Startup Credits
Startup Credits & Programs
Free and heavily discounted credits for early-stage startups — distinct from coupon deals. Cloud computing, AI APIs, and SaaS tools across AWS, GCP, Azure, IBM, Anthropic, OpenAI, HubSpot, Mixpanel, GitHub, and more.
269+ programs across cloud, AI, and SaaS. Credit amounts, eligibility requirements, application links, and honest verdicts on which programs are worth your time — including 29+ accessible without a VC. Updated May 2026.
Cloud Provider Credits
Free cloud infrastructure credits from AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Oracle and more for early-stage startups.
AI Platform Credits
API credits and free access to leading AI models -- Anthropic, OpenAI, Mistral, Together AI and more for startups building with AI.
SaaS Startup Programs
Discounted and free access to top SaaS tools -- CRM, support, analytics, and infrastructure -- through official startup programs.
The bootstrapped startup credits stack
Over $230K in cloud credits and $125K+ in AI credits accessible without any investor or accelerator affiliation. IBM Cloud ($120K), Cloudflare (BOOTSTRAPPED code), Oracle, Vultr, Anthropic, PostHog, GitHub for Startups, and more.
All startup credit programs (269)
Mintlify for Startups
Polish your docs and slash your dev-tool bill with Mintlify's startup credit program for early-stage teams.
Highlight.io Startup Program
Open-source full-stack monitoring and session replay with startup credits for early-stage teams shipping faster on a budget.
Shortcut Startup Program
Shortcut's startup program gives early-stage software teams free or discounted access to a purpose-built PM platform for epics, sprints, and
Tally for Startups
Tally for Startups gives early-stage teams discounted Pro plans for unlimited forms, submissions, and branded workflows.
Replit for Startups
Replit for Startups hands early-stage teams platform credits to build, ship, and scale apps straight from the browser.
ConvertKit for Creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) gives startups a free email tier for up to 10,000 subscribers — rare scale for zero dollars.
MailerSend for Startups
Free transactional email API with 3,000 sends/month plus startup perks for early-stage companies
AngelList for Startups
AngelList for Startups pairs best-in-class cap-table, SPV, and fund tooling with a perks stack built for early-stage founders.
Zoom for Startups
Discounted Zoom One, AI Companion, and Webinars for accelerator-affiliated early-stage startups
Brex for Startups
Brex gives funded startups a no-fee corporate card, real-time expense tools, and a partner perks bundle worth tens of thousands in cloud and
Vast.ai Startup Program
GPU compute credits on Vast.ai's marketplace for early-stage AI startups building training and inference workloads.
Cleura Startup Program
European open-source cloud credits for early-stage startups that need GDPR-native OpenStack infrastructure
ClickHouse Cloud Startup Program
Real-time analytics database credits for early-stage startups building data-heavy products
Pareto Security for Startups
Get lightweight device-security compliance for your early-stage startup — free or discounted through Pareto's startup program.
DeepSource Startup Program
Free and discounted automated code review for early-stage engineering teams that can't afford to ship bugs.
Ramp for Startups
Ramp pairs a fee-free corporate card with a perks bundle that can offset real AI and SaaS spend for early-stage teams.
LangChain for Startups
LangChain's startup program gives early-stage AI teams discounted access to LangSmith observability and LangGraph orchestration.
Cartesia for Startups
API credits for early-stage startups building low-latency voice AI on Cartesia's speech models
How to stack startup credits in 2026
- 01
Apply to cloud credits first — highest dollar value
Cloud credits have the highest dollar value ($100K–$350K) and compound longest. Apply to AWS Activate Founders ($1K, instant, no VC) and GCP startup credits on day one. Then add Microsoft Founders Hub, IBM Cloud, Oracle, and Cloudflare (BOOTSTRAPPED code) for bootstrapped teams. - 02
Unlock AI credits through your accelerator for maximum amounts
Anthropic ($25K–$100K) and OpenAI ($2.5K–$100K) credits scale with your accelerator or VC affiliation. Apply through your program benefits dashboard for the top tier. Without a partner, apply directly for the base tier — both accept direct applications. - 03
GitHub for Startups — most founders never apply
GitHub for Startups offers $10K in platform credits plus up to $40K in non-dilutive cash. Direct application — under 5 years old and under $1M raised. Apply immediately at github.com/solutions/startups. Most qualifying founders have never heard of this program. - 04
Check the bootstrapped track before assuming you need a VC
Over $230K in cloud credits is accessible without any investor affiliation: IBM Cloud ($120K), Vultr ($100K), Cloudflare (code BOOTSTRAPPED, up to $250K), Oracle ($10K), and AWS Activate Founders ($1K instant). Plus $125K+ in AI credits with direct apply. - 05
Model credit expiry before activating
Credits with 12-month validity (Oracle, GCP, IBM) should not be activated until you have real infrastructure usage. AWS Activate credits are valid 24 months — the safest to activate early. Activate close to your launch date to maximise value. - 06
Stack programs — they are not exclusive
There is no rule against holding credits from multiple providers simultaneously. Most funded startups run AWS + GCP + Azure + Anthropic + OpenAI + Datadog credits at the same time. Apply to all programs you qualify for — the applications are independent.
Startup credits — frequently asked questions
What are startup credits? +
Startup credits are free cloud, AI, and SaaS access programs offered by software companies to early-stage startups. They typically provide $1K–$350K in credits toward cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure), AI APIs (Anthropic, OpenAI), and SaaS tools (HubSpot, Intercom, Mixpanel). The goal is to lower your infrastructure costs during development and early revenue stages.
How much can a startup get in total credits in 2026? +
A startup that qualifies for all major programs can access over $1M in total credits across cloud, AI, and SaaS. Realistically, most funded startups access $200K–$500K. Bootstrapped startups without VC affiliation can access $230K+ in cloud credits and $125K+ in AI credits through direct-apply programs.
Do I need to be VC-backed to get startup credits? +
No. Many high-value programs accept direct applications with no investor or accelerator affiliation: IBM Cloud for Startups ($120K), Cloudflare for Startups (BOOTSTRAPPED code, up to $250K), Oracle for Startups ($10K), Vultr ($100K), AWS Activate Founders ($1K instant), Anthropic for Startups ($25K), Together AI ($50K), PostHog ($50K), and GitHub for Startups ($50K + $40K cash).
Which startup credit programs are easiest to get? +
AWS Activate Founders approves automatically the same day with no partner required. NVIDIA Inception is free with instant access. Twilio for Startups ($5K) approves same-day with direct application. IBM Cloud, Oracle, and Anthropic direct-apply tiers typically approve in 3–10 business days.
Can I stack startup credits from multiple providers? +
Yes — startup credit programs are independent and non-exclusive. There is no rule preventing you from holding credits from AWS, GCP, Azure, IBM, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Mixpanel simultaneously. Most funded startups do exactly this. Apply to every program you qualify for.
How do I apply for startup credits? +
Each program has its own application. For instant programs: apply directly at the provider website (AWS, Twilio, NVIDIA). For partner-gated programs: log into your accelerator or VC benefits portal (Y Combinator Bookface, a16z portfolio hub, etc.) and access the credit links there. For direct-apply programs: apply at the provider website with your company details.