How to Practice AWS Architecting with Free Credit
By Shweta | 29th July 2025
So, you’re excited to learn AWS Architecting and build real cloud projects—but you’re wondering, “How do I practice without spending a ton of money?”
Good news: You can learn and practice AWS cloud services for free (or at least, very affordably), thanks to AWS Free Tier, student programs, online events, and some generous credit offers from AWS and training platforms like Cloud Institution.
Whether you’re a beginner or prepping for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect, this guide walks you through the best ways to get free AWS credits and use them wisely to gain hands-on experience.
Start with AWS Free Tier (It’s a No-Brainer)
Let’s start with what’s already available to everyone—AWS Free Tier.
When you sign up for a new AWS account, you automatically get access to a 12-month Free Tier, and some services are even free forever
What can you build?
With just the Free Tier, you can practice:
Hosting a website on EC2 behind a load balancer
Creating a secure VPC with public/private subnets
Deploying serverless apps using Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB
It’s all there—you just have to explore and use it. Start small, build your confidence, and expand as you go.
Recommended read:
AWS Solutions Architect Questions and Answers Part-1
Grab Free AWS Credits from Learning Platforms
If you’re learning from places like Cloud Institution, you’re in luck. Many training platforms offer free AWS credits when you sign up for their courses or complete learning paths.
For example, Cloud Institution often bundles $25–$50 AWS credits with their AWS Architect and DevOps courses. Some platforms also give you access to lab environments, so you don’t have to pay from your own AWS account at all.
Also, if you use AWS Skill Builder and finish certain official learning paths, AWS may email you credit vouchers just for completing them.
Try this project-focused guide:
How to Build Real‑World Projects During AWS Training
Are You a Student? Use AWS Educate
If you’re a student (or even a teacher), AWS Educate is an amazing resource.
It gives you:
Up to $100 in free credits
A cloud sandbox (no credit card required)
Guided labs, project templates, and architecture challenges
Whether you’re building your resume or working on university assignments, AWS Educate is perfect for experimenting without worrying about surprise bills.
Attend AWS Events & Webinars (and Get Freebies)
Believe it or not, AWS often gives away free credits just for attending their events.
You don’t need to travel anywhere—just join a virtual session, learn something new, and you might get $25–$100 in credits.
Here are some events to watch out for:
AWS Immersion Days: Great for deeper, hands-on topics like DevOps, Security, or Big Data
AWSome Day: Introductory training for beginners
AWS re:Invent: The biggest cloud event of the year (tons of learning and swag)
If you’re asking, “Are these events worth attending?”—the answer is yes, especially if you’re just starting out.
Have a Side Project or Startup Idea? Try AWS Activate
Got a business idea? Building an app or tool on the side? AWS Activate offers serious credits (we’re talking $1,000 to $100,000 depending on eligibility).
It’s made for startups, solo developers, and entrepreneurs. Even if you don’t have investors, you can still apply for their Founders Tier.
It’s a great way to practice real-world AWS architecture while working on something meaningful.
Learn by Playing: AWS Cloud Quest & Qwiklabs
Learning doesn’t always have to be boring. If you’re the kind of person who prefers doing over reading, check out:
AWS Cloud Quest
A gamified platform where you complete real AWS tasks and missions in a virtual city. You get to solve problems, earn points, and level up your cloud skills.
Qwiklabs (now part of AWS Skill Builder)
Offers real AWS labs with temporary credentials—no risk to your personal account. Many labs are free or offer free credits upon signup.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Free Credits
Getting credits is great, but making them last is where the real skill comes in. Here’s how to stretch those dollars:
Always stop EC2 or RDS instances when not in use
These are the costliest if left running.Set up billing alerts in AWS to notify you if you go beyond your budget.
Use spot instances for test environments—they’re up to 90% cheaper.
Delete unused resources like EBS volumes, S3 buckets, Elastic IPs, and snapshots.
Use tools like AWS Cost Explorer to track usage.
Sample Projects to Try with Free Credit
Once you have your free credit, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Here are a few projects to build that stay within the Free Tier or minimal credits:
Project 1: A VPC-Based Web App
EC2 (web server)
RDS (MySQL or PostgreSQL)
ELB + Auto Scaling
Subnets, route tables, NAT Gateway
Learn about networking, load balancing, and high availability—all on a small scale.
Project 2: Serverless Photo Uploader
EC2 (web server)
RDS (MySQL or PostgreSQL)
ELB + Auto Scaling
Subnets, route tables, NAT Gateway
Learn about networking, load balancing, and high availability—all on a small scale.
Project 3: DevOps CI/CD Pipeline
- CodeCommit for source control
- CodeBuild for build automation
- CodePipeline for deployment
Optional: Training Subscriptions That Include Credits
If you’re planning to go deep into AWS, some paid subscriptions offer exclusive labs and free credits.
For example, Cloud Institution has AWS Architect training plans that include:
Live projects
Sandbox lab access
Guidance from industry mentors
You can also explore AWS Skill Builder’s subscriptions for advanced cloud simulations.
More details here:
What’s Included in AWS Training Subscription Plans?
Final Thoughts
Learning AWS Architecting doesn’t have to cost you anything—you just need to know where to look. With the AWS Free Tier, education programs, event credits, and training platforms like Cloud Institution, you can easily start your journey.
To recap:
Sign up for the Free Tier and explore basic services
Take advantage of student programs and cloud courses
Attend events and grab those bonus credits
Build small but meaningful projects
Learn cost optimization so you don’t burn your credits too fast
Whether you’re aiming for a job, a certification, or just want to master the cloud, the tools are there—you just have to start using them.