What are compute and cloud credits?
Credits are prepaid usage on one provider's platform: you spend them on that provider's servers, GPUs, storage or models instead of paying cash. They are not money, can't usually be moved to another provider, and almost always expire.
Programmes range from a few thousand dollars of self-serve credits to large allocations for funded startups, and there are separate routes for academic researchers, including free time on public supercomputers.
The main types
Cloud startup programmesGeneral cloud credits for startups, e.g. Google for Startups Cloud Program: AI track, AWS Activate Credits, Microsoft for Startups and OVHcloud Startup Program.
GPU and data platformsCredits on specialist AI infrastructure, e.g. Modal for Startups and Databricks for Startups.
Model and API creditsCredits to call hosted models, e.g. Anthropic AI for Science program and OpenAI Researcher Access Program.
Research creditsFor people at universities and research institutions, e.g. AWS Cloud Credit for Research, Google TPU Research Cloud (TRC) and Lambda Research Grant.
Public supercomputingGovernment-funded compute for researchers, e.g. Isambard-AI and Zenith (AIRR) Gateway route (UK), EuroHPC AI Factories Playground Access (EU) and NAIRR Pilot: Advancing AI Research Resources (US).
Startup networksFree programmes that bundle partner credits and discounts, e.g. NVIDIA Inception.
How much can you get?
Headline figures are usually "up to" amounts, and what you get depends on your tier. Examples, as the providers state them:
- Google for Startups Cloud Program: AI track: Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits over 2 years (AI-first startups).
- AWS Activate Credits: Up to $5,000 (self-funded) or up to $200,000 (with an Activate Provider Org ID); invite-only $200K+ for AI startups at scale.
- Microsoft for Startups: Up to $150,000 in Azure credits.
- Cloudflare for Startups: $10K, $100K or $350K in credits for a year, by stage.
- Anthropic AI for Science program: Up to $20,000 in API credits over 6 months.
- OpenAI Researcher Access Program: Up to $1,000 in API credits, valid 12 months.
- AWS Cloud Credit for Research: Students up to $5,000; faculty/staff awards not capped.
Who qualifies?
- Funding stage. Bigger tiers are usually for funded startups. Google for Startups Cloud Program: AI track sets funding-stage rules, and the higher tiers of Cloudflare for Startups need funding from an affiliated partner.
- A partner referral. Some top tiers need a code from an accelerator or investor: the AWS Activate Portfolio tier needs an Activate Provider Org ID, from an accelerator, angel or VC (AWS Activate Credits).
- Bootstrapped tiers. Smaller self-serve tiers exist for unfunded companies, e.g. the self-funded tier of AWS Activate Credits and the bootstrapped tier of Cloudflare for Startups.
- Research affiliation. Research programmes usually need you to be at an accredited institution, e.g. AWS Cloud Credit for Research. Isambard-AI and Zenith (AIRR) Gateway route is for UK researchers eligible for UKRI funding.
- Openness. Google TPU Research Cloud (TRC) asks researchers to commit to sharing their work openly.
- Company checks. Expect verification such as a company email that matches your website or a live product, e.g. ElevenLabs Grants asks for a business email.
The fine print to read before you build on credits
- Expiry. Credits run for a fixed period, e.g. OpenAI Researcher Access Program credits are valid for 12 months and Google for Startups Cloud Program: AI track spreads credits over two years. Unused credits are normally lost.
- What they cover. Some services, marketplace products or GPU types may be excluded. Check before you plan a training run around them.
- What happens after. On most cloud platforms, usage beyond your credits is billed to your account. Set budgets and alerts from day one.
- One programme per provider. Providers generally expect you to use one startup programme with them; you can still hold credits with several different providers.
How to apply
- Pick the tier you actually qualify for. Check stage, funding and referral requirements on the provider's page.
- Get a referral if one is on offer. Accelerators, investors and programmes such as NVIDIA Inception can unlock bigger tiers with some providers.
- Prepare the basics. Company website, company email, incorporation details, funding details and a short description of your AI workload.
- Time it. Apply when you are ready to use the compute, so the expiry clock doesn't run down unused.
- Researchers: describe the project, the compute you need and how results will be shared; public schemes often run a technical assessment.
How we check these listings
Every credit programme on advance.to links to the provider's own page and shows the date we last checked it. Most are rolling, so we re-check amounts and tiers regularly. Where a provider doesn't publish an amount, we say so. Read more on our about page.