Which provider gives the biggest free GPU credit in 2025?

Google for Startups’ AI tier offers up to $350,000 in cloud credits—more than any other public offer.

Can I combine multiple cloud credit programs?

Yes. Credits from different providers do not conflict. Teams often prototype on Thunder Compute first, then use hyperscaler credits for burst training workloads.

Do these credits cover NVIDIA A100 or H100 GPUs?

All listed programs allow spend on GPU instances. Availability and regions vary—check each provider’s GPU catalog before migrating workloads.

How long do startup cloud credits last?

Validity ranges from 6 to 24 months. Hyperscaler credits usually expire after 12 months, while Thunder Compute’s match credit has no hard expiry—credits burn as you spend.

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Free Cloud GPU Credits in 2025: 10 Programs Worth $250k+

Stack these offers to prototype, fine‑tune, and scale on GPUs for free

Published:

Aug 5, 2025

Last updated:

Aug 13, 2025

Why credits still matter

GPU prices have fallen, but A100 80 GB time is still money. The fastest way to extend runway is to chain free‑credit programs, starting with quick wins (no funding needed) and graduating to hyperscaler bundles when you raise. Below are the ten richest offers live today. All amounts are “up to” and subject to each provider’s terms.

Program & one‑click link	Headline credit	Key eligibility	GPU angle
Thunder Compute Credit Match – Sign up	100 % match on first $50 spend + $20 for students + 3 % lifetime referral	Anyone	A100 80 GB at $0.78/hr billed per‑second, snapshots, live spec changes
Google for Startups Cloud (AI Tier) – Google AI credits (Google Cloud)	$350 k	VC‑backed AI startups up to Series A	Use credits on H100, A3 Ultra, TPU v5e
AWS Activate Portfolio – AWS Activate (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)	$100 k (GenAI path up to $300 k)	Accelerator/VC intro & ≤Series B	Covers P5/H100 and G6e/RTX 4090
Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub – Founders Hub (Microsoft for Startups)	$150 k	Product live + verified traction (no funding required)	ND A100 at $3.40/hr plus Azure ML
IBM Startup with IBM – IBM Cloud credits (IBM Cloud)	$120 k	<5 yrs old, <$1 M rev	Access to NVIDIA L40S, V100, A100 on IBM Cloud
DigitalOcean Hatch (AI Upgrade) – Hatch details (DigitalOcean)	$100 k + 3 mo free 8×H100 droplet	Pre‑seed–Series A; incubator or direct	Simpler UI than hyperscalers, K8s GPU add‑on
Alibaba Cloud Startup Catalyst – Catalyst (alibabacloud.com)	$120 k lifetime (regional caps)	APAC‑focused startups	Cheapest H100s in Singapore region
OVHcloud Startup Program – OVHcloud Scale level (OVHcloud)	€100 k (~$109 k)	EU tech scaleups	EU‑sovereign A100 & L40S at low latency
Scaleway Startup Program – Scaleway (Scaleway)	€36 k (~$39 k)	EU early‑stage	H100 & Mac Mini GPU‑ready regions
Oracle for Startups – Oracle credits (OneClick IT Consultancy)	$10 k–$50 k	Global B2B, no equity asked	OCI bare‑metal A100 with RDMA NVLink fabric

Quick stacking game‑plan

Start day‑zero – activate Thunder match and student credit to validate on cheap A100s.
Layer indie perks – grab DigitalOcean Hatch for extra H100 test time.
Scale with hyperscalers – once funded, pull in Google ($350 k) + AWS ($100 k) to cover peak training bursts.
Stay portable – snapshot to S3‑compatible storage, then restore on Thunder when credits expire.

Pro tip: mixing credits typically lets a 5‑person ML team run continuous A100/H100 training for 9‑12 months with <5 % out‑of‑pocket spend.

Carl Peterson

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Free Cloud GPU Credits in 2025: 10 Programs Worth $250k+

Why credits still matter

Quick stacking game‑plan

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