Most early-stage startups can get free cloud credits from at least three programs at once: AWS Activate, the Google for Startups Cloud Program and Microsoft for Startups, plus NVIDIA Inception and Anthropic's Claude for Startups if you build on AI. Self-serve tiers start in the low thousands of dollars; the six-figure tiers usually need a referral from an investor or accelerator, or a funding round inside a set window.
This guide covers:
- What each program gives, in one table
- Who qualifies for each, and which tiers need an investor
- How long the credits last and what they cannot pay for
- Which program to apply to first, and how they combine
- What to plan for once the credits are gone
Takeaways:
- The biggest headline numbers (up to $200,000 on AWS, up to $350,000 on Google for AI-first startups, up to $150,000 on Microsoft) are tiered: you earn them through a referral, a funding stage or demonstrated usage, not on day one.
- Every program has a self-serve entry tier you can apply to this week without an investor.
- Credits expire. Plan your heaviest compute, such as training runs, inside the window rather than spreading it thin.
- None of the three hyperscaler programs, on their own pages, lists GPU instance families as covered or excluded. Check your billing console before you budget a GPU run on credits.
The programs at a glance
Figures are as each program states them on its own site, as of October 2026. Programs change their tiers often, so treat the linked guides and official pages as the source of truth.
| Program | Self-serve tier | Top tier | Who qualifies (summary) | How long credits last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate | Founders: starts at $1,000, up to $5,000 | Portfolio: up to $200,000 (needs an Org ID from a provider); AI tier $200,000+ by invite | Pre-Series B, founded in the last 10 years, AWS account on a paid plan | Usually 1 to 2 years, depending on the package |
| Google for Startups Cloud | Start: $2,000 | Scale: up to $200,000 over 2 years, plus up to $150,000 more for AI-first startups | Start: founded in the last 24 months. Scale: founded in the last 5 years, with a recent funding round | Start: 12 months. Scale: 2 years |
| Microsoft for Startups | Starter credits on joining | Up to $150,000 over time, unlocked through verified progress and Azure usage | Startups that have not received more than $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits, plus the program's other criteria | Up to 2 years, activated within 90 days of accepting the agreement |
| NVIDIA Inception | Free membership, no equity | Partner credits; NVIDIA does not publish a fixed figure | Incorporated, under 10 years old, at least one developer, a working website | Varies by partner offer |
| Claude for Startups | $1,000 in Claude API credits, plus a year of Claude Team for up to five seats if you are new to it | Up to $100,000 in additional API credits, claimed through your VC | Founded in the last 5 years or funded in the last 2 | API credits expire six months after they are granted |
Which program to apply to first
Start with the cloud you will actually run on. Credits are only worth their face value if the services you need are on that platform, and moving a live product between clouds to chase credits usually costs more engineering time than the credits are worth.
- If you have an investor or accelerator: ask them first. Their referral is what unlocks AWS Activate Portfolio, the larger Microsoft offer (most investor-backed startups begin at $100,000 there) and Claude's additional API credits. Google's Scale tier keys on your funding stage instead.
- If you are pre-funding: apply to the self-serve tiers: AWS Activate Founders, Google's Start tier and Microsoft's starter credits. They are small but quick, and they do not stop you applying to the larger tiers later.
- If you build on AI models: add Claude for Startups for API credits, and NVIDIA Inception for its training resources, partner offers and credential.
Can you combine programs?
The published eligibility rules for AWS, Google and Microsoft each look at credits from their own cloud: AWS wants you new to Activate credits or asking for more than you had, Google's Scale tier excludes startups that already received more than $5,000 in Google Cloud credits, and Microsoft caps lifetime free Azure credits at $350,000. None of the three, as published, mentions credits from the other clouds. Claude's partner offers have their own rule: they may not be combined with other offers. Read each program's terms before you rely on stacking.
What credits do and do not pay for
Credits cover the provider's own services. AWS says Activate credits work on over 200 eligible services but not on upfront fees such as Savings Plans and Reserved Instances; Google says its credits cannot pay for third-party services; Microsoft covers models sold directly by Azure and billed through your subscription. Claude for Startups credits are API credits for Claude, not general compute.
For GPU work specifically, none of the three hyperscalers' startup pages names which GPU instance families the credits cover. Accelerated instances are often in high demand and may need a quota increase before you can launch them. Confirm both coverage and quota in your console before you plan a training run around credits.
When the credits run out
Credits buy you a window, so use it to learn what your workload really needs: which GPU, how much VRAM, and how many hours a month. That is the number to budget against when the credits end.
When that day comes, Aquanode rents GPUs by the hour, with a page per card (for example the H100) and a GPU recommender that matches a model to the cards it fits on. If you are a student or researcher rather than a startup, see our guide to free GPU credits for students and researchers.
FAQ
Which startup credit program gives the most?
On paper, Google's AI-first track (up to $350,000 across two years), then AWS Activate Portfolio and its invite-only AI tier ($200,000 and up), then Microsoft (up to $150,000). The top tiers depend on referrals, funding stage or usage, so the program that gives you the most is usually the one your investor can refer you to.
Do I need a VC to get startup cloud credits?
No. AWS Activate Founders, Google's Start tier, Microsoft's starter credits, Claude for Startups and NVIDIA Inception all accept startups without an investor. An investor or accelerator referral mainly unlocks the larger tiers.
How long do startup cloud credits last?
AWS Activate credits usually expire within one to two years depending on the package, Google's Start credits last 12 months and Scale credits two years, Microsoft's credits are valid for up to two years, and Claude API credits expire six months after they are granted.
Can I use startup credits for GPUs?
Often, but check before you plan on it. The AWS, Google and Microsoft startup pages do not list GPU instance families as covered or excluded, and GPU instances may need a quota increase. Your billing console and the provider's support team are the authoritative answer.
Sources
- AWS Activate credits: tiers, eligibility, review time
- Everything you need to know about AWS Activate credits: expiry, eligible services
- AWS Promotional Credit terms: exclusions
- Google for Startups Cloud Program, Start tier and Scale tier: credit amounts, eligibility, duration
- Microsoft for Startups overview and FAQ: credit structure, eligibility, activation, expiry
- Claude for Startups: API credits, Claude Team, partner offers, eligibility
- NVIDIA Inception: membership, eligibility
