Porter
Porter Startup Deal
Porter free for 6 months (up to 25 vCPU and 50 GB RAM a month) for startups deploying to their own AWS, GCP or Azure account.
Ways to get it
Apply directly
6 months of Porter free
- Startup deploying to its own AWS, Google Cloud or Azure account
- Application with website, work email, existing cloud credits, amount raised and accelerator or investor
For startups whose investor or accelerator does not offer a Porter deal. Click Redeem Deal on the page.
Open program pageVia Y Combinator
Via VC or accelerator partner
Porter startup deal through YC
- Y Combinator company
Porter names YC as an investor with a Porter deal; the YC version's terms are not published on porter.run.
Open program pageVia a16z speedrun
Via VC or accelerator partner
Porter startup deal through a16z speedrun
- a16z speedrun company
Named by Porter as an investor with a Porter deal; terms are not published on porter.run.
Open program page
Eligibility
Requirements
- A startup; Porter's pricing FAQ points the deal at professionally funded startups
- Deploying to your own AWS, Google Cloud or Azure account
Not eligible
- Porter Cloud (Porter's hosted option)
- Underlying cloud provider costs
How to apply
- 1
Ask your accelerator or investor whether it offers the Porter deal (Porter names Y Combinator and a16z speedrun as examples).
- 2
If not, click Redeem Deal on porter.run/startups/aws-azure-gcp and answer the form: website, work email, existing cloud credits, total raised, accelerator or investor.
- 3
Create a project in the Porter dashboard, as the form instructs, so Porter can apply the deal if you qualify.
- 4
Connect your AWS, Google Cloud or Azure account and deploy, keeping usage within 25 vCPU and 50 GB RAM to stay inside the free allowance.
Gotchas
- Only Porter's fees are free; your AWS, Google Cloud or Azure bill is not covered, so pair the deal with cloud credits.
- The free allowance is capped at 25 vCPU and 50 GB RAM of monthly usage, per Porter's form.
- The deal does not apply to Porter Cloud.
- After 6 months, standard pricing applies: $13 per vCPU and $6 per GB RAM per month for requested resources.
- Porter says startups 'may qualify' and publishes no eligibility criteria beyond being a (professionally funded) startup.
About the Porter program
Porter deploys and runs your apps on Kubernetes inside your own AWS, Google Cloud or Azure account. Its startup deal (porter.run/startups/aws-azure-gcp) makes Porter itself free for 6 months. Porter's application form caps the free usage at 25 vCPU and 50 GB RAM per month.
The deal covers Porter's fees only. Your cloud provider still bills you for the underlying infrastructure, but Porter puts no limits on paying that with AWS, Google Cloud or Azure credits, so with cloud credits the whole stack can cost nothing in cash. The form also says the deal does not apply to Porter Cloud, Porter's hosted option.
Porter's pricing FAQ says professionally funded startups very likely already have the deal through their accelerator or investor, naming Y Combinator and a16z speedrun. If yours does not offer it, you apply directly. The form asks for your website, work email, existing cloud credits, total amount raised, and accelerator or investor. After the deal, standard pricing is $13 per vCPU and $6 per GB RAM per month for the resources your apps request.
Frequently asked questions
Is Porter free for startups?
Startups may qualify for 6 months of Porter free, covering up to 25 vCPU and 50 GB RAM of monthly usage. You still pay your cloud provider for the infrastructure, which you can cover with AWS, Google Cloud or Azure credits.
Does the Porter startup deal cover my AWS bill?
No. The deal covers Porter's own fees only. Porter runs in your cloud account, so AWS, Google Cloud or Azure bill you directly, and Porter lets you pay that with cloud credits.
What happens to my servers if I stop paying Porter?
Porter says your servers keep running because they are in your own cloud account. Porter stops managing the cluster, and you operate the Kubernetes cluster yourself.
