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)
Civo Free Trial $250
Get $250 free Civo credit for 1 month to explore managed Kubernetes, cloud services, and more. Enjoy blazing fast cluster deployment, expert mentorship, and fre
Clay Free Plan
Get 100 monthly credits (1,200 annually) for data enrichment with unlimited users, data exports, and access to 50+ data providers
ClickUp for Startups
Kickstart your startup's productivity journey with ClickUp for Startups. Qualifying companies receive $3,000 in ClickUp credits along with an upgraded Enterpris
Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier
Cloudflare R2 Storage offers a permanently free allowance of S3-compatible object storage, operations, and zero-egress data transfer so teams can test and launc
Cloudways Startup Program
Empowering startups with managed hosting discounts, exclusive growth tools, and personalized mentorship for sustained business success.
Sunrise Startup Program
Cloudzy's Sunrise startup program empowers early-stage startups with up to $8,000 in cloud VPS credits in the first year, a 30% rebate on VPS purchases in the s
CockroachDB Cloud Free Trial
New organizations receive $400 in free credits to trial CockroachDB Cloud, available across all cluster plans.
Coda Startup Program
Get a 6-month free Team plan on Coda and experience a scalable, all-in-one workspace that powers your startup with unlimited AI capabilities and premium feature
ComplyCube Startup Program
ComplyCube's Startup Program offers early-stage and growing businesses free KYC API, AML tools, identity verification checks, and other resources to streamline
Cursor Pro for Students
Verified students get one full year of free Cursor Pro, an AI-powered code editor with advanced debugging and AI assistance.
Customer.io Startup Program
Get up to 12 months of access to Customer.io's powerful customer engagement platform, designed to scale startup marketing efforts with essential automation and
Databento $125 Sign-Up Credits
Databento grants new users $125 in credits upon signup to explore its historical market data and APIs.
Databricks for Startups Program
Databricks offers startups up to $50,000 in credits to accelerate product development on its Lakehouse Platform, backed by expert technical support and go-to-ma
Datadog for Startups Program
Real-time performance monitoring at startup-friendly cost. Datadog offers a comprehensive Startup Program with dedicated support, technical training, and access
DataStax Astra DB: $300 Free Trial
A cloud-native vector database for building production-ready generative AI applications. It delivers high relevance vector search, fast responses, and a free ti
Deepgram $200 Free Credits
Deepgram provides a transparent and scalable pricing structure featuring a free $200 credit and flexible plans to suit individual developers, growing businesses
DevRev for Startups
Early-stage startups receive up to $10,000 in DevRev credits, 12 months of free Pro access, and a 50% discount on the following year, along with expert technica
DigitalOcean $200 Free Trial
Start your free trial with a $200 credit for 60 days. A valid credit card is required, but you won't be charged unless you exceed the free credit or continue af
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.