Microsoft
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Azure for Students Starter: Free Azure Services With No Credit Card
Azure for Students Starter gives verified students free access to a subset of Azure services with no upfront cost and no credit card. It covers App Service, Functions, Notification Hubs, MySQL in App, Application Insights, and Azure DevOps.
What this offer actually gives you
Azure for Students Starter is the entry level of Microsoft's academic cloud offers, and it is the one aimed at younger students who cannot verify against a university. There is no credit balance attached to it. Instead you get free ongoing access to a fixed set of Azure services that is enough to host a project, run a web app, and store its data.
That distinction matters if you have been comparing offers. The full Azure for Students program, aimed at university students, includes $100 in credit and much broader service access. Starter has no credit and a narrower service list, but it also has no credit card requirement and no spending risk, which makes it the safer first cloud account.
Microsoft describes the offer as having no fixed time commitment while you remain eligible, though in practice the subscription runs on a 12 month cycle and needs renewing each year with your student status re-verified.
How to claim this offer
Free Azure Services for Verified Students, No Credit Card Required
Azure for Students Starter gives verified students free access to a subset of Azure services with no upfront cost and no card on file.
- Azure App Service for web apps, APIs, and mobile back ends
- Azure Functions for serverless code execution
- Azure Notification Hubs for mobile push notifications
- Azure Database for MySQL, in App, for web app data
- Application Insights for diagnostics and telemetry
- Azure DevOps Services for repos and collaboration
How to claim this deal
- 1
Open the Azure for Students page on Microsoft's site.
- 2
Sign in with a Microsoft account, or create one using your school email address.
- 3
Complete academic verification with your school email or through Shibboleth.
- 4
Confirm your details. No credit card is requested at any point in this flow.
- 5
Open the Azure portal and start creating resources from the included service list.
This is a different offer from the full Azure for Students program for university students, which adds $100 in credit and broader service access.
Key benefits
- No credit card required at signup
- Free access to App Service, Functions, Notification Hubs, MySQL, Application Insights, and DevOps
- No fixed time commitment while you remain an eligible student
- Suitable for student projects, prototypes, and hosted web apps
- Straightforward upgrade path to pay as you go if you outgrow it
Eligibility and requirements
- Student email address (.edu or academic domain)
- No credit card required
- Must be a verified student, typically secondary or K-12, or verified via Shibboleth
- Age 13 or older in the US, 16 or older in other regions
- One subscription per eligible student, non transferable
- Not available for MOOCs or professional training from for profit organisations
Pro tip
If you are at university, check the full Azure for Students offer before settling for Starter. Same verification effort, but it comes with $100 in credit and access to far more services.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility requirements
Verified students, typically at secondary or K-12 level, or verified through Shibboleth. You must be 13 or older in the US and 16 or older elsewhere. One subscription per eligible student and it cannot be transferred.
Azure for Students Starter offer FAQs
Is Azure free for students?
Yes. Azure for Students Starter gives verified students free access to a set of Azure services with no credit card. University students can usually qualify for the fuller Azure for Students offer, which adds $100 in credit.
What is the difference between Azure for Students and Azure for Students Starter?
Starter has no credit balance and a limited service list but needs no card and no university verification. The full Azure for Students offer includes $100 in credit and much broader access to Azure services.
Do I need a credit card for Azure for Students Starter?
No. The signup flow never asks for a card, which means there is no risk of accidental charges while you are learning.
How do I renew my Azure student subscription?
The subscription runs in 12 month cycles. Microsoft prompts you to re-verify your student status near the end of the term, and access continues if you are still eligible.
About Microsoft
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform, covering hosting, serverless compute, databases, monitoring, and developer tooling. Its academic offers are designed for coursework, prototypes, and student projects.
