AWS has introduced a project-first signup experience designed to make getting started less daunting: for most eligible new customers, signup does not require a credit card and includes $100 in AWS credits. The key choice is whether to start on the Free account plan or the Paid account plan. The Free plan is limited, lasts at most six months, and closes when it expires; it is not a promise that every project or service will remain free.
What changed in AWS signup?
On September 16, 2026, AWS announced a simpler, project-first getting-started experience. Rather than asking new users to complete every configuration choice before building, AWS says it provides sensible defaults and simpler administration. The stated goal is to reduce setup friction—not to make every AWS service, billing decision, or production architecture simple.
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The signup flow names Google, GitHub, and Apple as identity providers. AWS says most new customers can sign up without a credit card, but its beginner guide says the rollout is gradual. Your eligibility, screens, and available features may differ, so rely on what AWS presents in your own signup flow.
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AWS’s September 16, 2026 announcement describes the new experience. Its beginner guide, published September 30 and updated October 1, 2026, notes that rollout is gradual.
Which AWS account plan should a beginner choose?
New users may be offered a Free account plan or a Paid account plan. The Free plan is for experimenting and proof-of-concept work within its limits; the Paid plan provides access to all AWS services and features and can generate ordinary usage charges.
| Plan detail | Free account plan | Paid account plan |
|---|---|---|
| Service access | Selected services; some high-consumption services and hardware purchases are excluded. | Access to all AWS services and features. |
| Credits and charges | AWS says there are no charges while you remain on the Free plan, until you upgrade. | Credits apply to eligible charges. Standard pay-as-you-go charges apply beyond remaining credits and for services where credits do not apply. |
| Duration | Up to six months, or until credits are exhausted, whichever comes first. | Continues as a paid account; charges depend on usage. |
| At the end of the plan | AWS closes the account. Content is retained for 90 days, during which upgrading can restore access; it is permanently deleted afterward. | Remains available subject to billing and account terms. |
These terms come from AWS’s current Billing documentation, Free Tier FAQ, and credit documentation. Check those pages and your account for current eligibility, service coverage, credit activities, and billing details.
How much free AWS credit is available?
AWS says eligible new customers receive $100 in credits at signup and may earn up to $100 more through activities, for up to $200 total. The additional credits are activity-based, not an automatic extra $100 for every account. Credits apply only to eligible charges, so a credit balance does not establish that every service or configuration is covered.
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How should a beginner approach a first AWS project?
Keep the first build small enough that you can understand what each service does and check whether it qualifies for your plan or credits. AWS Builder Center suggests a useful learning goal: send one request from an app, save something in the cloud, and explain where the data went. One possible serverless path uses API Gateway to receive a request, Lambda to run code, and DynamoDB to store data. This is an example, not a required setup or a guarantee that every feature qualifies for credits.
- Check the signup offer and plan. Confirm which signup path AWS offers you, whether a card is requested, which account plan you are choosing, and what services and credits apply.
- Start with one modest project. Use only the services needed to learn the request-and-storage flow. Avoid adding services simply because they are available.
- Monitor your account. AWS says the Billing and Cost Management console shows plan and credit information. Check your remaining balance, time left, and service eligibility as you work.
- Make an end-of-plan decision early. Before the Free plan expires or the credits run out, decide whether to upgrade and preserve anything you need. Do not assume access to resources or data continues after account closure.
What happens when the AWS Free plan expires?
AWS closes the account when the Free plan expires. You lose access to its resources and data. AWS retains the content for 90 days, during which you can upgrade to restore access; after that window, the content is permanently deleted. The plan can expire after six months or earlier if you exhaust the credits first, so keep track of both the balance and the clock.
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AWS’s Free Tier FAQ and plan documentation explain the closure and retention terms. If you need to keep project data, arrange an appropriate export or upgrade before the account closes rather than treating the 90-day retention period as normal access.
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No. AWS says accounts created before July 15, 2025 remain on the legacy Free Tier program. The newer Free and Paid account-plan model applies to new customers. If you already have an AWS account, check the plan and terms shown for that account instead of assuming the new signup offer applies to it.
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Because rollout and service eligibility can change, use the current signup flow and AWS console as the final guide for your account. AWS’s launch announcement, beginner guide, and billing documentation provide the current explanations of the experience and plan terms.
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