Azure Free Account
Get started with Microsoft Azure today. Explore a wide range of services with a free account, including credits and always free services.
Get Started with Azure Free AccountWhat is the Azure Free Account?
The Azure Free Account offers a risk-free way to explore and experiment with a vast selection of Azure services. It's designed for developers, students, and anyone looking to build, test, and deploy applications on the cloud without upfront commitment.
With the Azure Free Account, you receive:
- $200 credit to spend within the first 30 days.
- 12 months of popular free services that you can use even after your credit expires.
- Over 40 services that are always free, with no time limit.
Key Benefits of the Azure Free Account
Free Services for 12 Months
Enjoy a generous allocation of popular Azure services, such as virtual machines, SQL databases, and more, for your first year.
Always Free Services
Access a range of core services that remain free forever, perfect for continuous development and learning.
$200 Initial Credit
Use your initial credit to explore premium services and scale your projects as needed within the first month.
No Commitment
Sign up is easy and requires no credit card upfront for the initial free account. You can upgrade to a pay-as-you-go plan anytime.
Getting Started with Your Azure Free Account
Ready to embark on your cloud journey? Follow these simple steps:
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Sign Up for an Azure Free Account
Visit the official Azure Free Account page and follow the prompts to create your account. You'll need a Microsoft account and a phone number for verification.
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Explore Azure Services
Once your account is set up, navigate to the Azure portal to discover the vast array of services available. Leverage your $200 credit to experiment with compute, storage, AI, databases, and more.
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Utilize Free Tier Resources
Familiarize yourself with the services included in the 12-month free tier and the always free services to build and test your applications cost-effectively.
Limits and Considerations
While the Azure Free Account is incredibly generous, it's important to be aware of certain limits to ensure a smooth experience:
- The $200 credit is valid for 30 days.
- Some services have specific monthly allowances for the 12-month free tier. Exceeding these limits may incur charges.
- Always Free services have their own specific, often generous, limits.
- Upgrading to a Pay-As-You-Go subscription is required for continued access to most services after the initial free period or credit expiry.
- Certain high-demand or specialized services might not be available in the free tier.
For detailed information on service limits and quotas, please refer to the Azure subscription and service limits documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happens after my free credits expire?
After 30 days, your $200 credit will expire. You can continue using the Always Free services and the services included in the 12-month free tier (up to their limits). To use other Azure services, you'll need to upgrade to a Pay-As-You-Go subscription.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No credit card is required to sign up for the Azure Free Account. A phone number is required for identity verification.
Can I use Azure Free Account for production workloads?
The Azure Free Account is primarily intended for learning, development, and testing. For production workloads, it's recommended to upgrade to a Pay-As-You-Go subscription to ensure reliability, support, and access to production-grade features.