AWS Free Tier: $200 in credits and a self-closing account
New AWS accounts get $100 on signup plus up to $100 more for exploring key services — and close themselves after 6 months so there are no surprise bills.
Step-by-step guide
How to do it
Create a Free Tier account
Sign up at aws.amazon.com/free — the first $100 in credits applies immediately.
Earn the extra $100
Explore the highlighted key services in the console to unlock up to $100 more in credits.
Build within always-free quotas
More than 30 services stay free under monthly usage limits even after the 6-month window.
Do nothing to avoid charges
The account self-closes after 6 months or credit exhaustion, whichever comes first — charges only start if you upgrade.
Details & Context
AWS restructured the Free Tier in 2026 around a credit-based Free plan: new accounts start with $100 in credits and can earn up to $100 more by exploring key services, over a 6-month window. The account automatically closes 6 months after opening, or when the credits run out — whichever comes first — and does not charge you unless you convert to the Paid plan. That rebuilds the historical risk model: on the Free plan, pay-as-you-go surprise bills are no longer possible. Separately, 30+ AWS services (Lambda, DynamoDB within limits, and so on) remain always-free under monthly caps on both plans. The up-to-$200 in credits also applies to new customers on the paid plan.
Eligibility & Verification Requirements
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