Azure Free Account Guide: $200 Trial & 12-Month Free Services Explained

1. Core Advantages: Tailored for Every Use Case

1. $200 Trial Credit (30-Day Validity)
   • Get $200 credit for new customers to test any Azure service in 30 days, ideal for advanced features like virtual machines and AI tools.
   • No upfront commitment, cancel anytime to avoid unnecessary costs.
2. 12-Month Free Services + Permanent Free Resources
   • 12-Month Free Tier: Over 20 popular services (e.g., VMs, storage, databases) available monthly for development, testing, and lightweight production.
   • Permanent Free Services: 65+ foundational tools (e.g., AI speech, search, serverless functions) with no expiry, perfect for long-term use.

2. Two Plan Types: Choose What Fits

1. 30-Day Trial Credit (New Customers Only)

• Eligibility: $200 credit for 30 days, usable on any Azure service (including advanced features).
• Key Uses:
  • High-performance computing: Test GPU VMs for AI model training.
  • Big data analytics: Use Azure Databricks for large dataset processing.

2. 12-Month Free Services (New Customers Only)

• Validity: 12 months from registration, with monthly reset of free limits.
• Key Services:
  • Compute: Windows/Linux VMs (B-series, 750 hours/month each) for website hosting and app deployment.
  • Storage: Blob Storage (5GB hot storage, 20K reads/month) for images and videos.
  • Database: SQL Database (100,000 vCore seconds, 32GB storage) for relational data management.

3. Permanent Free Services (All Customers)

• No Expiry: Access indefinitely after sign-up.
• Foundational Tools:
  • AI & ML: Text-to-speech (5M neural characters/month), AI search (50MB storage, 10K documents).
  • Development: Azure CLI, Visual Studio integration for efficient coding.

3. Free Service List: Full Breakdown by Category

(A) Compute & Deployment

(B) Storage & CDN

(C) Database Services

(D) AI & Analytics

4. Sign-Up & Usage: 3 Simple Steps

1. Get Ready

• Eligibility: New Azure customers only (no prior paid services), one account per email/credit card.
• Requirements: Valid phone number, credit/debit card (non-prepaid, for verification only).

2. Sign Up in 10 Minutes

3. Cost Management Tips

• Track Usage: Check remaining $200 credit and free service limits in the Azure Portal’s “Cost Management”.
• Prioritize Free Services: Use 12-month/permanent free tiers for daily tasks to save trial credits.
• Set Alerts: Create budget warnings to avoid unexpected charges from exceeding limits.

5. FAQs: Clear Answers to Common Questions

1. Who can apply for the Free Account?

• New Azure customers only, one account per unique email and payment method; businesses are eligible too.

2. Why provide a credit card?

• For identity verification and fraud prevention; no charges occur within the 30-day trial if limits are not exceeded.

3. What happens after 30 days?

• Switches to “Pay-As-You-Go” for usage beyond free limits; continue using 12-month/permanent free services at no cost.

4. Difference between China and global regions?

• Service Scope: China regions offer basic services; global regions include advanced tools like AI and hybrid cloud.
• Data Compliance: China regions store data locally, suitable for domestic businesses.

5. How to avoid unexpected charges?

• Regularly review “Cost Analysis”, stop unused resources (e.g., VMs, storage accounts), and check service eligibility before use.

6. Can I use the $200 credit for marketplace purchases?

• No, credits apply to native Azure services only. Marketplace solutions require upgrading to Pay-As-You-Go.

Conclusion: Unlock Azure for Free