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Amazon Web Services vs Microsoft: 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, 2026MicrosoftUp to $150,000 in Azure Startup creditsVerified Nov 3, 2026

At a glance

FactAmazon Web ServicesMicrosoft
ValueUp to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio) in AWS Activate creditsUp to $150,000 in Azure Startup credits
TypeCreditsCredits
DurationNot statedNot stated
StagesPre-seed, Seed, Series A, BootstrappedPre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+, Bootstrapped
RegionsGlobalGlobal
Max funding raisedNot statedNot stated
Max company age10 yearsNot stated
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 at $200 (no code); unlock up to $150,000 by verification and usage
  • Microsoft for Startups Investor Network (VCs, accelerators, incubators, angels) — $1,000 starter credits; higher-tier benefits, up to $150,000 in Startup credits
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
  • Develop a software-based product or service that your company owns
  • Privately held and for-profit
  • Headquartered in a country where Azure services are available
  • Have not received more than $350,000 in lifetime free Azure credits
  • Have not raised Series C or later funding
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
  • Educational institutions and government organizations
  • Consultancies and agencies
  • Crypto-mining businesses
  • Companies that raised Series C or later
VerificationVerified· Nov 3, 2026Partially verified· Nov 3, 2026

Which should you pick?

Amazon Web Services offers the larger headline amount (Up to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio) in AWS Activate credits versus Up to $150,000 in Azure Startup credits). Microsoft accepts a wider range of funding stages, while Amazon Web Services is more targeted. Note that only Amazon Web Services is fully verified against its official page; double-check the other before relying on it. If you qualify for both, there is usually no reason not to apply to both; the programs are independent.

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