For a server that stays free, Oracle Cloud's Always Free tier (with AMD and Arm-based compute) and Azure's always-free services last with no end date; AWS's Free plan closes after 6 months, and Azure's 12-month services end a year after sign-up.
The first question with any free server isn't about size. It's how long it stays free. As of Nov 2026, the big clouds split into two kinds of free: a time-limited trial that ends on a date, and an always-free tier that doesn't. Then there's the catch nobody reads until sign-up: whether you have to hand over a card. Here's what each provider's own page says.
A quick definition before the list: a virtual private server, or VPS, is a virtual machine that an internet hosting company sells as a service.
Free for a while vs free for good
| Provider | Always free? | Time-limited part | Card needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Cloud | Yes: Always Free services for an unlimited time | Free Trial credit for up to 30 days | Yes, for identity checks |
| Microsoft Azure | Yes: 65+ always-free services | Some services free for 12 months, new customers only | Not required for Azure for Students |
| AWS | No: the Free plan account closes | Up to 6 months or until credits run out | Not stated on the free tier page |
| Railway | Yes, a Free plan at no monthly cost | 30-day free trial with 5 US dollars of credit first | No credit card required |
| alwaysdata | Yes: Free offer for life | None stated | Not stated |
Always-free tiers
Oracle Cloud Free Tier
Oracle's Free Tier comes in two parts. First, a Free Trial with credit to use on all eligible Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services for up to 30 days, or until the credit runs out, whichever comes first. Second, Always Free services, which Oracle says are available for an unlimited time, with some limitations. The Always Free list includes AMD-based Compute and Arm-based Ampere A1 Compute, plus Block Volume, Object Storage and Archive Storage. If you do nothing after 30 days, Oracle says you keep the Always Free services. That makes it the closest thing on this list to a free VPS that doesn't expire.
Microsoft Azure
Azure offers two types of free service. Some are free for your first 12 months from the date you create your account, for new customers only. Others are among 65+ always-free services. Azure says both are free up to set monthly amounts, so read the amount next to each service before you rely on it.
alwaysdata
alwaysdata's Free offer is described as being for personal needs, ad-free and available for life. It lists 1 GB of SSD disk space, 256 MB of RAM and a quarter of a CPU, with 3 days of backups. It's small, but it doesn't end.
Time-limited free plans
AWS Free Tier
AWS works differently, and it's the one people get wrong. New accounts on the Free plan get 100 US dollars in credits straight away and can earn up to 100 more by exploring key services, so up to 200 over 6 months. AWS says the account closes on its own 6 months after you open it or when your credits run out, whichever comes first. You won't be charged unless you convert to a Paid plan, but the Free plan is limited to select services only.
So if you want a server that keeps running next year, the AWS Free plan isn't it. Treat it as a six-month sandbox.
Azure's 12-month services
The 12-month side of Azure's free offer ends a year after sign-up. Students get a separate route: Azure for Students gives access to free developer tools and 100 US dollars of credit with no credit card required, just an academic email address.
A small app host with a free plan
Railway isn't a full virtual server in the classic sense. It runs your app or service for you. For a side project, that's often all you need.
Its Free plan is listed at no monthly cost and starts with a 30-day free trial with 5 US dollars of credit. It lists up to 1 vCPU and 0.5 GB RAM per service, 0.5 GB of volume storage and community support, with no credit card required.
Hosts that aren't really free
You'll see a few names on other free-VPS lists that don't belong there once you read their pricing pages. Fly.io is pay as you go: Machines are billed by the second while they're running. Render's Hobby workspace costs nothing a month but compute is charged on top, and the only thing it calls free forever is static sites, which isn't a server at all. Koyeb says it bills pay-per-use once you've used your included monthly free credit. They can be cheap, but if free is the point, they're not it.
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The catch: the card at sign-up
Here's the catch most free-VPS lists skip. Oracle asks for credit or debit card details when you sign up for its Free Tier. It says this is for account setup and identity verification, and that it may check the validity of your card from time to time. It also says it doesn't accept debit cards with a PIN, or virtual, single-use or prepaid cards. So if you were planning to use a throwaway card, it won't work.
If you don't want to hand over a card at all, Railway says no credit card is required, and Azure for Students doesn't need one if you have an academic email address. AWS and alwaysdata don't make a clear card statement on the pages I checked, so check at sign-up.
What these pages don't tell you
None of the free-tier pages give performance figures you can compare like for like, and most don't say what happens to a free server's data if you go quiet for months. Keep your own backups either way. And if all you need is a simple website rather than a server, free web hosting may be the easier fit.
My verdict
If you want a free server that keeps running, Oracle Cloud's Always Free tier is the one to try first, as long as you're fine giving a real card. If you just want to learn, the AWS Free plan is a generous six-month sandbox that closes itself. And for a small app with no card and no fuss, Railway's Free plan is the easiest start.
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Quick answers
Which free VPS providers are free forever?
Oracle Cloud's Always Free services are available for an unlimited time, Azure has 65+ always-free services, and alwaysdata's Free offer is for life.
How long is the AWS free tier?
The AWS Free plan closes 6 months after you open the account or when your credits run out, whichever comes first.
Does Oracle Cloud Free Tier need a credit card?
Yes. Oracle asks for card details for identity verification and doesn't accept PIN debit, virtual, single-use or prepaid cards.
Which free hosting needs no credit card?
Railway says no credit card is required for its Free plan, and Azure for Students needs only an academic email address.
