What are the best cloud credits with no funding required?

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub leads with up to $150,000 in Azure credits, no funding or accelerator needed. DigitalOcean Hatch ($100,000), Oracle for Startups, MongoDB for Startups, and the open AWS and Google Cloud tiers round out the self-apply options.

Do I need to have raised money to get cloud credits?

No. Every program on this page is self-apply: you can claim it as a bootstrapped or self-funded startup without outside funding or an accelerator referral. Only the largest partner-gated tiers require that affiliation.

Can I claim more than one of these at once?

Yes — the programs are independent, so you can stack several. A bootstrapped founder can realistically self-apply for six figures across providers. See our guide on how to stack cloud credits.

Self-apply · no funding or accelerator required

Best cloud credits with no funding

You don’t need a term sheet to run on cloud credits. These 6 programs are open to bootstrapped and self-funded startups — no round raised, no accelerator referral. Claim them yourself, today.

$288Kcombined ceiling you can self-apply for

Last updated July 2026

Ranked by ceiling

Every no-funding program

Highest ceiling first. Each one is self-apply — the “No funding required” and “Self-apply” badges mean exactly what they say.

Up to $150,000

cloud credits

Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

Self-serve program with staged Azure + AI credits and no funding gate.

No funding requiredSelf-apply60-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Building a software-based product or service
No prior or current enrollment in Microsoft for Startups
Self-nominate — no funding or referral required to start

Bundled perks

Azure credits unlock in stages as you progress
Free GitHub Enterprise & Microsoft 365
Azure OpenAI Service access & $2,500 OpenAI credits
LinkedIn & developer support benefits

View program Azure guide

Up to $100,000

cloud credits

DigitalOcean Hatch

Founder-friendly credits with a low eligibility bar and no funding gate.

No funding requiredSelf-apply12-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Less than 5 years old and under a revenue threshold
Have not previously received Hatch credits
Building on DigitalOcean infrastructure

Bundled perks

Priority support
Technical guidance & office hours
Hatch community

View program

Up to $30,000

cloud credits

Oracle for Startups

OCI credits plus steep usage discounts for data-heavy workloads.

No funding requiredSelf-apply24-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Privately held, pre-IPO technology startup
Building or migrating workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Bundled perks

Up to 70% OCI discounts
Free technical & go-to-market support
Co-marketing

View program

Up to $5,000

cloud credits

MongoDB for Startups

Atlas database credits that stack on top of your primary cloud program.

No funding requiredSelf-apply12-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Early-stage startup, pre-Series A
Less than 5 years old with limited prior MongoDB spend

Bundled perks

Atlas credits
Free technical advisor sessions
Co-marketing & partner perks

View program

Up to $2,000

cloud credits

Google for Startups Cloud Program · Start

The self-serve entry tier for pre-funding GCP and Firebase builders.

No funding requiredSelf-apply12-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Early-stage startup, typically pre-seed or seed
Founded within the last 10 years and not previously funded by the program
Self-apply directly through the Google for Startups site

Bundled perks

Google Cloud & Firebase credits
Technical training credits
Startup community access

View program GCP guide

Up to $1,000

cloud credits

AWS Activate · Founders

The open, no-strings tier any early founder can self-apply for.

No funding requiredSelf-apply24-month validity

Last verified Jul 2026

Eligibility

Self-funded or bootstrapped startups with no prior AWS credits
Company website and a working email on a custom domain
Not currently enrolled via an Activate Provider

Bundled perks

$350 AWS Support credits
Activate console & tooling
1:1 onboarding resources

View program AWS guide

Next step

Claim them in the right order

Start with the biggest self-apply ceilings, then layer the rest. Our stacking guide walks through a realistic order, and the estimator shows your personal total.

How to stack cloud credits Estimate your total

FAQ

Common questions

What are the best cloud credits with no funding required?: Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub leads with up to $150,000 in Azure credits, no funding or accelerator needed. DigitalOcean Hatch ($100,000), Oracle for Startups, MongoDB for Startups, and the open AWS and Google Cloud tiers round out the self-apply options.
Do I need to have raised money to get cloud credits?: No. Every program on this page is self-apply: you can claim it as a bootstrapped or self-funded startup without outside funding or an accelerator referral. Only the largest partner-gated tiers require that affiliation.
Can I claim more than one of these at once?: Yes — the programs are independent, so you can stack several. A bootstrapped founder can realistically self-apply for six figures across providers. See our guide on how to stack cloud credits.

Keep reading:AWS vs Azure vs GCP credits How to stack cloud credits Browse the full directory