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)
Mux for Startups
Get a minimum of $500 in Mux video credits, free video analytics, and expert onboarding support to build and scale live and on-demand streaming.
n8n Startup Plan
Give smaller companies access to enterprise-level workflow automation features at an affordable monthly price.
Namecheap Education Program
University students get a free .ME domain for one year plus GitHub Pages hosting and professional tools to kickstart their online presence
Navan First Active Admin (Hotels) Promotion
Eligible first administrator users receive $500 in Navan Rewards Points after their company completes a qualified hotel booking on Navan's platform within 30 da
Nebius for Startups
Nebius for Startups empowers AI companies to scale breakthrough innovations by providing exclusive cloud credits, technical training, and access to a thriving A
Neo4j AuraDB Free Plan
Free forever graph database with 50,000 nodes, 175,000 relationships, and Neo4j Bloom included - no credit card required
Neo4j Startup Program
The Neo4j Startup Program supports innovative startups by providing access to the world's leading graph database and advanced graph technology tools, enabling s
Neon $100 Credits
Get $100 in Neon credits to try out their serverless Postgres database platform for free.
Neon YC Startup Deal
Y Combinator startups can claim $100k worth of Neon credits for their first year with a competitor match guarantee.
Netcore Cloud B2C Startup Program
Eligible early-stage B2C startups receive up to $30,000 in Netcore Cloud platform credits, mentorship from industry leaders, and investor networking opportuniti
NetMind Elevate Program
Claim up to $100,000 in free inference credits to accelerate AI projects with cutting-edge model APIs, scalable GPU clusters, rapid model deployment, and tailor
Codex Open Source Fund
Open-source projects building with Codex CLI or OpenAI models can apply for $25,000 API credit grants, part of a $1 million initiative by OpenAI.
OpenAI Data Sharing and Complimentary Tokens Program
Organizations can opt in to share feedback, evaluations, and API usage data with OpenAI to help improve models and receive up to 11M complimentary tokens per da
Oracle Cloud Free Tier
Oracle Cloud Free Tier enables users to build, test, and deploy applications on Oracle Cloud for free, starting with a US$300 free trial and continuing with a s
Open Telekom Cloud TechBoost Program
Accelerate your cloud-based startup with Deutsche Telekom's TechBoost program, offering up to €100,000 in Open Telekom Cloud credits, access to a vast B2B netwo
OVHcloud Startup Program
Accelerate development with up to €100,000 free cloud credits
Pangea Startup Program
Access to Pangea's AI security guardrails and protection services designed for startups building secure AI applications with just a few lines of code.
Phospho Startup Program: $2000 AI Builder Credits
Early-stage AI SaaS developers can get $2000 in free AI builder credits from Phospho, reducing financial risk and enabling rapid experimentation to achieve prod
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.