Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a major player in the world of cloud computing providing developers, businesses as well as students a wide array in tools and solutions. Although it is true that the AWS Free Tier offers an excellent opportunity to try these options, one issue that people face is the requirement of providing the details of a credit card when signing up.
This is a problem for those who don’t have a credit card, or who are hesitant to disclose sensitive financial data on the internet. There are ways to get around this problem and still take benefit the AWS free Tier benefits.
Today we’ll discuss various ways to get the most value from the benefits of AWS free Tier without credit card, describe the services offered under this free level, as well as provide guidelines on how to remain within the limit to avoid unexpected costs.
Understanding AWS Free Tier
Before we get into the details of how to utilize AWS Free Tier without a credit card, it is important to know the basics of what AWS Free Tier is and the services it provides.
What is AWS Free Tier?
AWS Free Tier was created to allow users access to AWS services in order to experience this platform, but for short duration or on a restricted size. There are three kinds of AWS Free Tier services:
always free The services are completely free as long as the use is within the agreed limit. For instance, AWS Lambda allows 1 million free requests each month for an indefinite period of time.
12-Months of Free AWS New AWS users can enjoy access to certain services at no cost for a year after the initial sign-up. For instance, Amazon EC2 offers 750 hours of Linux or Windows t2.micro instances every monthly for the initial year.
Trial offers Some AWS services provide short-term, free trials that range between 30 and 90 days. For example, Amazon Lightsail offers a 30-day trial that is free.
These services aim at providing users with a real-time experience using AWS without the need be charged for services that they use — provided they are within the set boundaries.
Common Services in AWS Free Tier
Some of the most well-known services available in the Free Tier include:
- Amazon E2 (750 minutes per month to run a Windows/Linux t2.micro instances for 12 months)
- Amazon S3 (5 5 GB of storage standard)
- Amazon RDS (750 hours of db.t2.micro instances, 20GB storage)
- Amazon DynamoDB (25 GB of storage)
- AWS Lambda (1 million free requests per month)
- Amazon CloudFront (50 GB data transfer out two million HTTP and HTTPS HTTP requests)
Limitations of the AWS Free Tier
Although AWS Free Tier AWS Free Tier provides a vast array of services free, it does come with very strict limitations. If you go over these limits, you’ll get charged at the standard rates, which could be quite costly. It is important to track your usage in order to avoid unexpected charges on your invoice.
Why Does AWS Require a Credit Card?
When you sign-up for AWS it is obliged to present credit card details for their billing and verification procedure. This policy is implemented to:
Stop fraud Credit card data aids AWS make sure that the account was created by a genuine person and not by malicious actors or bots.
Fee for Extra Overage If a user goes over the limit that are allowed by the Free Tier or chooses to pay for service, AWS can automatically charge the user for the overages.
Although the need to have a credit card could be reasonable from an AWS perspective however, it could be a problem for users who don’t possess a credit or debit card or have concerns about their security or privacy.
Ways to Use AWS Without a Credit Card
While AWS generally requires a credit card to complete the registration process, there’s many ways to avoid this requirement and take benefit from the AWS Free Tier.
Use a Virtual Credit Card (VCC)
An Virtual Credit Card (VCC) is a credit card with a disposable number that is used to make online transactions. A lot of Fintech and financial institutions provide virtual cards that are that are linked to the bank account or debit card. You can make use of these VCCs to make online purchases or subscriptions without divulging your actual card information.
How to Get a VCC:
Revolut This digital banking application lets users to set up VCCs for use online.
Payoneer Another popular payment service on the internet, Payoneer offers virtual cards connected to its account.
Privacy.com: This service lets users create virtual cards to secure online payment, which includes international services.
Benefits of Using a VCC:
Higher Security VCCs safeguard your personal credit card details by generating disposable card numbers with each transaction.
Control of the amount of money you spend Control Over Spending: You can limit how much you can charge to the VCC that prevents unintentional charges from overstepping the Free Tier limits.
Steps to sign up for the VCC:
Get the VCC through one of the listed services above.
When you sign-up for AWS you must fill in your VCC information instead of the physically-based credit card.
After you have your account established, you must keep track of your usage to make sure you are staying in the free Tier limitations.
Use a Prepaid Debit Card
Prepaid debit cards are another option to replace the traditional credit card. They are loaded with certain amount of cash and utilized as a normal debit card. Prepaid cards can be purchased from major banks as well as retail stores and fintech platforms.
How to Get a Prepaid Debit Card:
Visa/Mastercard Prepaid Card You can buy the cards online or at retail stores.
PayPal Prepaid MasterCard It is possible to link this card to your PayPal account to conduct online transactions.
Benefits of Using a Prepaid Debit Card:
Zero Credit Check Since the card is prepay, there’s no need to check your credit score or an account at a traditional bank.
Controlled spending Because you’ve pre-loaded your card up with a certain amount, you’ll be able to limit the possibility of sustaining unexpected charges over and above the amount you’re willing to spend.
How to Sign-Up for a Prepaid Debit Card:
Get a debit card that is prepaid and then load it up with a modest amount (at minimum $1).
Fill in the details of your card when you sign-up for AWS registration.
Similar to VCC you must keep an eye on your account to ensure you don’t exceed free Tier limits.
Apply for AWS Educate (for Students)
AWS Educate is an application specifically designed to students and teachers that gives them access to AWS services, without the need to have credit card. This program is targeted at helping students learn about cloud computing and develop abilities that are needed in the current job market.
How to Apply for AWS Educate:
Visit the AWS Learn website.
Fill in the application form with your school email address (for instance an .edu email address).
After approval, you’ll be granted credit that is free and can be used to purchase AWS services without the need of credit card.
Benefits of AWS Educate:
No credit card required AWS Education Accounts aren’t subject to credit card obligation.
free AWS credits Students are awarded AWS credits that can be used beyond the free Tier limit.
Educational Tools: AWS Educate provides the training materials, labs and resources that will assist you in learning about cloud computing.
Use AWS Promotional Credits
AWS often provides promotional credits to first-time users as well as startups and attendees of certain AWS-sponsored events. Credits are used to purchase AWS services. In certain cases, you are able to join with no credit card if you have enough credits.
How to Obtain AWS Promotional Credits:
AWS Activate Start-ups can apply for AWS Activate that offers up to $100,000 worth of AWS credits.
Hackathons and competitions: AWS sponsors many hackathons and competitions in which participants gain promotional credits.
AWS Webinars You can attend AWS webinars or other events to earn limited-time promotional credits.
Benefits of Using Promotional Credits:
There is no immediate payment required: You can utilize credits to pay for your AWS use for a specified period of time.
Extended Free Use Credits for promotions are available in conjunction with that of the free Tier in order to expand the duration of your use.
Use a Debit Card
Many people do not realize that AWS accepts debit cards issued by major issuers such as Visa as well as Mastercard. If you own an account linked to a debit card with an account at a bank then you are able to utilize it to sign-up to AWS without requiring an account with a credit card.
How to Sign-Up using a debit card:
Input your debit card information when you go through the AWS registration procedure.
Be aware of the balance on your account to avoid bank overdrafts when you go over the Free Tier limits.
Staying Within the AWS Free Tier Limits
No matter how you sign up to AWS It is crucial to track your usage to avoid unexpected charges. Here are some guidelines to help you stay within the free Tier limitations:
Use AWS Budgets
AWS Budgets allows you to define custom budgets for your use, and be alerted when you’re close to exceeding the budgets. It is possible to set these budgets to monitor the Free Tier usage and get notifications when you’re close to the limit.
Enable Cost Explorer
AWS Cost Explorer helps you evaluate your AWS use and costs. This tool lets you track your usage in real-time and forecast future costs based on present usage patterns.
Set Billing Alerts
AWS has a feature that lets you set up billing alerts. This sends you an email notification when your usage per month exceeds an amount that is a predetermined threshold. This is especially helpful when you have exceeded the Free Tier limits.
Use AWS Lambda for Batch Processing
If you’re developing applications or services that require backend processing AWS Lambda is a fantastic method to handle events without incurring costly expenses. Since it is an pay-as you-go model and the initial 1 million requests are completely free and easy to use, it’s a fantastic option to make the most of the free-tier benefits.
Turn Off Resources When Not in Use
If you’re operating EC2 database instances, or even databases ensure to end or stop them when you’re not in use. The idle resources can take up your Free Tier limitations and could result in costs.
Conclusion
Making use of AWS the Free Tier without credit card is a possibility when you follow the right method. If you decide to utilize the Virtual Credit Card, prepaid debit card, AWS Educate, or make use of AWS credit offers there are a variety of ways to use AWS services without the need for credit cards.
It’s important to be vigilant about your use. The pay-as-you-go system, although flexible, could result in unanticipated charges if you surpass the free Tier limit. With tools like AWS Budgets or Cost Explorer You can limit your usage and reap the advantages of AWS without having to worry about financial costs.