Overview
Many excellent hosting providers offer free VPS trials. While there are many cloud server providers on the market, only a few offer free trials. Here, we've compiled three major cloud providers that offer free VPS plans, so you can apply based on your needs and registration requirements.
1. Oracle Cloud
Oracle Cloud also offers cloud services, including cloud servers, databases, cdn, and more. They provide free tier access for users, including two Always Free AMD Compute VM instances, up to 4 ARM Ampere A1 Compute instances with 3,000 OCPU hours and 18,000 GB hours per month, two Oracle Autonomous Databases featuring powerful tools like Oracle APEX and Oracle SQL Developer, as well as a certain amount of free credits.
Previously, it was relatively easy to apply for a free Oracle Cloud account, but now it seems that applications from users in China are no longer supported – mainly due to abuse from malicious applicants, which led to restrictions.
2. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Google Cloud is a cloud product brand under Google. For users in China, it may not be widely used since many Google services are inaccessible. However, for those in the overseas business sector, it might be a popular choice, offering cloud servers, databases, and even domain registration. Google Cloud is known for its stability, with data centers across the globe and a pay-as-you-go traffic billing model.
Google Cloud offers new users a 90-day free trial with $300 in credits. These credits can be used to try cloud servers and other cloud products. A credit card is required for registration, along with standard information. The sign-up process is relatively straightforward, but make sure to delete any cloud servers you no longer use to avoid unexpected charges.
3. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS needs no introduction – it's the cloud computing arm of one of the world's leading internet companies.
AWS offers over a hundred cloud products, including servers, databases, CDN, object storage, and more. New users can get a free EC2 cloud server for up to 12 months, though it's limited to specific fixed plans. Usage beyond the free tier will incur additional charges. For entry-level needs, the free tier is more than sufficient.
Applying for a free AWS server is relatively simple. You'll need to provide real personal information – any false information could result in account suspension or rejection. During the process, you'll need to verify with a credit card and receive a verification code via SMS.
In summary, these three overseas cloud providers offer a certain amount of free cloud server credits – some have permanent free tiers, others offer a few months, and some provide a full year. Relatively speaking, AWS is the easiest to apply for.
