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Startup perks: 35 free credits and discounts

Cloud, AI, analytics and SaaS credits worth up to $350,000, across 13 categories. Each one shows what you get, who qualifies and the official link.

Every perk here was checked on the company’s own site on October 29, 2026. Paused programs are left out.

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35 perks

We do not earn anything from these links. Amounts are only shown when the company’s own page states them.

How to get approved

  1. 1

    Apply with your company email. Google Cloud and DigitalOcean check that your email matches your website, and PostHog and Notion ask for a work email. A Gmail address is an easy way to get rejected.

  2. 2

    Ask your investor or accelerator for partner codes. The biggest tiers at AWS, Cloudflare, GitHub, Datadog and Linear go through partners. If you are in a program, ask which codes they have before you apply on your own.

  3. 3

    Have a live site and a real product. Most programs check for a working website that describes your team and product. Google says it may reject sites full of AI-generated text.

  4. 4

    Stack credits, but plan for year two. You can use AWS, Google Cloud and Cloudflare credits side by side. Write down when each program ends, because most move you to a paid plan with your card on file.

  5. 5

    Apply when you will use it. Credits usually run 12 months from approval. Applying for a tool you will not touch for six months burns half the value.

Growing on X while you build

There is no ClimbX perk on this list. If you are a founder building in public on X, these free guides and tools help more than another discount:

  • X bio grader: score your bio out of 10 and see what to fix.
  • How to get followers on X: what works for small accounts.
  • Build in public ideas: posts you can write about your startup this week.

Startup perks: common questions

What are startup perks?
Startup perks are free credits and discounts that software companies give young startups, so you build on their product early. Most are cloud credits, a free first year, or a large discount for one to three years. This page lists the ones we could check on each company’s own startup page.
How do I get AWS credits for my startup?
Apply through AWS Activate. If you are self-funded you can apply directly for Activate Founders, which starts at $1,000 and can go up to $5,000. If a VC or accelerator backs you, ask them for their Activate Provider Org ID and apply for Activate Portfolio, which goes up to $200,000. AWS asks that you are pre-Series B and founded in the last 10 years.
Do I need VC funding to get startup credits?
Not always. AWS Activate Founders, the $10,000 Cloudflare tier, the Google Cloud Start tier, Neon’s self-funded tier, JetBrains and PostHog do not ask for venture funding. The biggest tiers usually do, and some programs, like GitHub, Datadog and Linear, only work through a partner investor or accelerator.
Are startup perks really free?
The credits are free, but most programs end in a normal paid plan. Many ask for a card on file, and usage past your credits is charged. Read what happens at the end of the program before you build on it, so year two does not surprise you.
Do startup credits expire?
Yes, almost always. Most credits last 12 months, Google Cloud credits run over two years, and unused credits are usually lost. GitHub credits end after 12 months or when used up, and DigitalOcean says it does not grant extensions.
How often is this list checked?
Every perk here was checked on the company’s own startup page on October 29, 2026. Programs that were paused, closed, demo-only or only available through a third-party perk marketplace were left out. Programs change often, so the official page always wins over this list.

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