- Free cloud servers at a glance
- Oracle Cloud Always Free: the most capacity
- Google Cloud: one small VM, free indefinitely
- AWS Free Tier: credits for six months
- Microsoft Azure: 12 months of small VMs
- What a free cloud server leaves out
- Which free cloud server should you pick?
- My verdict on free cloud servers
- Frequently asked questions
You can get a free cloud server from four big providers. Oracle Cloud and Google Cloud both offer a small virtual machine that stays free with no end date, while AWS and Microsoft Azure give new customers credits and free amounts that run out after a set time.
The right choice depends on whether you want something that keeps running for free, or a bigger machine for a short test. Below are the limits each provider states on its own free-tier page, checked as of October 2026.
Free cloud servers at a glance
| Provider | Free server offer | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle Cloud | Up to two AMD micro VMs, plus Arm A1 Flex capacity equal to 2 OCPUs and 12 GB of memory | Always Free |
| Google Cloud | 1 e2-micro VM in one of three US regions, plus 30 GB-months of disk | Free Tier, no end date |
| AWS | Up to US$200 in credits on the Free plan | 6 months, or until credits run out |
| Microsoft Azure | 750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 and B2ats v2 VMs, plus US$200 credit | Credit for 30 days, VM hours for 12 months |
Oracle Cloud Always Free: the most capacity
Oracle's documentation says every tenancy gets up to two Always Free VMs on the VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro shape, which has an AMD processor and 1 GB of memory. On top of that, you get the first 1,500 OCPU hours and 9,000 GB hours a month on the Arm-based VM.Standard.A1.Flex shape, which Oracle says equals 2 OCPUs and 12 GB of memory.
Check Oracle's current page before you plan around these numbers, because free-tier limits change. You also get 200 GB of Always Free block volume storage for boot volumes, and Oracle says it won't charge for Always Free resources even after you upgrade to a paid account.
Two catches. Oracle says you must create Always Free compute in your home region, and an 'out of host capacity' error means a temporary shortage of free shapes there. And idle Always Free instances may be reclaimed: Oracle looks at CPU, network and, for Arm shapes, memory use over a 7-day period.
Google Cloud: one small VM, free indefinitely
Google's Free Tier includes one non-preemptible e2-micro VM a month in Oregon (us-west1), Iowa (us-central1) or South Carolina (us-east1), plus 30 GB-months of standard persistent disk and 1 GB of outbound data transfer from North America. Google says the limit is by time, not instance, so two e2-micros at once use up the month's free hours in half the time.
New customers also get a 90-day Free Trial with US$300 of credit, which can pay for bigger machines while it lasts. I've compared both providers' starting points in AWS vs Google Cloud.
AWS Free Tier: credits for six months
AWS's Free Tier page says a new account gets US$100 in credits immediately and can earn up to US$100 more by exploring key services, so up to US$200 over 6 months on the Free plan. The account closes on its own 6 months after you open it or when your credits run out, whichever comes first, and you won't be charged unless you convert to a Paid plan. Amazon EC2 is available on both plans, so the credits can run a server.
Microsoft Azure: 12 months of small VMs
Azure's free account page lists 750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 (Arm-based) and B2ats v2 (AMD-based) burstable VMs for 12 months, for new customers only, plus a US$200 credit to use within 30 days. Azure says that to keep receiving the 12 months of free services, you must move to pay-as-you-go within 30 days or once the credit is used up, and that services still running after the 12 months are billed at pay-as-you-go rates.
What a free cloud server leaves out
- GPUs: Google says GPUs and TPUs aren't part of its Free Tier and are always charged, and they can't be added during its Free Trial.
- Windows: Google's Free Trial accounts can't create VMs from Windows Server images.
- Spare capacity: Oracle warns that free Arm shapes can be temporarily unavailable in your home region.
- Guarantees: Oracle can reclaim idle free instances and Google's trial closes after 90 days, so treat free servers as test or hobby machines.
The micro machines are small. Oracle's AMD micro shape has 1/8th of an OCPU with the ability to use more CPU when available, and 1 GB of memory, which is enough for a small bot, a VPN or a lightweight website, not a busy database.
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Which free cloud server should you pick?
- For a server you want to leave running for free with no end date, start with Oracle Always Free, or Google's e2-micro for a lighter load.
- For a short, heavier test, use Google's US$300 trial credit or AWS's credits.
- For a year of small free VMs, Azure's 12-month offer is the longest timed option.
- Whatever you pick, set a billing alert on day one so nothing runs on into paid usage.
- Keep a backup somewhere else, because idle reclamation and trial closures can remove servers.
Google's trial credit is explained in our Google Cloud free tier guide.
My verdict on free cloud servers
If I needed a free server that stays up, I'd go Oracle first for capacity and Google second for simplicity. AWS and Azure are better seen as long trials. For a website rather than a raw server, look at free web hosting or my list of the best VPS hosting, and compare the big two in AWS vs Azure.
Frequently asked questions
Which cloud has a free server forever?
Oracle Cloud's Always Free resources and Google Cloud's Free Tier both include a small VM with no end date, within their usage limits.
How big is Oracle's free Arm server?
Oracle says all tenancies get 1,500 OCPU hours and 9,000 GB hours a month on the A1 Flex shape, which equals 2 OCPUs and 12 GB of memory.
Is the AWS Free Tier still 12 months?
AWS's current Free Tier page describes up to US$200 in credits over 6 months on the Free plan, with the account closing after 6 months or when credits run out.
Does Azure give a free VM?
Yes, for new customers. Azure lists 750 hours each of B1s, B2pts v2 and B2ats v2 VMs for 12 months, plus a US$200 credit for 30 days.
Do free cloud servers need a credit card?
Usually, yes. Google, for example, says you must provide a payment method to verify your identity, and places a temporary hold rather than a charge.
Can a free cloud server be deleted?
Yes. Oracle may reclaim idle Always Free instances, and Google deletes Free Trial resources if you don't upgrade within the 30-day grace period after the trial ends.
