Google Cloud Platform offers a variety of free services that can be used to get started with the platform.
One of the most notable free services is Cloud Storage, which provides 5 GB of free storage space.
You can also use Cloud Functions, which allows you to run small code snippets without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
Cloud Functions is free for the first 2 million invocations per month.
Google Cloud also offers a free tier for its database services, including Cloud SQL and Cloud Spanner.
The free tier includes 0.0025 credits per hour for Cloud SQL and 0.00025 credits per hour for Cloud Spanner.
These free services can be a great way to get started with Google Cloud Platform without incurring any costs.
Free
Google Cloud Platform offers a range of free credits and trials to help you get started with their services.
The Google Cloud Free Tier provides two options: a 12-month free trial with a $300 credit, and Always Free, which gives you limited access to many common Google Cloud resources for free.
You can use the 12-month free trial to try out Google Cloud services without committing to a paid plan, but be aware that you can't have more than 8 cores running at the same time, and you can't add GPUs to your VM instances.
Always Free resources are not charged against your free trial credit, and you can use them to get a feel for the Google Cloud ecosystem.
If you're an academic researcher, you can apply for Google Cloud Platform research credits to support your work.
To get more credits, you can consider joining the Google Cloud Innovators Program, which is free to join and offers exclusive learning resources and other benefits.
The 12-month free trial ends when 12 months have elapsed since you signed up, or when you've spent your $300 credit.
Getting Started with Google Cloud
Google Cloud offers a free trial account that gives you access to free cloud resources for 12 months, with a $300 credit to use with any Google Cloud services. This extended free trial is an excellent way to learn about Google Cloud services by trying them on your own.
To start, navigate to the GCP Free-Trial Account Creation Homepage and click on the Start Free option on the top right corner. This will begin the registration process.
The registration process has several steps, including selecting your country and agreeing to the terms. You'll also need to create a new payment profile, which can be an individual or organization account. If you're using a new email address, you'll have the option to create a profile directly.
You'll need to provide your legal name, street address, and city when creating your payment profile. You'll also need to add a payment method, such as a credit card or debit card, or use Internet banking. Make sure to enable automatic payments to avoid any issues.
A minimal charge will be deducted from your card for verification purposes, but this amount will be refunded in 2-3 days. Once your payment method is set up, you can proceed to the payment page and enter your OTP to complete the verification process.
Here are the key steps to register for a Google Cloud free trial account:
- Navigate to the GCP Free-Trial Account Creation Homepage
- Click on the Start Free option
- Select your country and agree to the terms
- Create a new payment profile (individual or organization)
- Add a payment method (credit card, debit card, or Internet banking)
- Enable automatic payments
- Verify your payment method and complete the registration process
Google Cloud for Specific Groups
Google Cloud offers various programs to support researchers, students, and educators. Academic researchers can apply for Google Cloud Platform research credits, which can be used to support their projects.
Faculty members can also take advantage of the GCP Credits for Learning program, which provides $100 in credits and $50 per student. This program is designed for students learning GCP for career purposes.
Researchers in qualified regions can apply for up to $5,000 in credits for Google Cloud resources, or $1,000 for PhD candidates, to support their academic research in any field.
Google Cloud for Startups
Google Cloud for Startups is a great way to get started with your infrastructure needs without breaking the bank. You can get up to $100,000 in credit, but be warned, it'll come at the price of a large percentage of equity.
If you're not ready to give up equity, there are other options available. Founder Friendly Labs and StartX are two alternatives that don't require you to give up equity.
Education Offerings
Google Cloud offers a range of education offerings to support students, teachers, and researchers. One such offering is the GCP Credits for Learning program, which provides faculty with $100 in credits and $50 per student to help students learn GCP for career purposes.
Researchers can apply for $5,000 in credits to support academic research, or $1,000 for PhD candidates, through the research credits program. This program is available to support research in any field.
Google Cloud's education offerings are designed to help researchers and students take advantage of the platform's data storage, analytics, and machine-learning capabilities. For example, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used GCP to host their L-Functions and Modular Forms Database, freeing up time for them to focus on their research.
Here are the details of Google Cloud's education offerings:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Google Cloud credits?
Google Cloud credits are a spending allowance that can be used for all Google Cloud services, allowing users to access a range of tools and resources for a specific amount. They can be applied to various projects and courses, such as a semester-long Computer Science course.
How do I see available credits on Google Cloud?
To view available credits on Google Cloud, sign in to your Google Admin console and navigate to Menu Billing > Payment accounts, then click on your subscription account ID. Your current balance will be displayed at the top of the Payments page.
How long does Google Cloud free credit last?
Your Google Cloud free credit lasts for 90 days or until you've used all of your allocated credit, whichever comes first. Check our terms for more details on how to make the most of your free trial.
How do I get free Google Cloud Credit?
To get free Google Cloud Credit, faculty members at eligible institutions can apply for Google Cloud education credits, which grant a spending allowance for all Google Cloud services. This credit can be used to teach using Google Cloud services.
Sources
- https://www.googlecloudcommunity.com/gc/Cloud-Hub/Free-Credits/m-p/720722
- https://k21academy.com/google-cloud/create-google-cloud-free-tier-account/
- https://jaychapel.medium.com/4-ways-to-get-google-cloud-credits-c4b7256ff862
- https://aimi.stanford.edu/google-cloud-credit-program
- https://blog.google/products/google-cloud/google-cloud-platform-announces-new-credits-program-researchers/
Featured Images: pexels.com