Free cloud credits can cover a young company's entire infrastructure bill for a year or more, but the headline amounts hide strict rules on funding, company age and expiry. AWS says Activate has given startups $7 billion in promotional credits since 2013. This guide compares the three main programmes as of 7 November 2026, using each provider's own pages.
At a glance
The three programmes are built for different stages. AWS Activate Founders and Microsoft's standard offer are open to self-funded companies but are small. The six-figure offers from all three require either an institutional investor or a referral from an approved partner such as a VC fund or accelerator.
The table below summarises the offers published on each provider's site on 7 November 2026. Amounts are in USD and apply to usage of the provider's own services, not to third-party marketplace products. Each provider decides acceptance at its own discretion, so treat these as ceilings rather than guarantees.
| Programme | Tier | Credits | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate | Founders | $1,000, up to $5,000 for select startups | Self-funded or bootstrapped, pre-Series B, under 10 years old |
| AWS Activate | Portfolio | Up to $200,000 | Backed by an Activate Provider with an Org ID |
| Google for Startups Cloud | Start | $2,000 | Founded in last 2 years, working MVP |
| Google for Startups Cloud | Scale | Up to $200,000 over 2 years | Institutional pre-seed to Series A, under 5 years old |
| Google for Startups Cloud | Scale AI | Up to $350,000 over 2 years | Qualifying AI-first, venture-backed startups |
| Microsoft for Startups | Standard | Up to $5,000 | Eligible early-stage startups |
| Microsoft for Startups | Investor offer | Up to $150,000 over time | Referral code from an Investor Network partner |
AWS Activate
AWS splits Activate into two packages. Founders is for startups not linked to an Activate Provider; it starts at $1,000 and select participants can receive up to $5,000. Portfolio is for companies backed by an accelerator, angel group or VC that is an Activate Provider; it offers up to $200,000 and needs that provider's Organization ID.
Both packages need a company founded within the last ten years, pre-Series B, with a working website and an AWS account on the paid tier. AWS says applications are answered within 7 to 10 business days, and credits can also be used on third-party foundation models in Amazon Bedrock.
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Google runs three tiers. Start gives $2,000 to startups founded in the past two years that have a working MVP and plan to raise venture funding. Scale and Scale AI need verifiable institutional funding: pre-seed or seed within the last five years, or Series A within the last twelve months, and the company must be under five years old.
Scale credits are paid in two steps. Year one covers 100% of usage up to $100,000 (or $250,000 for AI startups). Year two gives a 20% credit on spend up to another $100,000. Angel money, government grants, crowdfunding and friends-and-family rounds do not count for Scale, and agencies and consultancies are excluded.
- Scale extras listed by Google: $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits for one year
- 12 months of Google Workspace Business Plus
- $600 a month in Google Maps credit for one year, by separate application
- Credits do not cover third-party Marketplace or Model Garden products
Microsoft for Startups
Microsoft's public pages describe a standard offer of up to $5,000 in Azure credits, with $1,000 available immediately for use in the first 90 days. Its FAQ describes the steps slightly differently: $200 at sign-up for up to 90 days, rising to $5,000 in total after business verification, with a further $25,000 milestone. Confirm the current steps when you apply.
Higher offers go to startups backed by a member of the Microsoft for Startups Investor Network, who must supply a referral code. Microsoft says credits can grow to $150,000 over time based on verified progress and Azure usage. Investor-offer applicants must have received under $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits and must not have raised Series C.
Expiry rules and the credit cliff
Every programme has a time limit, and none of them carries unused credits forward. Microsoft states that startup credits are time-bound, are not extended once issued, and that subscriptions move to pay-as-you-go when credits expire or run out. Its FAQ says investor benefits run for two years from approval and unused credits do not roll over.
Google's Scale credits are designed around a two-year window, with the second year covering only 20% of spend. That means your bill starts rising in year two even before credits end. Model the full-price bill early so the change does not surprise you.
How to apply well
Apply to one programme first, the one that matches your funding today, and build there. Stacking credits across clouds sounds attractive but often leads to a product spread over two providers with twice the operational work. Most providers also check whether you have already received credits, and a smaller earlier award can reduce or block a later, larger one.
XDQ Labs often sees small teams lose credits because the application used a personal email or a website that was still a placeholder. Use a company domain, publish a real product page, and keep incorporation and funding documents ready before you apply.
- Use a company email on your own domain
- Have a live website describing the product
- Keep incorporation and funding proof ready
- Ask your investor or accelerator for Activate and Investor Network codes
- Set billing alerts before credits start
Frequently asked questions
How much are AWS Activate credits in 2026?
AWS Activate Founders starts at $1,000 and can reach $5,000 for select self-funded startups. Activate Portfolio offers up to $200,000 for pre-Series B startups backed by an Activate Provider such as a VC fund or accelerator, based on AWS's credits page in November 2026.
Can bootstrapped Indian startups get cloud credits?
Yes, but the amounts are smaller. Self-funded companies can apply for AWS Activate Founders ($1,000 to $5,000), Google's Start tier ($2,000) and Microsoft's standard offer of up to $5,000. The six-figure offers need institutional funding or a partner referral.
Do cloud credits expire?
Yes. Microsoft says startup credits are time-bound and not extendable once issued, and its investor benefits run for two years. Google's Scale credits span two years. Unused credits are lost, and billing switches to normal pay-as-you-go rates.
What is the Google Cloud AI startup credit?
AI-first startups on Google's Scale tier can receive up to $350,000: 100% of usage up to $250,000 in year one, then a 20% credit on spend up to another $100,000 in year two. They must meet the Scale funding and age rules.
Sources
- AWS Activate: startup credits, Amazon Web Services, 2026
- AWS Activate credits for startups, Amazon Web Services, 2026
- Google for Startups Cloud Program, Google Cloud, 2026
- Scale at startup speed on Google Cloud (early-stage startups), Google Cloud, 2026
- Microsoft for Startups overview, Microsoft Learn, 2026
- Microsoft for Startups FAQs, Microsoft Learn, 2026
- Azure startup programs and credits, Microsoft Learn, 2026
- Startup credit validity and extensions (Microsoft Q&A), Microsoft Learn, 2026
