How do I create a free account on Azure step by step?

Harmony Day Spa | Best Beauty Salon in Royston 0 Reputation points
2026-04-13T12:01:02.8433333+00:00

Hi, I am new to Azure and trying to create a free account.

I went to the Microsoft Azure website and clicked on the “Start free” option. I followed the steps like entering my email, phone number, and card details.

But I am confused about

  1. Do I get charged immediately after adding my card?
  2. What happens after the free credits are used?
Cost Management
Cost Management

A Microsoft offering that enables tracking of cloud usage and expenditures for Azure and other cloud providers.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-04-13T12:01:21.7566667+00:00

    Here is a step-by-step outline based on the Azure free account flow and what happens with billing.

    1. Go to the Azure free account page and select Start free.
    2. Sign in with a Microsoft or GitHub account, or create a new Microsoft account.
    3. Fill in the About you section:
      • Country/region
      • Name
      • Email address
      • Phone number
      • Address details
    4. Complete Identity verification by phone (enter phone number, receive code, and verify).
    5. Complete Identity verification by card:
      • Enter valid credit or debit card details (virtual or prepaid cards are not accepted).
      • Ensure the billing address matches bank records and the country/region selected.
      • Allow third‑party cookies in the browser if the verification step hangs.
    6. Accept the Agreement and finish sign‑up.

    Behavior of charges and credits:

    1. Immediate charges after adding a card
      • When signing up for an Azure free account, a small, temporary verification hold can appear on the card. This is only to verify the card and is removed within three to five days.
      • During the first 30 days, the account includes USD200 (or local equivalent) credit to use on most Azure services. Usage during this period is deducted from that credit, not directly from the card, as long as the free credit is available and the account has not been upgraded to pay‑as‑you‑go.
    2. What happens after the free credits are used or expire
      • The free account provides:
        • $200 credit for the first 30 days.
        • A set of popular services free for 12 months and some always‑free services, each with specific free monthly limits.
      • After the $200 credit is fully used or after 30 days (whichever comes first):
        • The account must be upgraded to a pay‑as‑you‑go subscription to continue using paid services.
        • If not upgraded, paid services are disabled; only the included free services (within their limits) can be used.
      • If the account is upgraded before the 30 days end and there is remaining credit, that remaining credit can still be used in the new pay‑as‑you‑go subscription until the original 30‑day period ends. After that, usage beyond the free tiers is billed pay‑as‑you‑go to the card.
    3. Ongoing free services
      • For up to 12 months, some services (for example, specific VM sizes like B1S/B2pts v2/B2ats v2 or an Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server B1MS instance) can be used for free within monthly limits.
      • Staying within those limits keeps those resources free; exceeding them incurs charges on the pay‑as‑you‑go subscription if the account has been upgraded.

    To avoid unexpected charges, keep track of:

    • Remaining free credit during the first 30 days.
    • Which services and tiers are free and their monthly limits.
    • Whether the subscription has been upgraded to pay‑as‑you‑go.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Suchitra Suregaunkar 16,620 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-13T12:15:55.7933333+00:00

    Hello @Harmony Day

    Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Q&A platform.

    Getting your free account set up is pretty straightforward. Here’s how it works and what to expect:

    1. Go to https://azure.microsoft.com and click Start free.
    2. Sign in with a Microsoft or GitHub account (or create one).
    3. Verify your identity:
      • Enter a phone number (you’ll get an SMS code).
        • Add a credit or debit card (no prepaid).
        1. Review the Microsoft Customer Agreement and click Sign up.

    Q1: Do I get charged immediately after adding my card?

    Nope. Microsoft does a temporary authorization hold (usually around $1) just to validate your card. That hold drops off in a day or two, and we won’t charge you unless you explicitly upgrade to pay-as-you-go.

    Q2: What happens after the free credits are used?

    • You get USD 200 in free credit to spend over the first 30 days.
    • During that time you can spin up any Azure service (except third-party Marketplace purchases).
    • If you use up your $200 or hit day 30 (whichever comes first), we’ll pause your subscription and email you a reminder.
    • To keep going, just “Upgrade” to pay-as-you-go in the Azure portal:

    • You keep any unused credit for the full 30-day window.

    • You get 12 months of certain free services and always-free tiers on 65+ services.

    • You only pay for what you use beyond the free quotas.

    If you choose not to upgrade, your free resources are disabled (you can always upgrade later and bring them back).

    Reference list:

    Thanks,

    Suchitra.

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