questions

GitHub Codespaces Free: common questions

Is GitHub free?

Yes, GitHub can be used for free. Free plan (120 hours, 15 GB). As stated on GitHub's own page, linked on this page.

Who qualifies for GitHub Codespaces Free?

GitHub Codespaces Free is open to any startup, with no funding required. The free quota is for personal GitHub accounts. GitHub plans for organizations and enterprises do not include a free quota for Codespaces.

Do I need to be VC-backed or in an accelerator to get GitHub Codespaces Free?

No. GitHub Codespaces Free is open to any startup that meets the stated criteria, no investor or accelerator backing required.

How do I apply for GitHub Codespaces Free?

Sign in to GitHub and create a codespace from any repository.

How long do I have to use GitHub Codespaces Free, and does it expire?

The free quota resets every month.

Is GitHub Codespaces Free available outside the US?

GitHub Codespaces Free is available globally, subject to the provider's terms.

Free cloud IDEs, comparedGitHub Codespaces's free plan next to every other free cloud IDEWhat each cloud IDE gives you free today, its main limit and what the first paid plan costs, read from each provider's own page.
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