What are Google Cloud Startup Credits?

Getting your startup off the ground often means facing tight budgets and high infrastructure costs. That’s where Google Cloud startup credits come in—offering a powerful way to reduce costs while accelerating your product development in the cloud.

In 2025, Google Cloud’s Startup Program provides generous support to early-stage and funded companies. Eligible startups can access up to $2,000 in free Google Cloud startup credits under the Start tier. For funded startups (up to Series A), the program offers up to $100,000 in credits for the first year, and an additional 20% credit coverage up to $100,000 in the second year.

These credits can be used across a wide range of services on the Google Cloud Platform—including Compute Engine, BigQuery, Firebase, and more—giving you a risk-free way to build, test, and scale your solution.

In this guide, you’ll learn how Google Cloud startup credits work, the eligibility criteria, how to apply, and practical tips to maximize their value.

Benefits of Google Cloud Startup Credits

Receiving Google Cloud credits can significantly reduce your startup’s cloud expenses. The credits apply to any Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services and select offerings. For example, you could run analytics on BigQuery or train a model with Vertex AI at no cost up to your credit limit. Other key benefits include:

• Cash savings: Google covers 100% of your GCP spend up to $100K in year one and 20% of spend (up to another $100K) in year two. This free cloud usage frees up cash for other priorities, so you can scale faster without worrying about bills.
• Support & training: Startups get Google Cloud Skills Boost credits ($200 for Start tier, $500 for Scale tier) and $12K in Enhanced Support credits (Scale tier) or standard Customer Care (Start tier). This means you have access to learning resources and expert help to solve technical issues.
• Google ecosystem perks: Enjoy free 12-month Google Workspace Business Plus, Maps Platform credits, and invites to Google Cloud community events. Access to a Startup Success Manager and the global Google Cloud startup community can open doors to mentorship and co-marketing opportunities.

Additionally, these credits cover core services and advanced tools so you can build and scale your product without worrying about the bill. For example, you can spin up Compute Engine instances or Kubernetes clusters as needed, and try AI/ML services like BigQuery or Vertex AI at no immediate cost. This flexibility is a huge advantage for rapid development and testing.

In short, Google Cloud startup credits give your team the runway to innovate. By using these credits wisely, you can build, test, and grow faster without burning through precious funding.

Eligibility for Google Cloud Startup Credits

To qualify for Google Cloud startup credits, your company must meet the program criteria:

• Start Tier: For pre-funded startups (no institutional VC funding, founded within the last 5 years). Eligible startups receive up to $2,000 USD in Google Cloud credits (valid 1 year).
• Scale Tier: For funded startups (pre-seed through Series A, founded within 10 years). Google covers 100% of your Google Cloud usage up to $100K in year one, and 20% in year two (up to an additional $100K).

Google also offers enhanced benefits for AI-first and Web3 startups. AI-focused teams can access specialized training and a total of $350,000 USD in cloud credits. Web3 startups get additional grants and blockchain-related support.

Note: Certain organizations (e.g., public companies, NGOs, government agencies, and crypto mining) are not eligible. In summary, check your funding stage and founding date against Google’s eligibility page. If you meet the criteria, you can join the Startup Program and unlock the credits

Application Process

Applying for Google Cloud startup credits is straightforward:

1. Prepare your materials: Make sure you have a company email, website, and a concise description of your product. If funded, have information about your investors and funding round.
2. Apply on the Google for Startups site: Visit the Google for Startups Cloud Program page or the Google for Startups website and find the Cloud Program section. Choose the tier (Start or Scale) that fits your startup.
3. Complete the application form: Fill in your startup’s details (company name, founding date, sector, funding status, etc.). Provide any required documentation (e.g., equity funding verification).
4. Await review: Google’s team will review your application. They may verify eligibility and ask additional questions. This usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks.
5. Activate your credits: Once approved, Google will provide instructions to redeem your credits in the Google Cloud Console. You’ll typically add a billing account and enter the provided promo code to apply the credits.

Throughout this process, Google provides documentation and help. If you encounter issues, Google Cloud Customer Care is available for standard support (you can use credits to apply for higher support levels). Using resources like the Google Cloud documentation and training labs will also help you hit the ground running. (Internal resources can also help: see our [cloud computing basics] guide if you’re new to cloud environments, or our [startup tools] list for handy resources.)

Best Practices for Maximizing Your Credits

Once you have Google Cloud startup credits, use them wisely to stretch their value:

• Plan your usage: Estimate which GCP services will serve your core features. For compute workloads, consider using auto-scaling or Preemptible VMs to save costs, since idle resources still consume credits.
• Track and budget: Set up budget alerts and use Google Cloud’s billing dashboard or export to BigQuery to monitor credit usage. This prevents surprises when credits run low.
• Optimize resources: Shut down or scale down test/dev environments when not in use. Combine credits with GCP’s free tier (for example, use Cloud Functions or small App Engine instances, which may be free) to extend your runway.
• Leverage support and training: Use the included training credits (Cloud Skills Boost) to upskill quickly and engage with Google’s technical support. Getting your team trained on GCP services (like networking, security, and AI) can prevent costly mistakes.
• Build for growth: Architect your project with managed services (Cloud SQL, Firestore, etc.) to minimize maintenance overhead. Google’s serverless offerings and managed databases can save credit spend on operations and prepare you for scale.
• Focus on ROI: Use credits to build core features and demonstrate traction. For example, build a demo or MVP that wows investors or customers before credits expire.

By following these best practices, your startup can maximize every dollar of credit and accelerate development without waste.

Comparing Cloud Startup Credits: AWS vs Azure vs Google

Other major cloud providers also offer startup credit programs, so it’s useful to compare:

In practice, Google’s program offers higher limits for AI-focused startups ($350K) than AWS’s $300K, and Azure’s cap is around $150K. AWS’s credits are generous ($100K standard) but typically require being part of a recognized accelerator/VC network. Azure’s credits depend on completing tasks in the Founders Hub.

The best program depends on your startup’s needs. Data- or AI-intensive startups may prefer Google Cloud or AWS offers, while Microsoft shops (especially using Windows or .NET) might lean on Azure. Many startups actually apply to multiple programs (Google, AWS, Azure) if eligible, to stack credits. Check each provider’s official startup page (Google’s [startup.google.com], AWS Activate [aws.amazon.com], Azure Founders Hub [learn.microsoft.com]) for the latest details and application links.

Conclusion

Google Cloud startup credits are a powerful resource for new companies. By covering cloud costs and providing support and training, these credits let you focus on building your product, not infrastructure expenses.

Ready to boost your startup? Apply to the Google for Startups Cloud Program today to see if you qualify for these credits and benefits. Be prepared with clear company info and funding proof to speed up approval. Once approved, use the tips above to maximize your credits and accelerate your growth.

Want more startup resources? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates, and check out our articles on [cloud computing basics] and [startup tools on our careers page] to keep learning. The future of tech startups is bright – with Google Cloud startup credits, you have one more advantage on your side.