Azure free subscription
o get an Azure free subscription, visit azure.microsoft.com/free, sign up with a Microsoft account, verify your identity (usually with a credit card for verification, not immediate charges), and receive a $200 credit for 30 days, plus 12 months of popular free services and always-free options, giving you a great way to explore cloud services with no upfront commitment. Students can get $100 credit without a card via Azure for Students, while learning sandboxes offer temporary, card-free access for training.
Standard Azure Free Account (Most Common)
Go to the Azure Free Page: Navigate to azure.microsoft.com/free.
Start Free: Click "Start Free" or "Try Azure for Free".
Sign In/Up: Use your existing Microsoft account or create a new one.
Verify: Provide details like your country, date of birth, and verify your email and phone number.
Payment Info: Enter credit/debit card details for identity verification (a small temporary charge may occur).
Accept & Sign Up: Agree to terms and sign up to activate your trial.
What You Get
$200 Credit: For the first 30 days to try any service.
12 Months Free: Popular services (like VMs, databases) with monthly limits.
Always Free: Over 55 services available at no cost forever, up to set limits.
Alternatives for No Credit Card
Students can get $100 credit and free services without a card at azure.microsoft.com/en-in/pricing/offers/ms-azr-0170p by verifying academic status.
Access temporary, short-term Azure environments (e.g., 4 hours) for free through learning paths on Microsoft Learn.
Important Tip
To avoid charges, create resources specifically from the "Free services" page in the Azure portal or ensure you select free tiers when creating resources outside it, and monitor usage in Cost Management.