Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier
Cloud Provider Credits
$8 in credits
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
Who qualifies
Every condition below is taken from the vendor’s own published criteria. Read them before you spend an afternoon on the application.
Startups
The programme is aimed at startups. Vendors read this loosely, but expect to describe the company and what you are building on the application.
Cloudflare R2 Storage offers a permanently free allowance of S3-compatible object storage, operations, and zero-egress data transfer so teams can test and launch workloads without upfront spend.
About Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier
Quick answer
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
Cloudflare R2 is an S3-compatible object storage service built on Cloudflare's global network. The free tier gives startups a permanent allowance of 10 GB/month storage plus 1 million Class A requests and 10 million Class B requests monthly, with zero egress fees—eliminating the typical cloud storage cost surprise. Builders can prototype and launch storage-backed applications without upfront spend or credit expiration.
Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier at a glance
Cloudflare R2 is an S3-compatible object storage service built on Cloudflare's global network. The free tier gives startups a permanent allowance of 10 GB/month storage plus 1 million Class A requests and 10 million Class B requests monthly, with zero egress fees—eliminating the typical cloud storage cost surprise. Builders can prototype and launch storage-backed applications without upfront spend or credit expiration.
- 10 GB/monthFree storage allowance
- 1M + 10MClass A & B requests/month
- $0Egress cost (permanent)
- Never expiresCredit validity
The Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier offer explained
Cloudflare R2 Storage's free tier is a permanently available allowance—not a time-limited credit. You get 10 GB of storage capacity each month, 1 million Class A operations (writes, deletes), and 10 million Class B operations (reads) at no cost, plus unlimited egress via the R2 S3 API. This removes the egress penalty that makes traditional cloud storage expensive, letting you build and scale without surprise bills.
Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.
Apply to Cloudflare R2 Storage Free TierHow Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier compares
Here's how Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier stacks up against other cloud infrastructure credits in the same category:
| Program | Headline offer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier | $8 in credits | This page |
| VIP Digital Startup Program | $100,000 in credits | Cloud Provider Credits |
| Vultr | $300 in free credits for new accounts | Cloud Provider Credits |
| Oracle for Startups | Up to $100K in free OCI credits | Cloud Provider Credits |
Who should apply — and who shouldn't
Apply if
- You're building file-heavy applications (media libraries, user uploads, backups, logs) and want to avoid egress fees.
- You need S3 API compatibility and don't want vendor lock-in to AWS or Azure.
- You're prototyping or in early production and want a cost-predictable storage layer with no credit expiration.
- You're already using Cloudflare's edge network and want integrated storage without multi-vendor complexity.
Skip if
- You need compute, databases, or managed services—R2 is storage-only; you'll need credits elsewhere for other infrastructure.
- Your workload exceeds 10 GB/month regularly and you're price-sensitive; paid tiers start at $0.015/GB.
- You require on-premises or private-cloud storage for compliance; R2 is cloud-only.
More Cloud Provider Credits
If Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier isn't the right fit, compare it against VIP Digital Startup Program, Vultr, Oracle for Startups, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub — or browse the full Cloud Provider Credits category.
What the credit covers
- S3-compatible API for easy migration
- Zero egress charges globally
- 10 GB/month free storage
- 1M Class A (write/delete) requests/month
- 10M Class B (read) requests/month
- Global edge network delivery
- No credit expiration
- Bucket-level access controls
- CORS and lifecycle policies
- Integration with Cloudflare Workers
Programme tracks
What Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier publishes for each stage — confirm on the application, since credit programmes are re-cut more often than list pricing.
| Track | Value | Who it is for | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | $0/month | Permanent | 10 GB/month storage · 1M Class A requests/month · 10M Class B requests/month · Zero egress via R2 API · No expiration |
| Pay-as-you-go | $0.015/GB + per-operation fees | Monthly overage | Unlimited storage beyond 10 GB · Class A & B operations charged per million · Egress included (zero cost) · Scales with usage |
How to apply
4 steps. The last one is the part most people skip.
- 1
Open Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier through the link on this page
It carries our referral tag. The terms you get are identical either way, and it never changes what this page says about the programme.
- 2
Have the eligibility evidence ready
Applications are checked against one condition — startups. Incorporation date, cap table and a one-line description of what you are building cover most of it.
- 3
Ask for the expiry window in writing
Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier does not publish how long the credit runs, and unused balance is almost always forfeited. Get the activation and expiry dates confirmed before you plan around the grant.
- 4
Know the rate you land on when it runs out
Cloudflare R2 Storage offers a permanently free allowance of S3-compatible object storage, operations, and zero-egress data transfer so teams can test and launch workloads without upfront spend.
Where this programme wins and loses
What works
- Zero egress forever No bandwidth charges for data leaving R2, eliminating the biggest cost surprise in cloud storage.
- No expiration Free tier is permanent, not a time-limited trial; you can rely on it long-term.
- S3 API compatible Drop-in replacement for AWS S3; minimal code changes if you migrate later.
- Global edge network Files served from Cloudflare's 200+ data centers; faster latency than centralized storage.
- No VC requirement Direct signup; no sponsor or application review needed.
- Generous operation limits 1M Class A + 10M Class B requests/month covers most prototype and small-production workloads.
What doesn't
- Storage cap is modest 10 GB/month is tight for media-heavy apps; paid tiers required for scale, and pricing is per-GB.
- Storage-only offering No compute, database, or other infrastructure; you'll need separate credits or services for a full stack.
- Egress-free only via R2 API If you pull data through non-Cloudflare channels or to third-party services, you may incur charges.
The bottom line
R2's free tier has no expiration, no approval gate, and zero egress—a rare combination that removes the typical cloud storage cost trap. Even if you outgrow it, the permanent free allowance stays, making it a no-risk foundation for any startup building file-backed applications.
Cloudflare R2 Storage Free Tier FAQ
The questions we actually get asked about this programme.
Ask us something elseAnyone with a Cloudflare account. No stage, geography, or VC sponsor requirement. Sign up directly and start using it immediately.
There is no expiration. The 10 GB/month allowance, 1M Class A requests, and 10M Class B requests are permanent and renew monthly.
No. R2's free tier is available to all users without sponsorship or program enrollment.
You can continue using R2; overage charges apply. Storage is billed per GB, and excess operations are charged at published rates. You control spending via usage alerts.
The free tier is standalone. If you're in a startup program (e.g., Cloudflare for Startups), you may qualify for additional credits on top of the free tier.
No approval needed. Free tier is active immediately upon account creation; you can create a bucket and start uploading within minutes.
