> Markdown copy of https://perq.sh/compare/aws-activate-vs-google-for-startups-vs-microsoft-for-startups (AWS Activate vs Google for Startups Cloud Program vs Microsoft for Startups | Perq), generated 2026-10-25. Index of every page for agents: https://perq.sh/llms.txt. Search API and MCP server: https://perq.sh/agents. > The three hyperscaler startup credit programs side by side: maximum credits, who qualifies and how to apply, each copied from the vendor’s own program page. [Home](https://perq.sh/) › [Compare](https://perq.sh/compare) # AWS Activate vs Google for Startups Cloud Program vs Microsoft for Startups The three hyperscaler startup credit programs side by side: maximum credits, who qualifies and how to apply, each copied from the vendor’s own program page. This table covers 5 offers from 3 vendors; 0 of the 5 live offers need no application, and the largest stated one-time USD credit is $350,000 ([Google Cloud](https://perq.sh/offers/gcp-startup-program)). 5 offers · built only from our verified dataset · latest verification Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET. We don’t rank or score offers; the quotes speak for themselves. Published Oct 25, 2026 by [Avatar 8](https://perq.sh/about). ## At a glance | Provider | Offers tracked | No application | Offer types | Headline values (vendor wording) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **AWS** | 2 | 0 | startup program | [Up to $200,000 in AWS Activate Credits (additional credits for AI startups)](https://perq.sh/offers/aws-activate-credits) · [source](https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits/) [Up to $5,000 USD in Activate Credits (start with $1,000)](https://perq.sh/offers/aws-activate-founders) · [source](https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits/) | | **Google Cloud** | 2 | 0 | startup program | [Up to $350,000 in Cloud credits over two years](https://perq.sh/offers/gcp-startup-program) · [source](https://cloud.google.com/startup) [Up to $350,000 Google Cloud credits over 2 years (AI-first: 100% up to $250,000 in Year 1)](https://perq.sh/offers/gcp-startup-ai-tier) · [source](https://cloud.google.com/startup/ai) | | **Microsoft** | 1 | 0 | startup program | [Up to $150,000 in credits](https://perq.sh/offers/ms-for-startups) · [source](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups) | ## AWS | Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [AWS](https://perq.sh/offers/aws-activate-credits) | startup program | **Up to $200,000 in AWS Activate Credits (additional credits for AI startups)** | Yes | Pre-Series B, founded in last 10 years, AWS account on Paid Tier plan | Apply via AWS Activate (Founders tier self-serve; Portfolio tier via VC/accelerator Org ID) | “Apply for up to $200,000 in AWS Activate Credits, with additional credits available for AI startups ready to scale” [source ↗](https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits/) | Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET | | [AWS](https://perq.sh/offers/aws-activate-founders) | startup program | **Up to $5,000 USD in Activate Credits (start with $1,000)** | Yes | Self-funded startups | Apply directly in AWS Activate (Founders tier) | “Self-funded Up to $5,000 USD in Activate Credits” [source ↗](https://aws.amazon.com/startups/credits/) | Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET | ## Google Cloud | Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Google Cloud](https://perq.sh/offers/gcp-startup-program) | startup program | **Up to $350,000 in Cloud credits over two years** | Yes | Startups; tiers by stage (see page) | Apply to the Google for Startups Cloud Program | “Up to $350,000 in Cloud credits over two years” [source ↗](https://cloud.google.com/startup) | Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET | | [Google Cloud](https://perq.sh/offers/gcp-startup-ai-tier) | startup program | **Up to $350,000 Google Cloud credits over 2 years (AI-first: 100% up to $250,000 in Year 1)** | Yes | AI startups using Gemini; Pre-Seed/Seed within 5 yrs or Series A within 12 months; founded within 5 years; not >$5,000 GCP credits before | Apply for the AI program | “For AI-first startups: 100% up to $250,000 USD in Google Cloud credits” [source ↗](https://cloud.google.com/startup/ai) | Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET | ## Microsoft | Vendor / offer | Type | Credit value | Application needed? | Eligibility | How to claim | Source quote | Verified | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Microsoft](https://perq.sh/offers/ms-for-startups) | startup program | **Up to $150,000 in credits** | Yes | Startups (Microsoft for Startups) | Sign up through Microsoft for Startups | “developer tools, and up to $150,000 in credits” [source ↗](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups) | Oct 25, 2026, 6:05 AM ET | ## Other comparisons - [Cloud startup credits compared: AWS vs Google Cloud vs Microsoft vs Cloudflare](https://perq.sh/compare/cloud-startup-credits) - [LLM API free tiers and signup credits compared](https://perq.sh/compare/llm-api-free-tiers) - [GPU & inference cloud credits compared: Modal, RunPod, Lambda, Baseten and more](https://perq.sh/compare/gpu-inference-cloud-credits) - [OpenAI vs Anthropic vs Google Gemini: free API credits compared](https://perq.sh/compare/openai-vs-anthropic-vs-gemini-api-credits) - [Vector database free tiers and startup credits: Pinecone vs Weaviate vs Qdrant vs Zilliz vs Chroma vs Upstash](https://perq.sh/compare/vector-database-free-tiers) - [Observability and LLM monitoring credits: Datadog vs New Relic vs Grafana vs PostHog vs LangSmith and more](https://perq.sh/compare/observability-free-tiers-and-startup-credits) - [Speech and voice AI credits: Deepgram vs AssemblyAI vs ElevenLabs vs Cartesia and more](https://perq.sh/compare/speech-ai-credits-deepgram-vs-assemblyai-vs-elevenlabs) - [AI agent infrastructure credits: E2B vs Daytona vs Temporal vs Trigger.dev and more](https://perq.sh/compare/agent-sandbox-credits-e2b-vs-daytona) --- Published by Avatar 8 (Avatar 8 LLC), ops@avatar33.com. Data: https://perq.sh/api/offers.json · OpenAPI: https://perq.sh/openapi.json