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Amazon Web Services vs Google Cloud: startup credits compared

Side-by-side amounts, eligibility and access paths, both verified against the official program pages.

Amazon Web ServicesUp to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio) in AWS Activate creditsVerified Nov 3, 2026Google CloudUp to $200,000 over 2 years (up to $350,000 for AI startups); $2,000 Start tierVerified Nov 3, 2026

At a glance

FactAmazon Web ServicesGoogle Cloud
ValueUp to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio) in AWS Activate creditsUp to $200,000 over 2 years (up to $350,000 for AI startups); $2,000 Start tier
TypeCreditsCredits
DurationNot stated2 years
StagesPre-seed, Seed, Series A, BootstrappedPre-seed, Seed, Series A
RegionsGlobalGlobal
Max funding raisedNot statedNot stated
Max company age10 years5 years
Ways to get it
  • Apply directly — Activate Founders: start with $1,000, select startups up to $5,000
  • AWS Activate Provider (accelerators, incubators, VCs, angel networks) — Activate Portfolio: up to $200,000 (amount depends on your provider)
  • Apply directly — Start $2,000 / Scale up to $200,000 / Scale AI up to $350,000
  • Accelerators, VCs and investors (stealth verification)
Requirements
  • Pre-Series B startup
  • Founded within the last 10 years
  • AWS account on the Paid Tier plan (Free plan accounts are not eligible)
  • New to Activate Credits, or requesting more credits than previously received
  • Company website or public profile
  • Scale: Pre-Seed/Seed equity round within the last 5 years or Series A within the last 12 months, from institutional investors/VCs (SAFEs eligible)
  • Scale: founded within the last 5 years; Start: founded within the last 24 months
  • Not more than $5,000 in prior Google Cloud credits (Start: none beyond trial)
  • Located in a region where Google Cloud is GA and self-service purchasing is available
Not eligible
  • Series B and later companies
  • Startups building on AWS China Regions (they use AWS Activate China)
  • Startups that already received equal or greater Activate Credits
  • Companies that have IPO'd or been acquired
  • Educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits
  • Personal blogs/content, dev shops, consultancies, agencies
  • Cryptocurrency mining companies and token distributors acting contrary to regulation
  • Regulated industries and businesses outside Google's Acceptable Use Policy
VerificationVerified· Nov 3, 2026Verified· Nov 3, 2026

Which should you pick?

Google Cloud offers the larger headline amount (Up to $200,000 over 2 years (up to $350,000 for AI startups); $2,000 Start tier versus Up to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio) in AWS Activate credits). Amazon Web Services accepts a wider range of funding stages, while Google Cloud is more targeted. If you qualify for both, there is usually no reason not to apply to both; the programs are independent.

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