Want to explore the cloud without spending a dime? The AWS Free Tier is your golden ticket. With 12 months of free access and always-free services, you can build, test, and scale with zero upfront cost. Let’s dive into how you can maximize this powerful offer.
What Is AWS Free Tier and How Does It Work?
The AWS Free Tier is Amazon Web Services’ initiative to help new users explore its vast cloud ecosystem at no cost. It’s not a trial in the traditional sense—there’s no credit card charge after 12 months unless you upgrade. Instead, AWS provides a structured set of free usage tiers that allow you to experiment with core services risk-free.
Understanding the Three Types of Free Offers
AWS structures its free offerings into three distinct categories, each designed for different use cases and durations. Knowing these types helps you plan your cloud journey effectively.
12-Month Free Tier: Available to new AWS customers for one year after sign-up.Includes services like EC2, RDS, and Lambda with specific usage limits.Always Free: Certain services are perpetually free within defined usage limits.Examples include AWS Lambda (1M requests/month) and DynamoDB (25 GB storage)..
Short-Term Trials: Limited-time access to premium features like AWS Glue or Amazon SageMaker, often used for testing advanced capabilities.Eligibility and Account Requirements
To qualify for the AWS Free Tier, you must be a new AWS customer.This means you haven’t previously signed up for AWS or used the free tier.You’ll need to provide valid payment information during registration, but you won’t be charged as long as you stay within the free usage limits..
According to AWS’s official Free Tier page, the offer begins the moment you create your AWS account and lasts for exactly 12 months. After that, standard pay-as-you-go pricing applies unless you cancel services.
“The AWS Free Tier lowers the barrier to entry for startups, students, and developers who want to learn cloud computing without financial risk.” — AWS Official Documentation
Top 7 Services You Can Use for Free in AWS Free Tier
Not all AWS services are created equal—and thankfully, the Free Tier includes some of the most essential tools for building modern applications. Here’s a breakdown of the top seven services you can use at no cost.
Amazon EC2 (750 Hours per Month)
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is the backbone of AWS compute services. Under the Free Tier, you get 750 hours per month of t2.micro or t3.micro instances (Linux or Windows) for the first 12 months.
- Sufficient for hosting small websites, development environments, or learning Linux administration.
- Perfect for running a personal blog or testing a web app prototype.
- Can be combined with other free services like S3 and Route 53 for full-stack deployment.
Learn more about EC2 Free Tier limits on the AWS EC2 Pricing page.
Amazon S3 (5 GB Storage)
Simple Storage Service (S3) offers scalable object storage. The Free Tier includes 5 GB of standard storage, 20,000 Get Requests, and 2,000 Put Requests per month.
- Ideal for backing up small files, storing images, or hosting static websites.
- Great for developers learning how to integrate cloud storage into apps.
- Can be used with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to practice secure access controls.
AWS Lambda (1 Million Free Requests)
Lambda lets you run code without provisioning servers. You get 1 million free requests and 400,000 GB-seconds of compute time monthly—forever.
- Perfect for event-driven architectures (e.g., processing image uploads).
- Enables serverless learning without cost.
- Integrates seamlessly with S3, DynamoDB, and API Gateway.
Amazon DynamoDB (25 GB Storage)
DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database. The Free Tier includes 25 GB of storage and 25 units of read/write capacity.
- Suitable for small apps, mobile backends, or real-time data processing.
- No need to manage servers or patches.
- Always free—no expiration date.
Amazon RDS (750 Hours per Month)
Relational Database Service (RDS) supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server. The Free Tier gives you 750 hours/month of db.t3.micro or db.t2.micro instances.
- Enough to run a small production database or development environment.
- Automated backups and monitoring included.
- Must stay within allocated instance type and storage (20 GB General Purpose SSD).
Amazon CloudWatch (Basic Monitoring)
CloudWatch provides monitoring and logging. The Free Tier includes basic monitoring every 5 minutes and 10 custom metrics.
- Track CPU usage, disk I/O, and network performance on EC2.
- Set alarms to avoid overages.
- Essential for learning operational best practices.
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) – Always Free
IAM is completely free and critical for security. It allows you to manage user access, roles, and policies.
- Create users with limited permissions for team projects.
- Practice principle of least privilege.
- No usage limits—use it as much as needed.
How to Sign Up for AWS Free Tier (Step-by-Step)
Getting started with the AWS Free Tier is straightforward, but it’s important to follow the correct steps to ensure you’re eligible and set up for success.
Step 1: Visit the AWS Free Tier Page
Go to https://aws.amazon.com/free/ and click “Create a Free Account.” This is the official entry point and ensures you’re enrolling in the correct program.
Step 2: Provide Your Information
You’ll need to enter your name, email address, and create a password. AWS will also ask for your company name, though this can be left blank for personal use.
- Use a real email—you’ll need to verify it.
- Choose a strong password to secure your account.
Step 3: Enter Payment Details
AWS requires a valid credit card or PayPal account. This is for identity verification and to prevent abuse. You won’t be charged unless you exceed free limits or continue using paid services after 12 months.
- Accepted cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB.
- No pre-authorization charge, but AWS may perform a small verification hold.
Step 4: Identity Verification
AWS will call the phone number you provided and ask you to enter a PIN using your phone keypad. This step confirms you’re a real person and helps prevent fraudulent accounts.
- The call usually comes within seconds.
- Answer and follow the voice prompts carefully.
Step 5: Choose a Support Plan
Select the “Basic” support plan—it’s free and includes access to documentation, forums, and service health dashboards. Paid plans (Developer, Business, Enterprise) are unnecessary for Free Tier users.
Step 6: Confirm and Start Using AWS
After verification, you’ll be redirected to the AWS Management Console. You now have access to all Free Tier-eligible services. The 12-month clock starts immediately.
“AWS Free Tier is one of the most generous cloud onboarding programs in the industry.” — TechRadar, 2023
Maximizing Your AWS Free Tier: Pro Tips and Best Practices
Just because it’s free doesn’t mean you can’t waste resources. Many users accidentally incur charges by misunderstanding limits or leaving instances running. Here’s how to get the most out of your Free Tier without surprises.
Monitor Usage with AWS Budgets and Cost Explorer
AWS provides tools to track your usage and avoid overages. Set up budgets to get alerts when you approach free tier limits.
- Go to AWS Budgets and create a monthly budget for services like EC2 and S3.
- Use Cost Explorer to visualize your usage trends.
- Enable billing alerts under Preferences in the Billing Dashboard.
Use Only Free Tier-Eligible Instance Types
Not all EC2 instances are free. Only t2.micro and t3.micro (with 1 vCPU and 1 GB RAM) qualify. If you launch a t3.medium by mistake, you’ll be charged.
- Always double-check the instance type during launch.
- Use AWS CLI or CloudFormation templates to standardize deployments.
- Terminate instances when not in use—don’t leave them running 24/7 unless necessary.
Leverage Always-Free Services for Long-Term Projects
Even after your 12-month Free Tier expires, you can continue using always-free services like Lambda, DynamoDB, and S3 (within limits).
- Build serverless applications that stay free indefinitely.
- Use S3 for static site hosting with CloudFront and Route 53 (partial free).
- Combine Lambda + API Gateway + DynamoDB for a full free backend.
Automate Shutdowns with AWS Instance Scheduler
If you’re using EC2 for development, automate shutdowns during non-working hours. AWS Instance Scheduler can turn off instances at night and weekends.
- Reduces compute time and stays within 750-hour monthly limit.
- Configurable via tags and time zones.
- Available as a pre-built solution in AWS Solutions Library.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on AWS Free Tier
Thousands of new users accidentally rack up charges every year. Most of these costs come from simple misunderstandings. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Running EC2 Instances Beyond 750 Hours
The Free Tier allows 750 hours of EC2 usage per month. If you run one instance continuously, that’s exactly 24 hours/day for 31 days. But if you launch a second instance—even for an hour—you’ll be charged.
- Solution: Use AWS Budgets to monitor EC2 hours.
- Set CloudWatch alarms for instance uptime.
- Use the AWS Free Tier dashboard to check remaining hours.
Exceeding S3 Storage or Request Limits
While 5 GB of S3 storage sounds generous, it can fill up quickly with logs, backups, or media files. Also, requests (GET/PUT) are limited.
- Solution: Enable S3 Lifecycle rules to auto-delete old objects.
- Use S3 Intelligent-Tiering for cost optimization (not free, but efficient).
- Avoid using S3 for large-scale backups during Free Tier.
Forgetting to Delete Resources After Testing
Many users create RDS databases, EBS volumes, or Elastic IPs for testing and forget to delete them. These resources continue to accrue charges.
- Solution: Always clean up after experiments.
- Use AWS CloudTrail to audit what was created.
- Tag resources with “Project: Test” and filter them for deletion.
Using Non-Free Regions or Services
Some AWS services are not available in all regions, and pricing varies. Launching in a non-standard region may void free tier eligibility.
- Solution: Stick to US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), or EU (Ireland).
- Check service availability per region on the AWS website.
- Avoid services like Amazon Redshift or ElastiCache—they’re not free.
“The biggest cost on AWS isn’t the service—it’s the forgotten instance running in the background.” — Cloud Economist Report, 2022
What Happens After 12 Months? Transitioning from AWS Free Tier
After your 12-month Free Tier expires, AWS doesn’t shut down your services. Instead, they automatically switch to pay-as-you-go pricing. This means you’ll be billed for any resources you continue to use.
Review Your Active Resources Before Expiry
One month before your Free Tier ends, audit all running services. The AWS Management Console provides a Free Tier dashboard showing your usage and upcoming expiration.
- Check EC2 instances, RDS databases, EBS volumes, and Elastic IPs.
- Download usage reports from Cost Explorer.
- Decide what to keep, scale, or terminate.
Upgrade Strategically: When to Pay
Not all services need to stay free. If your app is growing, consider upgrading to paid tiers for better performance and reliability.
- Move to larger EC2 instances for production workloads.
- Use Reserved Instances or Savings Plans for long-term cost savings.
- Leverage AWS Educate or Startup Programs for extended credits.
Continue Using Always-Free Services
Remember, many services remain free forever. You can build and maintain entire applications using only always-free resources.
- Serverless apps with Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB.
- Static websites on S3 with CloudFront (partial free).
- CI/CD pipelines with AWS CodePipeline and CodeBuild (100 minutes free monthly).
AWS Free Tier vs. Competitors: How Does It Compare?
While AWS was the first major cloud provider to offer a free tier, competitors like Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Microsoft Azure have followed suit. Let’s compare them objectively.
AWS vs. Google Cloud Free Tier
GCP offers a $300 credit for 90 days and several always-free services like Compute Engine (1 f1-micro instance/month) and 5 GB of Cloud Storage.
- Pros: Higher initial credit, simpler pricing.
- Cons: Shorter trial period, fewer free services.
- Verdict: GCP is great for short-term projects; AWS wins for long-term learning.
AWS vs. Microsoft Azure Free Tier
Azure provides $200 credit for 30 days and 12 months of select free services (e.g., 750 hours of B1S VM). It also includes free access to Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions.
- Pros: Strong integration with Microsoft tools, good for .NET developers.
- Cons: Shorter credit period, complex pricing model.
- Verdict: Azure is ideal for Windows-centric environments; AWS offers broader free service coverage.
Which Cloud Is Best for Beginners?
For new learners, AWS Free Tier is the most comprehensive. It offers the longest duration (12 months), the widest range of free services, and the largest community support.
- AWS: Best for long-term learning and diverse tech stacks.
- GCP: Best for data analytics and AI/ML experimentation.
- Azure: Best for enterprise integration and hybrid cloud.
“AWS Free Tier remains the gold standard for cloud onboarding.” — Cloud Computing Journal, 2023
Real-World Use Cases: What Can You Build on AWS Free Tier?
The AWS Free Tier isn’t just for learning—it’s powerful enough to host real applications. Here are practical projects you can build and deploy for free.
Personal Portfolio Website with S3 and Route 53
Host a static website using Amazon S3 (5 GB free) and route traffic with Route 53 (first year free for one domain).
- Use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Link a custom domain (if you have one).
- Add HTTPS with AWS Certificate Manager (free).
Serverless API with Lambda and API Gateway
Build a REST API that processes requests without servers. Use Lambda (1M free requests) and API Gateway (1M free calls/month).
- Create endpoints for user data, weather lookup, or todo lists.
- Connect to DynamoDB for persistent storage.
- Deploy with SAM (Serverless Application Model).
Automated Image Resizer with S3 and Lambda
Upload an image to S3, trigger a Lambda function to resize it, and save the output to another bucket.
- Learn event-driven architecture.
- Use Node.js or Python in Lambda.
- Perfect for photo-sharing apps or CMS integrations.
Blog Platform with EC2, RDS, and WordPress
Launch a t3.micro EC2 instance, install WordPress, and connect it to a free-tier RDS MySQL database.
- Full CMS experience with admin panel.
- Practice database management and security.
- Scale later with Elastic Load Balancing and Auto Scaling (not free).
Is AWS Free Tier really free?
Yes, AWS Free Tier is genuinely free for new users. You get 12 months of free access to popular services like EC2, RDS, and S3, plus always-free services like Lambda and DynamoDB. As long as you stay within usage limits, you won’t be charged.
Does AWS Free Tier require a credit card?
Yes, you must provide a valid credit card or PayPal account to sign up. AWS uses it for identity verification but won’t charge you unless you exceed free limits or continue using services after 12 months.
Can I extend my AWS Free Tier beyond 12 months?
No, the 12-month Free Tier cannot be extended. However, many services like AWS Lambda, DynamoDB, and S3 (within limits) remain free forever. You can also apply for AWS Educate or Startup Programs for additional credits.
What happens if I exceed Free Tier limits?
If you exceed usage limits, AWS will charge you at standard pay-as-you-go rates. For example, running an EC2 instance beyond 750 hours/month will incur hourly charges. To avoid surprises, set up billing alerts and monitor your usage.
Can I use AWS Free Tier for commercial projects?
Yes, you can use AWS Free Tier for commercial projects as long as you stay within usage limits. However, for production workloads, consider upgrading to paid plans for better reliability, support, and scalability.
The AWS Free Tier is more than just a marketing gimmick—it’s a powerful gateway to the world of cloud computing. Whether you’re a student, developer, or startup founder, it offers a risk-free way to learn, build, and innovate. By understanding the services available, avoiding common pitfalls, and planning for the post-free period, you can maximize its value. With 12 months of free access and a suite of always-free tools, AWS empowers you to turn ideas into reality—without spending a dollar.
aws free tier – Aws free tier menjadi aspek penting yang dibahas di sini.
Further Reading:
