Want to explore Amazon Web Services without spending a dime? The AWS Free Tier is your golden ticket—offering 12 months of free access to essential cloud services, plus always-free resources you can use forever. Let’s dive into how it works, what you get, and how to maximize its full potential.
What Is AWS Free Tier?
The AWS Free Tier is Amazon’s way of welcoming new users to its vast cloud ecosystem. It’s not just a trial—it’s a structured, long-term offer that allows individuals, developers, startups, and students to experiment, learn, and build without upfront costs. Whether you’re testing a simple website or deploying a machine learning model, AWS gives you the tools to start for free.
Understanding the Three Types of Free Offers
AWS doesn’t offer just one type of free access. Instead, it provides three distinct categories under the aws free tier umbrella, each designed for different use cases and timeframes. Knowing these helps you plan your cloud journey wisely.
12-Month Free Tier: Available to new AWS customers for one year after signup.Includes popular services like EC2, S3, RDS, and Lambda with monthly usage limits.Always Free Tier: Certain services are perpetually free within specific usage limits.Examples include AWS Lambda (1M requests/month), DynamoDB (25GB storage), and S3 (5GB standard storage).Short-Term Trials: Time-limited trials for specific services (e.g., Amazon Connect, Amazon SageMaker)..
These don’t require a long-term commitment but expire after a set period.”The AWS Free Tier lowers the barrier to entry for cloud innovation, enabling anyone with an idea to build and scale.” — AWS Official DocumentationWho Can Use the AWS Free Tier?Any individual or organization that has never had an AWS account can sign up for the free tier.You need a valid email address, a credit card (for identity verification, though you won’t be charged during the free period), and willingness to comply with AWS’s acceptable use policies.Students, educators, and developers from non-profits may also qualify for extended benefits through programs like AWS Educate or AWS Activate..
How to Sign Up for AWS Free Tier
Getting started with the aws free tier is straightforward and takes less than 10 minutes. AWS ensures a frictionless onboarding process so you can jump into building right away.
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Follow these steps to activate your AWS Free Tier access:
- Visit the AWS Free Tier homepage and click “Create an AWS Account.”
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- Provide your personal or business details, including name, address, and phone number.
- Enter a valid credit card for identity verification. AWS will make a small temporary charge (usually $1–$2) that’s refunded within a few days.
- Choose a support plan (Basic is free and sufficient for most free tier users).
- Verify your identity via phone call or text message.
- Once confirmed, you’ll gain immediate access to all eligible free tier services.
Important Verification Tips
While the signup process is simple, some users face delays due to verification issues. To avoid this:
- Use a real, active phone number that can receive calls or SMS.
- Ensure your credit card is active and supports international transactions (AWS is a U.S.-based company).
- Don’t use virtual or prepaid cards unless explicitly supported.
- Double-check your address and name spelling to match your bank records.
Tip: If you’re a student, consider signing up through AWS Educate for additional credits and resources.
Top Services Included in AWS Free Tier
The real power of the aws free tier lies in the breadth and quality of services offered. From computing to storage, databases to machine learning, AWS lets you experiment with enterprise-grade tools at zero cost.
Compute: EC2 and Lambda
Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is the backbone of AWS computing. Under the free tier, you get:
- 750 hours per month of t2.micro or t3.micro instance usage (enough for one continuous instance).
- Eligible for Linux, Windows, or macOS environments.
- Perfect for hosting websites, running development servers, or learning Linux administration.
AWS Lambda, a serverless compute service, offers:
- 1 million free requests per month.
- 400,000 GB-seconds of compute time monthly.
- Ideal for event-driven tasks like file processing, chatbots, or API backends.
Together, EC2 and Lambda allow you to explore both traditional and modern cloud architectures.
Storage: S3, EBS, and Glacier
Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is one of the most widely used cloud storage solutions. The aws free tier includes:
- 5 GB of standard S3 storage per month.
- 20,000 GET requests and 2,000 PUT requests monthly.
- Suitable for storing backups, images, or static website files.
For block-level storage attached to EC2 instances:
- 30 GB of Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store) storage.
- 2 million I/Os and 1 GB of snapshot storage in Amazon Glacier.
These resources are more than enough for small projects and learning environments.
Databases: RDS, DynamoDB, and Aurora
Database services are crucial for dynamic applications. AWS Free Tier supports several options:
- Amazon RDS: 750 hours per month of db.t3.micro instance for MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, or SQL Server.
- Amazon DynamoDB: 25 GB of storage and 25 units of read/write capacity per month—forever.
- Aurora: 750 hours of DB instance usage and 20 GB of database storage monthly for one year.
These allow you to build scalable, real-time applications without worrying about database costs.
Duration and Limits of AWS Free Tier
Understanding the time limits and usage caps is critical to avoid unexpected charges. The aws free tier isn’t unlimited—it’s designed to give you a risk-free sandbox, not a permanent free infrastructure.
12-Month Free Period Explained
Most services under the AWS Free Tier are available for 12 months from the date of your first AWS service usage. This clock starts as soon as you launch your first EC2 instance, create an S3 bucket, or use any eligible service—not necessarily when you create the account.
- Track your free tier expiration date in the AWS Management Console under “Billing & Cost Management.”
- Services like EC2, RDS, and Elastic Load Balancing fall under this category.
- After 12 months, you’ll be charged standard rates unless you upgrade, downgrade, or terminate resources.
Always-Free Services Overview
Some services remain free indefinitely, as long as you stay within the usage limits. These are invaluable for long-term projects:
- AWS Lambda: 1M requests/month.
- DynamoDB: 25 GB storage + 25 read/write capacity units.
- S3: 5 GB storage, 20K GETs, 2K PUTs.
- SNS (Simple Notification Service): 100,000 notifications/month.
- CloudWatch: Basic monitoring and 10 custom metrics.
These always-free resources make AWS a sustainable option for hobbyists and micro-services.
Monitoring Your Usage to Avoid Charges
One of the biggest risks with the aws free tier is accidentally exceeding limits and incurring charges. AWS provides tools to help you stay within bounds:
- Use the Free Tier Dashboard in the AWS Console to track usage in real time.
- Set up Billing Alerts using Amazon CloudWatch to notify you when usage approaches limits.
- Enable Budgets to define spending thresholds and receive email alerts.
Pro Tip: Regularly review your AWS Cost Explorer reports to identify underused or idle resources that could be terminated to save costs.
Real-World Use Cases for AWS Free Tier
The aws free tier isn’t just for learning—it’s a launchpad for real projects. From personal websites to startup prototypes, here’s how people are using it effectively.
Hosting a Personal Website or Portfolio
You can host a fully functional personal website using only free tier resources:
- Use an EC2 t3.micro instance to run a web server (Apache/Nginx).
- Store static assets (images, CSS, JS) in S3 and serve them via CloudFront (which also has limited free tier).
- Use Route 53’s free DNS service to manage your domain (first year free for certain TLDs).
- Add HTTPS with free SSL certificates from AWS Certificate Manager.
This setup costs $0 for the first year and scales easily as traffic grows.
Building a Serverless Application
Leverage AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB to create a serverless backend:
- Trigger Lambda functions via API Gateway (1M free requests/month).
- Store user data in DynamoDB (25 GB free).
- Use S3 for file uploads and CloudFront for global delivery.
This architecture is highly scalable, cost-efficient, and ideal for MVPs or side projects.
Learning Cloud Skills and Preparing for Certifications
The aws free tier is a goldmine for aspiring cloud professionals. You can:
- Practice setting up VPCs, subnets, and security groups.
- Deploy auto-scaling groups and load balancers.
- Experiment with IAM roles and policies.
- Test backup and disaster recovery strategies using S3 and Glacier.
Hands-on experience gained here is directly applicable to AWS certifications like the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While the aws free tier is generous, many users unknowingly rack up charges. Understanding these pitfalls can save you money and frustration.
Exceeding Usage Limits
The most common mistake is going over free tier limits. For example:
- Running two EC2 instances instead of one (1,500 hours vs. 750).
- Storing more than 5 GB in S3.
- Sending over 1 million Lambda requests.
Solution: Monitor usage daily during the first few months. Use AWS Budgets to set a $0 threshold alert.
Forgetting to Terminate Resources
Many users launch an EC2 instance for testing and forget to shut it down. Even a small instance can cost $10–$15/month if left running.
- Always stop or terminate instances when not in use.
- Use AWS Instance Scheduler to automate start/stop times.
- Delete unused EBS volumes—they continue to accrue charges even after instance termination.
Warning: EBS volumes are not automatically deleted when you terminate an EC2 instance. You must manually delete them to avoid charges.
Using Non-Free Services Without Realizing
Not all AWS services are included in the free tier. Examples include:
- Amazon Redshift (data warehousing).
- AWS Data Transfer beyond minimal limits.
- Amazon Elasticsearch Service.
- Premium support plans.
Solution: Before launching any service, check its pricing page and confirm free tier eligibility.
Maximizing the Value of AWS Free Tier
To get the most out of the aws free tier, you need a strategy. It’s not just about avoiding costs—it’s about leveraging the platform to build, learn, and innovate.
Combine Free Services for Full-Stack Projects
Use multiple free tier services together to create powerful applications:
- Frontend: Host a static site on S3 with CloudFront.
- Backend: Use Lambda and API Gateway for serverless logic.
- Database: Store data in DynamoDB or RDS.
- Authentication: Use Amazon Cognito (50k monthly active users free).
- Monitoring: Track performance with CloudWatch.
This full-stack approach lets you build production-ready apps at zero cost.
Leverage AWS Educate and Activate Programs
If you’re a student, educator, or startup founder, you can extend your free access:
- AWS Educate: Offers free credits, sandbox labs, and cloud learning resources. Visit aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate to apply.
- AWS Activate: Provides startups with up to $100,000 in credits, mentorship, and technical support.
These programs can extend your free runway well beyond the standard 12 months.
Automate Cost Controls
Prevention is better than cure. Set up automation to protect yourself:
- Create CloudWatch alarms for EC2 runtime, S3 storage, and data transfer.
- Use AWS Config to audit resource changes.
- Implement tagging policies to track resources by project or owner.
- Schedule weekly cost reviews using AWS Cost & Usage Reports.
“Automation isn’t just for scaling—it’s for saving. A simple alarm can prevent a $100 surprise bill.” — Cloud Cost Management Best Practices
What Happens After 12 Months?
The end of the 12-month aws free tier doesn’t mean you have to stop using AWS. In fact, many users transition to paid plans seamlessly.
Transitioning to Pay-As-You-Go
After the free period ends, you’ll automatically move to the pay-as-you-go pricing model. This means:
- You only pay for what you use.
- No long-term commitments or contracts.
- Discounts available via Reserved Instances or Savings Plans for predictable workloads.
Many services remain cost-effective even at small scale—for example, a t3.micro EC2 instance costs around $9–$12/month when running continuously.
Downsizing or Migrating Workloads
If you want to keep costs low, consider:
- Switching to always-free services where possible.
- Using AWS Free Tier alternatives like Oracle Cloud Free Tier or Google Cloud’s Always Free.
- Migrating static sites to GitHub Pages or Netlify (free for small sites).
- Optimizing database usage to stay within DynamoDB’s free tier.
Smart architecture choices can keep your monthly bill near zero.
Continuing Learning and Development
Even after the free tier ends, AWS remains a valuable platform for growth:
- Continue building personal projects with minimal costs.
- Prepare for advanced certifications using AWS’s free training resources.
- Join the AWS Community to share knowledge and get support.
The skills you gain during the free tier period are lifelong assets.
Is the AWS Free Tier really free?
Yes, the AWS Free Tier is completely free for new users for 12 months on eligible services, and certain services remain free indefinitely within usage limits. You only need to provide a credit card for verification, and AWS will not charge you as long as you stay within the free tier boundaries.
Does AWS Free Tier require a credit card?
Yes, a valid credit card is required to sign up for AWS Free Tier. This is for identity verification purposes. AWS may place a temporary authorization hold (usually $1–$2), which is refunded within a few days. You won’t be charged unless you exceed free tier limits or use paid services.
Can I extend my AWS Free Tier beyond 12 months?
No, the 12-month free period cannot be extended. However, you can continue using always-free services like AWS Lambda, DynamoDB, and S3 indefinitely. Additionally, programs like AWS Educate and AWS Activate offer extended credits for students and startups.
What happens if I exceed free tier limits?
If you exceed the usage limits, AWS will charge you at standard pay-as-you-go rates. These charges can accumulate quickly if not monitored. To avoid this, set up billing alerts and regularly check your Free Tier usage dashboard.
Can I run multiple EC2 instances on AWS Free Tier?
No, the free tier allows only 750 hours of EC2 usage per month, which is enough for one t3.micro instance running continuously. Running two instances would exceed the limit and result in charges.
The AWS Free Tier is more than just a marketing gimmick—it’s a powerful gateway to the world of cloud computing. From launching your first website to mastering serverless architectures, it provides real, usable resources that empower innovation. By understanding its structure, monitoring your usage, and planning your projects wisely, you can maximize its benefits without fear of unexpected costs. Whether you’re a student, developer, or entrepreneur, the AWS Free Tier is your first step toward building something extraordinary in the cloud.
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