Azure Free Account FAQs

Getting Started

What is the Azure Free Account?

The Azure Free Account provides new customers with a set of free services for 12 months, plus $200 credit to use within the first 30 days. After your 12 months are up, you can transition to pay-as-you-go pricing and keep your existing free services, which include a selection of popular services that are always free.

How long is the Azure Free Account valid?

The Azure Free Account includes a 12-month period of free access to a selection of popular Azure services and a $200 credit for the first 30 days. After this period, you can continue to use the always free services.

Do I need a credit card to sign up?

Yes, a credit card is required for verification purposes. However, you will not be charged for using Azure services unless you explicitly upgrade to a paid account or exceed the free tier limits and service allowances. We use your credit card to verify your identity and prevent fraudulent sign-ups.

Free Services and Credits

What services are included in the Azure Free Account?

The Azure Free Account offers access to a set of popular services, including:

  • Compute: Azure Functions, Azure App Service
  • Storage: Blob Storage, Table Storage
  • Databases: Azure SQL Database
  • Networking: Virtual Network, Load Balancer
  • And many more!

A comprehensive list of free services and their limits can be found on the Azure Free Account page.

How can I track my credit and service usage?

You can monitor your credit and service usage in the Azure portal. Navigate to the 'Subscriptions' blade and select your free account subscription. You'll find detailed breakdowns of your consumption and remaining credit.

What happens to my services when my $200 credit expires?

Once your $200 credit expires after 30 days, your services will continue to run using the free monthly allowances of the included services. If your usage exceeds the free limits, you will be prompted to upgrade to a pay-as-you-go subscription to avoid service interruption.

Limitations and Upgrading

Are there any limits on the free services?

Yes, each free service has specific monthly usage limits. For example, Azure Functions typically offers a certain number of executions and compute hours per month. Exceeding these limits may incur charges if you have not upgraded to a paid subscription.

Can I use the free services for production workloads?

The Azure Free Account is primarily designed for learning, experimentation, and development. For production workloads requiring high availability, performance guarantees, and dedicated support, we recommend upgrading to a standard Azure subscription with pay-as-you-go pricing.

How do I upgrade to a paid Azure subscription?

You can upgrade your Azure Free Account to a pay-as-you-go subscription at any time from the Azure portal. Simply navigate to your subscription, click the 'Upgrade subscription' button, and follow the on-screen instructions. Your existing resources and data will remain intact.

Technical Support

What kind of support is included with the Free Account?

The Azure Free Account includes access to basic support, which allows you to create support tickets for technical issues. For more comprehensive support plans, including faster response times and architectural guidance, you can explore Azure Support plans.

Where can I find documentation and tutorials?

You can find extensive documentation, tutorials, code samples, and learning paths on the Microsoft Docs website. Visit the Azure documentation hub for all your learning needs.