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)
Appwrite Startups Program
The Appwrite Startups Program supports early-stage startups with a complete backend solution, offering $20,000 in cloud credits for Appwrite Scale for 12 months
Asana for Startups
Asana for Startups offers emerging companies a centralized platform to manage work, enhance collaboration, and drive efficiency from project management to inves
AssemblyAI Startup Program
The AssemblyAI Startup Program provides early-stage startups with up to $150,000 in free API credits to build voice-powered applications using industry-leading
Atlassian for Startups
Early-stage companies receive premium access to Atlassian's suite of tools at no cost for 12 months for up to 50 users, enabling them to plan, track, and collab
Attio Startup Program
Apply to Attio's Startup Program to get up to 80% off the Annual Pro Plan and $5,000 in marketplace credit to build a tailored CRM and scale efficiently.
Auth0 Startup Program
Provides a robust one-year free access to the B2B Professional Plan with advanced security measures and extensive integrations, enabling eligible startups to bu
Autodesk Fusion for Startups
Autodesk Fusion for Startups offers integrated cloud-based CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB software to accelerate innovation by providing entrepreneurs free access to ad
AWS Rapid Ramp Credits
Small businesses can apply for $300 in AWS credits to quickly test and validate their cloud workloads.
Azure $200 Trial
Azure's free account offers new users $200 in credits to explore and build on the platform within 30 days, plus 12 months of free use of 20+ popular services.
Microsoft for Startups (Founders Hub)
Build your AI-enabled startup with up to $150,000 in Azure credits, expert 1:1 guidance, and a network of business and technical resources through Microsoft for
Beefree SDK Startup Program
Receive $10,000 in Beefree SDK credits and a 12-month 50% discount to embed a world-class, drag-and-drop content builder in your SaaS application.
BlockPI Web3 Startup Program
BlockPI Network is launching a support program for blockchain startups designed to lower entry barriers and fuel growth. It offers up to $1000 in API credits, d
Brevo Startup Program
Brevo's Startups & VCs Program empowers startups with essential tools and resources to unlock their full growth potential. The program partners with global VC f
Browse AI Startup Program
Join the Browse AI startup program to save 20% on annual plans and build scalable, no-code web data pipelines in minutes. The program empowers startups to extra
Browserless Free Tier
Get 1,000 free monthly requests for headless browser automation including web scraping, PDF generation, and screenshot capture with zero infrastructure setup
Capture The Bug Startup Program
Get $1,000 in penetration testing credits for early-stage teams building digital products with manual, real-time security testing
Cerebras Free LLM Credits
Get started with Cerebras' AI models using 1 million free inference tokens every day and instant access to their API without a waitlist.
Cerebras Startup Deal
Get up to $22,500 worth of inference on Cerebras Cloud plus priority support and co-marketing opportunities.
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.