I got $700 worth of AWS credits to play and learn across the AWS ecosystem, and you can follow the same path. Here's how.
TL;DR: Where the $700 comes from
| Source | Credits |
|---|---|
| AWS Community Builders Program | $500 |
| New AWS account bonus | $100 |
| "Explore AWS" tasks (5 × $20) | up to $100 |
| Total | up to $700 |
Step 1: Join the AWS Community Builders Program
The program opens for applications once a year, usually around November/December. To get in:
- Join the waitlist and submit your interest.
- Share your engaging posts and community contributions, since these are what get you noticed.
Benefits include:
- ✨ $500 in AWS credits for your projects
- ✨ Exclusive sessions with AWS product teams
- ✨ 50% discount on AWS re:Invent tickets
- ✨ One year of free CloudAcademy access
- ✨ A free AWS certification of your choice
- ✨ A global network of 3,000+ AWS experts
Apply here:
Step 2: Get into the Builders portal and Slack
Once you're selected, you get access to the AWS Builders portal and the Community Builders Slack workspace. The Slack is active and worth joining for its own sake. Members post new things constantly, and you hear about upcoming AWS products before they launch.
Step 3: Claim your $500 credits
Watch the #cb-announcements Slack channel. When the time comes, the team posts a link to claim your $500 in AWS credits.
⚠️ Heads up: every member gets a unique credit link. Don't share it, and don't redeem it on a company account.
Step 4: Create your AWS account (+$100)
Use your personal credit link to create an account in the AWS Console.
- You'll need an international credit card. AWS usually makes a $1 charge to verify the card, then refunds it.
- As a first-year user, AWS gives you $100 in credits to experiment with.
Running total: $600
Step 5: Complete the "Explore AWS" tasks (+$100)
After sign-up, the console shows a new Explore AWS section covering popular services such as EC2, Serverless, RDS, Bedrock and Cost Alerts. Each task you complete earns $20, and with five tasks you can earn up to $100.
I've completed 4 of 5, which is $80 so far.
Step 6: Check your Billing page
Open the Billing page to see a full breakdown of every credit and where it came from.
Wrap-up
That's how you can reach $700 in credits in your first year as an AWS Community Builder. That's plenty of room to build, break and learn on AWS without worrying about the bill.
If you apply, I'd love to hear how it goes. Drop a comment below, and follow me for more AWS content. 🚀
Program terms and credit amounts can change, so check the official AWS Community Builders pages for the latest details.
