How to Get AWS Credits (Without a Credit Card)
AWS credits are a form of cloud currency that can be used to pay for any Amazon Web Services product. Getting them without using your own credit card is possible through several routes.
The most common legitimate way is the AWS Free Tier — AWS offers 12 months of free access to common services (750 hours EC2, 5GB S3, 750 hours RDS) plus a set of "Always Free" services. However, the free tier still requires a credit card to sign up (even though you won't be charged if you stay within limits).
For startups, AWS Activate provides up to $100,000 in credits through partner organizations and accelerators. The requirements include being in a recognized startup ecosystem and having a genuine product.
Research institutions can apply for AWS research grants, and nonprofits can access the AWS credits for nonprofits program.
The fastest route — and the one requiring no personal credit card or lengthy application process — is purchasing a pre-loaded AWS credit account. These accounts come with verified credits ($1,000 to $100,000) applied and ready to use. You receive login credentials and can start using AWS services immediately.
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