Introduction
In today's digital-first world, cloud computing has become the backbone of modern IT infrastructure. Whether you're a startup, an enterprise, or an aspiring developer, understanding cloud platforms is essential. Among the top providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads the market, offering over 200 fully featured services globally.
To lower the entry barrier, AWS introduced the Free Tier, which allows new and existing users to explore AWS services at no cost — within usage limits. This article provides a complete breakdown of what is included in the AWS Free Tier in 2025, how to take advantage of it, and best practices to avoid unexpected charges.
👉 Internal Resource: Explore more on cloud computing and AWS architecture on Cyber Cloud Learn.
What Is AWS Free Tier?
The AWS Free Tier is a cost-saving initiative that allows new users to use AWS services for free, up to specified limits. It is designed for:
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Beginners who want to learn cloud computing
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Developers testing applications
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Startups building their MVP
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Businesses evaluating AWS capabilities
The Free Tier is divided into three categories:
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12-Month Free Tier
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Always Free
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Short-Term Trials
Each offers unique benefits and access to different AWS services.
🔹 1. 12-Month Free Tier (For New Users)
This offer is valid for 12 months after you sign up for AWS. It allows users to explore some of the most used AWS services with generous usage limits.
✅ Included Services:
| Service | Free Limit |
|---|---|
| Amazon EC2 | 750 hours/month of t2.micro or t3.micro instance (Linux/Windows) |
| Amazon S3 | 5 GB of Standard storage, 20,000 GET requests, 2,000 PUT requests |
| Amazon RDS | 750 hours/month of db.t2.micro or db.t3.micro, 20 GB storage |
| Amazon CloudFront | 50 GB data transfer, 2 million HTTP/HTTPS requests |
| Amazon EBS | 30 GB of General Purpose (SSD) storage |
| Amazon SNS | 1 million publishes, 1000 email deliveries |
| Amazon CloudWatch | 10 custom metrics, 5 GB log ingestion |
| Amazon VPC | Free VPC setup, 1 NAT gateway hour/month |
| AWS Lambda | 1 million requests and 400,000 GB-seconds compute time |
📌 Tip: Use AWS Budgets and CloudWatch to avoid overages.
🔹 2. Always Free (No Expiry)
These services are free for all AWS users, regardless of when the account was created. They are ideal for ongoing small workloads and personal projects.
✅ Included Services:
| Service | Free Limit |
|---|---|
| AWS Lambda | 1 million requests, 400,000 GB-seconds/month |
| Amazon DynamoDB | 25 GB storage, 25 WCUs/RCUs |
| Amazon S3 Glacier | 10 GB retrievals |
| Amazon CloudWatch | 10 custom metrics, 5 GB log ingestion |
| AWS Glue Data Catalog | 1 million stored objects |
| Amazon Cognito | 50,000 monthly active users |
| AWS CodeBuild | 100 build minutes/month |
| AWS IoT Core | 2,250,000 messages/month |
| AWS Step Functions | 4,000 state transitions/month |
📘 Learn more from the official AWS Free Tier page.
🔹 3. Short-Term Free Trials
These trials begin when you start using a particular AWS service and typically last between 30 to 60 days.
✅ Examples of Trial Offers:
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Amazon Lightsail – 750 hours of instance usage for 1 month
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AWS SageMaker Studio Lab – Free compute for machine learning training
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Amazon Macie – 30-day trial for data classification and security monitoring
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Amazon Redshift – 2 months free with 750 hours/month on DC2.Large nodes
Why Use AWS Free Tier?
🔸 1. Hands-On Cloud Learning
The Free Tier is ideal for learning AWS, preparing for certifications, or experimenting with services like EC2, S3, and Lambda.
🔸 2. Startup MVP Development
Startups can build Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and deploy apps without immediate infrastructure investment.
🔸 3. Cost-Effective Prototyping
Developers can test services and monitor performance without financial risk.
🔸 4. Certifications and Labs
AWS Free Tier supports practical exercises for:
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AWS Certified Solutions Architect
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AWS Developer Associate
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AWS Cloud Practitioner
Common Use Cases with AWS Free Tier
| Use Case | AWS Services |
|---|---|
| Host a website | EC2, S3, CloudFront, Route 53 |
| Build a serverless app | Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB |
| Create a relational database | RDS with MySQL, PostgreSQL |
| Store and retrieve files | Amazon S3, Glacier |
| Monitor system metrics | Amazon CloudWatch |
| Create custom workflows | AWS Step Functions, SNS |
How to Sign Up for AWS Free Tier
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Go to the AWS Free Tier signup page
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Click “Create a Free Account”
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Enter your billing information (you won’t be charged if you stay within limits)
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Start using Free Tier services immediately
👉 Tip: Track your usage from the AWS Billing Dashboard.
Best Practices to Avoid Extra Charges
Even though the AWS Free Tier is free, charges may occur if you exceed the limits.
🛡️ Here’s how to avoid that:
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Set up billing alerts: Use AWS Budgets to alert you when nearing limits.
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Monitor usage: Use the Free Tier usage tracking page.
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Clean up unused resources: Shut down EC2 instances, delete S3 buckets, etc.
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Understand service limitations: Know the monthly caps of each service.
Comparison with Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure
| Feature | AWS Free Tier | Google Cloud Free | Azure Free Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Month Offer | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes ($300 credit) | ✅ Yes ($200 credit) |
| Always Free Tier | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Service Count | 100+ services | ~20+ services | ~25+ services |
Related Articles on Cyber Cloud Learn
📘 Amazon Web Services – Basic Architecture
📘 What is Cloud Computing? Understanding the Future of Digital Infrastructure
📘 Cloud Backup Best Practices
Conclusion
The AWS Free Tier is a powerful starting point for anyone looking to explore the capabilities of cloud computing without upfront costs. Whether you’re learning cloud technologies, building your first app, or testing services before full-scale deployment, AWS offers an accessible and scalable platform.
But as with any cloud service, understanding the limits and actively monitoring usage is key to maximizing the Free Tier while avoiding surprise charges.
🎯 Start building your future in the cloud today with the AWS Free Tier.