Hello, developers, students, and aspiring entrepreneurs using cloud services! โ๏ธ Today, we’re going to take a detailed look at the latest changes to the AWS Free Tier, which many people encounter first when starting with AWS.
Recently, there have been several important changes to the AWS Free Tier policy. In particular, a new program for new accounts was introduced starting July 15, 2025, and even before that, the Public IPv4 address policy changed. If you’ve been worried about “getting hit with a bill shock without even knowing it?” ๐ฃ then please pay close attention to today’s post!
Let’s meticulously and easily break down the latest AWS Free Tier policy, complete with emojis.
๐ July 15, 2025: The Start of the New AWS Free Tier Program
The biggest change is the new Free Tier program for users newly signing up for AWS starting July 15, 2025. The core of this change is the transition from the existing ’12-month free’ model to a flexible, credit-based model.
๐โโ๏ธ Wait a minute! What about existing users?
AWS accounts created before July 15, 2025, will continue to follow the Legacy Free Tier policy. This means that the method of using specific services for free within designated limits for 12 months from the sign-up date will be maintained. So, existing users do not need to worry too much!
โจ New Free Tier: What Has Changed and How?
New registrants after July 15, 2025, will choose one of two pricing plans upon signing up.
- Free Account Plan ๐
- Paid Account Plan ๐ณ
Both plans offer attractive benefits to new users.
๐ฐ Up to $200 in AWS Credits Provided!
The biggest feature of the new Free Tier is AWS Credits. Regardless of which plan you choose, new registrants can receive up to $200 in credits as follows:
- $100 credit provided immediately upon sign-up
- Earn an additional $100 credit upon completing specific service usage missions
- By completing 5 activities such as setting up AWS Budgets and launching an Amazon EC2 instance, you can receive an additional $20 for each, totaling $100 in credits.
These credits can be used to experience various paid AWS services, allowing for much greater freedom in exploring AWS.
1๏ธโฃ Free Account Plan
As the name suggests, this plan is for those who want to start using AWS without worrying about costs.
- Features:
- You can use the provided credits ($100 + @) and ‘Always Free’ services.
- The plan expires after 6 months or when credits are exhausted.
- After expiration, the account will be deactivated, and you must upgrade to a ‘Paid Account Plan’ to continue using it. (Upgrade possible within 90 days)
- Advantages:
- No worries about unexpected charges whatsoever. ๐ โโ๏ธ
- Suitable for learners new to AWS or users who need a simple testing environment.
2๏ธโฃ Paid Account Plan
This is a standard ‘Pay-as-you-go’ model, but with added benefits for new users.
- Features:
- Access to all AWS services.
- Receive the same new registrant benefit of up to $200 in credits.
- Once credits are exhausted or free usage limits are exceeded, you will be charged for what you use.
- Advantages:
- You can use all AWS services without restrictions from the start. ๐
- Utilize credits to reduce cost burden while building and testing actual production environments.
๐ป Public IPv4 Address Pricing Change (Effective February 1, 2024)
Another important change is the pricing policy for Public IPv4 addresses.
Previously, one Public IPv4 address connected to an EC2 instance was free, but starting February 1, 2024, a charge of $0.005 per hour began to be applied.
But don’t worry! AWS offers the following benefits for Free Tier users:
- The EC2 Free Tier (12 months free) includes 750 hours of Public IPv4 address usage per month.
- This is equivalent to using one EC2 instance with a Public IPv4 address for an entire month.
- Therefore, if you operate one EC2 instance within the Free Tier as before, no additional charges will be incurred.
- Caution! ๐จ Even if you stop an instance, if you only allocate an Elastic IP (EIP) address and do not associate it, it may be considered ‘idle’ and incur charges. So, be sure to release any unused EIPs.
๐ง So, What’s the Right Choice for Me? (Summary & Tips)
| Category | Legacy Free Tier (Signed up before 2025/7/15) | New Free Tier (Signed up after 2025/7/15) |
| — | — | — |
| Core | Free use of designated services for 12 months | Up to $200 credits + Always Free |
| Duration | 12 months | Free Plan: 6 months or until credits are exhausted |
| Benefits | Monthly free usage for EC2, S3, RDS, etc. | $100 immediately + $100 additional earned credits, Always Free services |
| Characteristic | Free usage within a defined framework | Freely explore services with credits |
๐ก Final Tip!
- AWS beginners and students: Start with the ‘Free Account Plan’ to avoid worrying about costs.
- Early-stage startups or developers: If you need to test various services, it’s advantageous to use credits with the ‘Paid Account Plan’.
- All users: It is very important to get into the habit of setting up AWS Budgets to set a budget and receive notifications to prevent unexpected charges!
This Free Tier revamp appears to be AWS’s intention to provide users with more choices and flexibility. We hope you familiarize yourself with the changes and continue to utilize AWS smartly and cost-effectively!
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