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.
268+ 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 (268)
Slab Nonprofit & Education Discount Program
Registered nonprofit organizations and accredited educational institutions receive free access to Slab's Startup Plan and 50% off the Business Plan to power col
Snapchat Advertising Credit Offer
New advertisers on Snapchat can receive $375 in ad credits for spending $350, valid for 30 days, for first-time advertisers only.
Free Google Workspace Business Starter Offer
Squarespace offers a free year of the Google Workspace Business Starter plan for eligible users, providing professional email, collaboration tools, and cloud st
Statsig Startup Program
Get started with $50,000 in credits on Statsig's all-in-one platform for feature shipping, testing, and analytics, plus exclusive perks.
Stripe Atlas Founder Perks
Stripe Atlas provides founders with access to over $100,000 in combined discounts and credits through its network of partner offers. Benefits span payments, ban
Stytch Startup Program
Venture-backed startups get free, unlimited access to Stytch's authentication and fraud prevention platform until they reach Series A funding or three years pos
Synadia Free Trial
The Synadia Evaluation Agreement provides a 60-day trial of the Synadia Platform for internal evaluation purposes.
Temporal Cloud for Startups
This startup program offers $6,000 in free Temporal Cloud credits to startups with less than $30M in funding.
Tencent Cloud Startup Program
Empower startups to build and grow with the full force of Tencent Cloud. The program offers comprehensive support including financial vouchers, service discount
thirdweb Startup Program
Receive over $690 in value including $100 usage credits, three months free of Growth Plan and Standard Engine Plan, plus mentorship and resources to accelerate
TiDB Cloud Serverless Credits for Open-Source Heroes
Receive up to $2,000 in free TiDB Cloud Serverless credits for open-source contributors to build scalable, innovative applications.
TikTok Ads Manager Welcome Gift
New advertisers using TikTok Ads Manager can receive a matching ad credit welcome gift of up to $6,000 by spending the corresponding amount on their first ad ca
Twentysix Cloud Acceleratooor Web3 Startup Program
Develop your project, launch it on aleph.im, and benefit from community recognition. Access up to $1M ALEPH credits for 1 year to deploy decentralized VMs, stor
Typeform Startup Program
Up to 75% discount on the annual Business plan empowers early-stage startups to leverage advanced data collection and customer intelligence tools while capturin
Unity Multiplay Game Server Hosting Sign-up Credit
Get an $800 sign-up credit for Unity Multiplay Game Server Hosting to offset hosting costs for new Unity Gaming Services organizations.
Vanta for Startups
Get up to $1,000 off Vanta's security compliance automation platform trusted by 1,000+ YC-backed founders
Veridion Startup Program
Empower emerging businesses with enterprise-grade business intelligence tools and valuable data insights through the Veridion Startup Program.
VIP Digital Startup Program
Receive up to $100,000 in free credits for your Vultr migration and enjoy up to 35% long-term discounts on cloud services, complemented by exclusive executive s
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.