Startup cloud credits: AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft compared
Compare access routes, spending restrictions and expiry risks before treating startup cloud credits as runway.
Which offer should you investigate first?
Start with the infrastructure your product needs, then check eligibility. A credit ceiling is neither money in the bank nor a promise that every bill is covered. If your product works on several providers, compare the post-credit bill and the work needed to move, not just the largest headline allowance. The table is a dated research snapshot, not a ranking or an award offer.
Published access routes
| Programme | Published route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate | Self-funded founders start with $1,000; selected participants may reach $5,000. Portfolio advertises up to $200,000 with an Activate Provider Org ID. Official source ↗ | Pre-Series B, company age, prior awards and an AWS paid-tier account affect eligibility. Award size is conditional. |
| Google for Startups | Start advertises $2,000. Funded Scale routes advertise up to $200,000, or $350,000 for qualifying AI startups. Official source ↗ | Check funding, age and past-credit eligibility. AI Scale splits support across two years; year two covers only 20% of eligible usage up to its cap. Third-party model costs are excluded. |
| Microsoft for Startups | Up to $150,000 over time, unlocked through verified progress, adoption and usage. Official source ↗ | Applicants need their own software product. Do not assume the full ceiling is available on acceptance. Check company, funding-stage and previous-credit conditions. |
Expiry and uncovered bills
Microsoft says credits must be activated within 90 days of acceptance and, after activation, can last up to two years. Exhaustion leads to pay-as-you-go billing; the benefit cannot simply be transferred to another subscription. Official source ↗
For every provider, save the actual award notice, eligible-service list and expiry date. Put those dates in your operating calendar. Keep excluded services, taxes where applicable, support, marketplace purchases and your other subscriptions in a separate cash budget. A billing alert is a warning, not necessarily a spending cap.
A credit-adjusted runway worksheet
Use four lines: expected monthly eligible usage; the fraction reimbursed; remaining usable credits; and the expiry date. At hypothetical eligible spending of $1,000 a month, a 20% reimbursement offsets $200 and leaves $800 to pay. The unused credit balance does not change that reimbursement rate. This example explains the calculation, not any provider’s price quote.
Next estimate the same workload without credits. Include storage growth, logs, backups, failed requests and data transfer. If the business only works while subsidised, decide what changes before expiry: pricing, architecture, usage limits or the target customer. Do not migrate a working product solely to consume a larger allowance.
Before submitting an application
Prepare your legal company name, product website, funding evidence if requested, billing-account owner and a short workload forecast. Keep account access with the company rather than an outside contractor. Ask the provider to clarify uncertain exclusions in writing. Record the exact award, not the programme maximum, in your budget.
Continue with the software-cost worksheet, app export and handoff comparison and cash grants versus non-cash support.
Research checked . Source-specific limitations are stated beside the relevant facts.