How the current AWS Free Tier works
AWS now asks new customers to pick a Free account plan or a Paid account plan at sign-up. New customers receive $100 in credits on either plan and can earn up to $100 more by completing activities [2]. The Free plan has no charges unless you upgrade, but it is limited to select services and ends after six months or when credits are used up, whichever comes first [1] [2]. Over 30 services have always-free monthly allowances on both plans [1].
The Paid plan opens all services. Usage beyond your credits, or on services where credits do not apply, is billed at standard pay-as-you-go rates [2]. Short-term service trials are available on Paid plan accounts; Free plan accounts only have the always-free offers active [2].
| Term | Free account plan | Paid account plan |
|---|---|---|
| Credits for new customers | $100 plus up to $100 more through activities [2] | Same credit offer [1] [2] |
| Service access | Select services only [1] | All services [1] |
| Charges | None unless you upgrade [2] | Standard rates beyond credits [2] |
| End point | Six months or credits used, whichever first [2] | Continues; billed after credits [2] |
| Alerts | Periodic email alerts about credit balance [3] | Notifications at 50%, 75% and 90% of a project's monthly spend limit, which starts at $20; the project pauses at the limit unless you raise it [3] |
What happens when the free period ends
This is the part people miss. According to the AWS FAQ, when the Free plan ends AWS suspends the account and you lose access to resources and data; AWS retains the data for 90 days, and if you do not upgrade within 90 days it permanently erases the account and its content [3]. The FAQ recommends closing the account after retrieving your data to avoid future charges [3].
So the Free plan is safe from surprise bills but not safe for anything you want to keep. If you build a portfolio project, plan to export the code and configuration well before month six.
Course labs compared with your own account
Educative's own pages give different Cloud Labs counts (60+ in one place, 200+ AWS Cloud Labs in the FAQ) [5], so check the specific lab you want before paying. We have not run these labs ourselves.
| Factor | Course cloud lab | Your own AWS account |
|---|---|---|
| Billing risk | Educative's Cloud Labs page says no setup, no cleanup, no fees [4] | None on the Free plan; on the Paid plan you pay beyond credits [2] |
| Setup time | The page says no setup [4] | Sign-up, plan choice, and your own security setup |
| Guidance | The page lists 200+ real-world cloud projects and an AI assistant for troubleshooting [4] | You design the exercise yourself |
| Realism | AWS services inside an environment the platform defines [4] | Full account experience, including IAM, billing and cleanup |
| Persistence | The page does not say whether lab environments persist [4] | Up to six months on the Free plan, then suspended [2] [3] |
| Cost to you | Not stated on the Cloud Labs page; Educative lists Cloud Labs as a plan feature, price not shown [5] | $0 on the Free plan within its limits [1] |
Which to use for which goal
- Learning a single service step by step (for example, deploying a function): a guided lab is faster and has no cleanup.
- Studying for an associate-level certification that tests IAM, billing and account settings: practise at least some of it in your own Free plan account.
- Building a portfolio project you will show employers: your own account, with a plan to export before the Free plan ends.
- Exploring services the Free plan restricts: a lab, or a Paid plan with spend limits set first [1] [3].
- You are nervous about any billing exposure: a lab, or the Free plan, which charges nothing unless you upgrade [2].
Worked example: a six-month certification plan (invented learner)
A learner preparing for an associate certification opens a Free plan account in month one and receives $100 in credits [2]. They complete two credit-earning activities and use the always-free allowances for small experiments [1]. For services the Free plan restricts, they use course labs instead.
In month five they export all templates and notes to a repository. In month six the Free plan ends; they choose not to upgrade, so after 90 days the account and data are erased [3]. Nothing they needed was lost, and they paid nothing to AWS.
Safety checklist for your own account
AWS terms change; these are from its official pages checked on 30 October 2026.
- Choose the Free plan unless you specifically need a service it excludes [1].
- Write the six-month end date in your calendar on the day you sign up [2].
- If you choose the Paid plan, set spend limits before launching anything; the FAQ describes notifications at 50%, 75% and 90% [3].
- Keep code and infrastructure definitions in version control, not only in the account.
- Close the account when finished, as the FAQ recommends [3].
Questions before you decide
How long does the AWS Free Tier last now?
A Free account plan ends after six months or when the credits are used, whichever comes first. Always-free service allowances continue on the Paid plan.
Will AWS charge me on the Free plan?
AWS says there are no charges on the Free plan unless you upgrade to the Paid plan. When the Free plan ends, the account is suspended and data is erased after 90 days if you do not upgrade.
Do course cloud labs need my own AWS account?
Educative's Cloud Labs page describes no setup, no cleanup and no fees and does not mention needing your own AWS account. Check which Educative plan includes the lab you want before paying.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- AWS Free Tier: overview page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- AWS Billing documentation: Explore AWS services with AWS Free Tier Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- AWS Free Tier FAQs Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Educative: Cloud Labs page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Educative Unlimited: plan features and FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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