AWS Activate vs Google for Startups: which credits should you take?
Both programmes top out around $200,000 for funded startups, but they pay out in completely different ways — and that difference matters more than the headline number.
Side by side
| AWS Activate | Google for Startups Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry tier | Founders — from $1,000, up to $5,000 | Start — up to $2,000 |
| Funded tier | Portfolio — up to $200,000 | Scale — up to $200,000 over 2 years |
| AI tier | $200,000+, invite-only | Up to $350,000 |
| Entry tier needs an investor? | No | No |
| Top tier needs an investor? | Yes — Organization ID required | Yes — qualifying investor or partner |
| How it pays out | Fixed credit balance applied to your bill | Percentage of eligible usage, capped |
| Company age limit | Founded in last 10 years | Roughly 5 years for Start tier |
| Decision time | 7–10 business days | Varies; expect follow-up questions |
Ceilings and terms are set by each provider and change periodically — check the AWS Activate credits page and the Google for Startups Cloud Program page for current figures.
The difference that actually matters
AWS gives you a balance. Google gives you coverage.
An AWS Activate credit balance sits on your account and draws down as you spend. If you spend slowly, it lasts longer — until the expiry date, which is the real constraint.
Google's Scale tier covers a percentage of what you actually spend: roughly 100% of eligible usage in year one up to $100,000, then 20% in year two up to another $100,000. If you only spend $20,000 in year one, you received $20,000 of value, not $100,000. Unused coverage is not banked and does not roll forward.
Can you claim both?
Yes. The two programmes are independent and neither excludes the other. Plenty of startups hold both and split workloads — running core infrastructure on one and a specific workload where the other is stronger.
The practical caution is operational, not contractual: running two clouds properly means two billing surfaces, two IAM models and two sets of expiry dates to track. If you have a small team, taking both and only seriously using one is a common and expensive-feeling mistake — the unused set expires quietly.
Which to apply for first
- Bootstrapped, no investor connection. Apply to both entry tiers. They are self-serve and cost you nothing but time — AWS Founders from $1,000, Google Start up to $2,000.
- Backed by a VC or accelerator. Ask them for an AWS Organization ID first. That single field is the difference between $1,000 and $200,000, and it is the highest-leverage thing you can do.
- AI-first product on Vertex AI or Gemini. Google's AI tier reaches $350,000, the highest publicly listed ceiling of the two. Lead with Google.
- Heavy on managed services you already know. Take the credits for the cloud your team can actually ship on. Credits do not offset the cost of learning a new platform under deadline.
Next steps
Read the detailed walkthroughs for each: applying for AWS Activate and getting Google Cloud startup credits. If you are in India, the DPIIT route changes the maths on the AWS side.
Frequently asked questions
Can a startup get both AWS and Google Cloud credits?
Which gives more credits, AWS or Google Cloud?
Do I need a VC to get meaningful cloud credits?
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