Finding the right free cloud service provider can be a game-changer for startups, developers, and businesses. Whether you’re looking to host applications, store data, or experiment with new tech, the right provider can help you innovate —without breaking the bank. In this article, we will dive into 20 free cloud service provider, compare their free tier and help you get the one that best suits your needs.
What Is a Cloud Service Provider?
A cloud service provider (CSP) is a company that offers cloud computing services—like storage, compute, and networking—over the internet. These providers own and operate massive data centers worldwide, letting you rent as much capacity as you need, when you need it. With a CSP, you can:
- Scale resources on demand
- Reduce capital expenditure
- Access advanced analytics and big data tools
- Enhance security and compliance
- Focus on building, not maintaining infrastructure
In 2025, the cloud landscape is more competitive than ever, with dozens of providers offering generous free tiers. Let’s delve into the top 20 you should know.
1. AWS – The Free Cloud Service Provider Giant
Homepage: AWS Free Tier
- Always Free: 25GB DynamoDB, 1M Lambda requests/month, 1M SNS publishes
- 12 Months Free: EC2, S3, RDS, and more
Why choose AWS?
- Global reach, robust documentation, and a vast ecosystem
- Ideal for startups, enterprises, and hobbyists
2. Microsoft Azure – Free Cloud Service Provider for Enterprises
Homepage: Azure Free Tier
- $200 credit for 30 days
- 12 Months Free: Popular services
- Always Free: 54+ services
Why Azure?
- Deep integration with Microsoft tools, strong enterprise support
3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) – Free Cloud Service Provider for Innovators
Homepage: Google Cloud Free Tier
- Always Free: 0.25 vCPU VM, 5GB storage, 1TB BigQuery/month
- $300 credit for 90 days
Why GCP?
- Cutting-edge AI/ML tools, generous free analytics
4. Oracle Cloud – Free Cloud Service Provider with Generous Compute
Homepage: Oracle Cloud Free Tier
- $300 credit for 30 days
- Always Free: 2 AMD VMs, 4 ARM VMs, 10TB egress, 2 Autonomous DBs
Why Oracle?
- Best for high-performance compute and database workloads
5. Alibaba Cloud – Free Cloud Service Provider for Asia
Homepage: Alibaba Cloud Free Trial
- Try 40+ products free, up to $1300 value
- 12 months free Elastic Compute
Why Alibaba?
- Strong presence in Asia, multilingual support
6. IBM Cloud – Free Cloud Service Provider for Enterprises
Homepage: IBM Cloud Free Tier
- $200 credit for 30 days
- Always Free: Select services
Why IBM?
- Enterprise-grade security, Watson AI
7. DigitalOcean – Free Cloud Service Provider for Developers
Homepage: DigitalOcean
- $100 credit for 60 days
Why DigitalOcean?
- Simple UI, developer-friendly, great documentation
8. Hetzner Cloud – Free Cloud Service Provider for Europe
Homepage: Hetzner Cloud
- Occasional free credits
Why Hetzner?
- Affordable, high-performance servers in Europe
9. Render – Free Cloud Service Provider for Modern Apps
Homepage: Render
- Always Free: Static hosting, web services, Redis, PostgreSQL
Why Render?
- Easy deployment, generous free resources
10. Netlify – Free Cloud Service Provider for Static Sites
Homepage: Netlify
- Always Free: Static site hosting
Why Netlify?
- Perfect for JAMstack, instant CI/CD
11. JFrog – Free Cloud Service Provider for DevOps
Homepage: JFrog Free Tier
- Always Free: 2GB storage, 10GB transfer/month, 2,000 CI/CD minutes
Why JFrog?
- Artifact management, DevOps pipelines
12. Salesforce – Free Cloud Service Provider for CRM
Homepage: Salesforce Free Tier
- 30-day free trial
- Always Free: 1,000 Listware credits
Why Salesforce?
- Industry-leading CRM, robust integrations
13. OpenShift – Free Cloud Service Provider for Containers
Homepage: OpenShift Interactive Learning Portal
- Free OpenShift 4 cluster trial
Why OpenShift?
- Enterprise Kubernetes, Red Hat support
14. Linode – Free Cloud Service Provider for VPS
Homepage: Linode
- $100 credit for 60 days
Why Linode?
- Simple pricing, global data centers
15. Container Hosting Service – Free Cloud Service Provider for Containers
Homepage: Container Hosting Service
- Currently free for open source
Why Container Hosting?
- Open source, easy container deployment
16. Cloudflare – Free Cloud Service Provider for Security & CDN
Homepage: Cloudflare
- Always Free: DNS, CDN, 10GB R2 storage, serverless functions
Why Cloudflare?
- Security, performance, global reach
17. OVHcloud – Free Cloud Service Provider for Europe
Homepage: OVHcloud
- €200 credit for 30 days
- Always Free: 512MB MongoDB
Why OVHcloud?
- European data sovereignty, affordable
18. Tencent Cloud – Free Cloud Service Provider for Asia
Homepage: Tencent Cloud
- $300 voucher for 30 days
- Always Free: ENI, VPC, VPN, auto scaling
Why Tencent?
- Multiple Asian regions, strong local support
19. Vercel – Free Cloud Service Provider for Frontend
Homepage: Vercel
- Always Free: 35+ frameworks, serverless, analytics
Why Vercel?
- Next.js hosting, fast global edge
20. Zeabur – Free Cloud Service Provider for Serverless
Homepage: Zeabur
- Always Free: Serverless functions, static sites, 10GB outbound/month
Why Zeabur?
- Developer-focused, easy scaling
Quick Comparison of Free Cloud Service Providers
| Provider | Free Tier Highlights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| AWS | 25GB DynamoDB, 1M Lambda | All-rounder |
| Azure | $200/30d, 54+ always free | Enterprise, Microsoft |
| GCP | $300/90d, 0.25 vCPU, 5GB storage | AI/ML, analytics |
| Oracle | $300/30d, 2 AMD VMs, 10TB egress | Compute, DB |
| Alibaba | $1300/12mo, 40+ products | Asia, multilingual |
| IBM | $200/30d, Watson AI | Enterprise, AI |
| DigitalOcean | $100/60d | Developers, simplicity |
| Hetzner | Free credits (occasional) | Europe, affordable |
| Render | Static, web, DB always free | Modern apps |
| Netlify | Static hosting always free | JAMstack, CI/CD |
| JFrog | 2GB, 10GB transfer, 2K CI/CD min | DevOps, artifacts |
| Salesforce | 30d trial, 1K Listware credits | CRM, business |
| OpenShift | Free cluster trial | Containers, Kubernetes |
| Linode | $100/60d | VPS, global |
| ContainerHost | Free for open source | Containers, open source |
| Cloudflare | DNS, CDN, 10GB R2, serverless | Security, CDN |
| OVHcloud | €200/30d, 512MB MongoDB | Europe, affordable |
| Tencent | $300/30d, always free VPC/VPN | Asia, local hosting |
| Vercel | 35+ frameworks, serverless | Frontend, Next.js |
| Zeabur | Serverless, static, 10GB outbound | Serverless, devs |
The API Power Move: Why Apidog Completes Your Cloud Stack
In the rapidly changing cloud landscape, APIs are the glue that holds your services together. But managing APIs across multiple cloud providers can be chaotic—unless you have the right tool.
Enter Apidog: The All-in-One API Development Platform
- Unified API Design: Visually create, import, and manage API specs
- Seamless Collaboration: Backend, frontend, QA, and docs teams work together in one place
- Automated Testing & Mocking: Generate test cases, mock data, and validate responses
- One-click API Documentation: Create a stunning API documentation in just one click
- Microservices Ready: Perfect for distributed, modern architectures
- Database Connectivity: Debug APIs with live database access
- Postman Compatible: Import/export Postman scripts with ease
- Self-Hosted Runner: Run tests and mocks on your own infrastructure
Pro Tip: Apidog’s MCP Server lets you connect your API specs directly to AI-powered IDEs like Cursor and VS Code. This means you can generate, test, and document APIs faster—no matter which cloud provider you use.
Why Apidog?
- Centralizes your API workflow, even in a multi-cloud world
- Reduces errors, boosts productivity, and accelerates delivery
- Free to get started—no hidden fees
Conclusion: Get the Most from Free Cloud Service Providers
In 2025, the options for free cloud service providers are more diverse and powerful than ever. Whether you’re a startup, developer, or enterprise, you can find a provider that fits your needs and budget. But to truly unlock the potential of the cloud, you need a unified API platform. Apidog is that platform.
Delve into the world of free cloud services, but don’t let your API workflow become fragmented. Indulge in seamless collaboration, automated testing, and rapid development—all in one place. Sign up for Apidog today and experience the future of API-first, cloud-powered development.
