AWS Activate vs Google Cloud for Startups: which is better?
Compare AWS Activate and Google Cloud startup programs. See which offers better credits, easier approval, and more value for your startup.
Key takeaways
- AWS Activate offers $1K-$100K in credits
- Google Cloud offers $2K-$100K in credits
- Both require accelerator membership or funding proof
- AWS has faster approval (5-7 days vs 2 weeks)
- You can claim credits from both programs simultaneously
Credit amounts
AWS Activate offers $1,000 to $100,000 in credits depending on your accelerator tier or funding stage. Starter tier (most accelerators) provides $1K-$5K, while Portfolio tier (top accelerators) offers up to $100K.
Google Cloud for Startups offers $2,000 to $100,000 in credits. The amount depends on your accelerator partnership tier or funding stage. Most startups receive $2K-$10K initially.
Both programs offer additional credits for companies that hit usage milestones or demonstrate growth. You can potentially receive more credits beyond the initial amount.
How credit amounts are determined
AWS Activate uses accelerator tiers. Y Combinator, Techstars, and similar top-tier accelerators qualify for Portfolio tier ($100K). Other accelerators typically qualify for Starter tier ($1K-$5K).
Google Cloud uses similar tiering but also considers funding stage. Seed-funded companies typically receive $2K-$10K, while Series A+ companies can receive up to $100K.
Approval process
AWS Activate typically approves applications within 5-7 business days. The process is straightforward: provide accelerator proof or funding documentation, answer a few questions about your use case, and wait for approval.
Google Cloud for Startups takes longer—typically 1-2 weeks for approval. The application process is similar but includes more detailed questions about your technical requirements.
Both programs have high approval rates for eligible startups. If you're part of a recognized accelerator or have raised seed funding, approval is nearly guaranteed.
- AWS: 5-7 day approval, simpler application
- Google Cloud: 1-2 week approval, more detailed questions
- Both have high approval rates for eligible startups
- Provide complete documentation to avoid delays
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Credit validity and usage
AWS Activate credits are valid for 24 months from activation. You must activate credits within 90 days of approval or they expire.
Google Cloud credits are valid for 12 months from activation. Like AWS, you need to activate within a certain timeframe after approval.
Both programs allow you to use credits for most services. AWS credits cover EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, and most other services. Google Cloud credits cover Compute Engine, Cloud SQL, Cloud Storage, and most GCP services.
"The key is activating credits early and using them for production workloads, not development environments."
Which should you choose?
The answer: both. You can claim credits from AWS Activate and Google Cloud simultaneously. Many successful startups do exactly this.
Use AWS for compute-heavy workloads, databases, and general infrastructure. Use Google Cloud for AI/ML workloads, BigQuery analytics, and services where Google has advantages.
This multi-cloud approach maximizes credits while reducing vendor lock-in. You get the best of both platforms without paying for either.
Multi-cloud strategy
Claim credits from both programs and use each for what it does best. AWS for core infrastructure, Google Cloud for AI/ML and analytics.
This approach can provide $50K-$200K in total credits, covering your entire infrastructure budget for 12-24 months.
About the author
Team Cliqte
Cliqte Cloud Team
We help founders navigate cloud credit programs and maximize infrastructure savings.
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Join thousands of founders who are already saving on AWS credits, banking deals, and exclusive software discounts. Start saving today.