Do you know what’s important for every developer? It is to have a space (virtual space on the internet) where he can try out his creative ideas. Maybe it can be building a new app, or testing a fresh piece of code or let’s say he wants to experiment with plugins and themes. 

That’s why a cloud server is important, as it allows you to do all of this without any issues like setting up heavy systems on your own computer. 

By the way, we want to tell you that if you plan to set up your own server locally to host your work, then it can be really very costly and time-consuming as you’ll end up wasting time managing and handling the server only. That’s why we recommend you should go with a cloud server only.

For many developers, a server acts like a personal playground. You can use it as a staging site before going live, test different tools, or simply learn by trying things hands-on. You even get to see how your project works online. That’s why a cloud server is so important for learners and professionals.

In this post, we’ve gathered some of the best free cloud servers that you can start using right away. There are also few providers that do not require credit card details to let you begin. You just need to sign up, set up your server, and begin working right away.

Table Of Contents

What is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where websites run on virtual servers instead of a single physical machine. In very simple words, your data and files are stored on a cloud (what is a cloud? It is a network of connected servers) rather than on one server.

Cloud Hostings

This makes it more reliable and fast because if one server has an issue, another server in the network will keep your site running.

Businesses use cloud hosting to run websites, host apps, or store data securely. Developers use it to test new projects and build scalable solutions without worrying about server crashes.

Why Do Developers Need Free Cloud Servers?

For many developers, especially beginners, spending money on servers at the start is not always possible. Free cloud servers give them a way to practice, experiment, and learn without worrying about costs. With these free options, developers can test apps and improve their coding skills:

  • Practice without cost: Beginners can try coding and explore cloud technology without paying.
  • Learn real-world hosting: Free servers give them experience in managing live environments.
  • Experiment safely: Developers can test plugins or new updates without affecting live projects.
  • Build a portfolio: They can host small projects to showcase their skills.

List of 7 best Free Cloud Server for Developers in (2025 Updated List)

Below we’ve added a table that gives you a proper understanding of all the best free cloud servers for developers in 2025. In the table, we’ve also included their main use cases, if they provide a money-back guarantee, and if they ask for a credit card during signup.

Cloud ProviderBest use caseCredit Card NeededFree Trial Money Back GuaranteeTry Now
KamateraNewbie developersYes30 days Try Now 
Google Cloud PlatformLearner developers testing new pluginsNoNo money back mentionedTry Now 
Microsoft AzureFreelancersYesNot mentioned Try Now 
Oracle CloudData Scientists & AI developersNo30 days Try Now 
VPSServer.comProfessionals Yes30 days Try Now 
Amazon Web Services (AWS)Developers, experimenting with various OSYesNo money back mentioned Try Now 
Alibaba CloudApp Developers and Software engineersNo30 days Try Now 

7 Best Free Cloud Servers for developers In 2025 

To get more details about all the top free cloud servers for developers, please read the blog further. We’ve covered everything you need to know so you can compare and pick the best one for your needs. But before registering for a free plan, always do a detailed analysis of the provider. 

Later, when your project grows, you can upgrade to a premium server to scale the resources smoothly.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Free Tier

AWS offers a Free Plan under its Free Tier designed for new users to explore cloud services risk-free. With this plan, you receive up to $200 USD in credits! $100 upon sign-up and up to $100 more as you complete exploration activities, valid for up to 6 months or until credits are depleted, whichever comes first. You won’t incur any charges unless you switch to a Paid Plan.

AWS Free Cloud Server for Developers

You can experiment with AWS’s global infrastructure network, its powerful, highly available cloud network spanning multiple regions and availability zones, which ensures low-latency, fault-tolerant performance across AWS services. AWS supports multiple OS options for EC2 instances, including popular Linux distributions like Amazon Linux, Ubuntu, RHEL, as well as Windows Server editions, giving you flexible choices for workloads.

Unique Features

  • Generous $200 USD credit bundle: New users get $100 at account creation and can earn up to an additional $100 by exploring AWS, offering flexibility to experiment. 
  • Access to over 30 “Always Free” services: Includes monthly free usage limits on services like Lambda, S3, and DynamoDB, enabling continuous experimentation even beyond trial. 
  • Flexibility with multiple operating systems and global infrastructure: You can launch EC2 instances running Linux or Windows across AWS’s multi-region network, giving powerful global access.
  • Secure-by-default infrastructure with built-in cost monitoring: AWS provides built-in tools (like Cost and Usage dashboards and alerts) to help manage usage and avoid unexpected expenses, while maintaining strong cloud security

Plans

On-Demand PricingNo long-term commitment; pay for what you use
Dedicated HostsFor Price (Contact the Sales Team)

Best for

Developers are experimenting with various OS and cloud services securely.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Free Tier

New users can get started with Google Cloud at no cost! You just need to sign up and receive $300 in free credits valid for 90 days, enabling you to test and explore cloud services without worry.

GCP Free Cloud Server for Developers

These credits can be applied toward deploying Google-recommended solutions like dynamic websites, load-balanced virtual machines, or three-tier web apps, all without being charged unless you explicitly activate a paid account

On top of the trial, Google offers a robust Always Free tier that gives access to over 20 core products with usage quotas that refresh each month and don’t expire. This includes 1 e2-micro virtual machine instance on Compute Engine, 5 GB of Cloud Storage, 2 million Cloud Run requests, and more, letting you build, test, and run small-scale apps indefinitely within these limits

Unique Features

  • $300 in Free Credits for 90 Days: Instantly unlock a full sandbox worth of cloud services, use the credits on any Google Cloud or Maps Platform product without being charged unless you upgrade. 
  • Always Free Usage Across Essential Services: Even beyond the trial, you can run a small e2-micro VM, store files or deploy containers with significant monthly allowances that never expire. 
  • Pre-built Solutions to Start Projects: The trial credits can be used to quickly launch ready-to-go templates, like dynamic websites, load-balanced VMs, or fully configured three-tier web apps, so you can prototype fast. 
  • Seamless On-boarding, No Surprises: Setting up the trial requires a payment method only for identity verification; you won’t be billed unless you choose to convert to a paid account. Meanwhile, any usage under Always Free limits doesn’t eat into your credits.
Get Started

Plans

OnDemand e2 MicroMinimal (its an hourly pricing)
Cloud Storage$0.02 per GB per month

Best for

Freelance developers building and testing plugins, themes, or small applications.

Kamatera

You can start your app development journey with Kamatera’s 30-day free trial! During this period, you get up to US$100 credit to deploy one cloud server of your choice, with full flexibility over CPU, RAM and storage configuration.

Enjoy 1 TB of block storage, 1 TB of traffic and access to enterprise-grade features like cloud firewall, load balancing, and 24/7 support. Choose from multiple operating systems, from Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky/AlmaLinux to Windows Server, and set up exactly what your web or app needs.

Kamatera Free Cloud Server for Developers

This trial gives you a real, production-quality experience: you can scale up/down within the $100 credit envelope, test essential addons (control panels, database servers, web servers etc.), experiment with security with firewalls, and deploy in any of Kamatera’s global data centres. Let’s say you’re building your first app or prototyping a SaaS, this gives you enough space to build and measure without cost.

Unique Features

  • Full $100 credit, flexible server config: You’re not stuck with a fixed small spec; you can choose CPU, RAM, OS, storage etc., up to $100 worth of resources. Useful for testing real-world loads, scaling experiments, or trying heavier stacks.
  • 1 TB block storage + 1 TB network traffic included: Good amount of storage and traffic allowance mean you can deploy larger web apps, databases, or media content, and handle user/test traffic without running immediately into limits.
  • All major OS options & full platform functionality: Multiple OS types (various Linux + Windows Server) let you use whatever stack you prefer. You get all features during trial.
  • 24/7 technical support & global data centres: Even during free trials you’re not on your own, you get support around the clock. And you can choose a data centre near your users for testing latency, geography, performance.
Try Free

Plans

Plan#1 (RAM: 1GB, Storage: 20GB NVMe SSD)$4 per month (You can even choose Hourly billing)
Plan#2 (RAM: 2GB, Storage: 20GB NVMe SSD)$6 per month (You can even choose Hourly billing)

Best for

Web or Full-Stack Developers need to test web apps under real server conditions

Microsoft Azure Free Account

Microsoft Azure offers a free account that lets new users explore and experiment in the cloud without paying up front. When you sign up, you get US$200 credit to use over the first 30 days on many Azure services. After that, for up to 12 months, you also get free monthly quotas of many popular services, plus a number of services that remain free.

Microsoft Azure Free Cloud Server for Developers

The free account allows you to use cloud computing (servers / virtual machines), storage, databases, and networking, within certain limits. If you exceed those free limits or use services not in the free list, you’ll be billed under pay-as-you-go rates.

Unique Features

  • Generous free hours for VM usage: You get 750 hours/month of certain small VMs for 12 months. That is enough to run one instance continuously or several smaller ones intermittently. 
  • Choice of Windows or Linux OS: The trial allows you to use either Windows‐based or Linux‐based virtual machines (for the free-eligible types), giving flexibility depending on what your development or testing requires. 
  • Wide range of always-free services: Besides just servers, you also get free amounts of storage, databases, networking etc. Some services remain free even after 12 months (within their limits) so you can keep smaller projects running without cost. 
  • No upfront commitment; pay only for what you exceed: There’s no obligation to commit to long-term contracts. You can try free, and move to custom payments only when you exceed free limits or want more capacity.
Get Started

Plans

Pay On DemandNo limit (Pay for what you use only)
Plan#1 Contact the Sales Team

Best for

  • Developers or testers who want to try out new services
  • Learners, students, beginners who want to try cloud computing.

VPSServer.com Free Trial

VPSServer gives you fast, reliable, and secure cloud servers that you can set up instantly. With over 20+ global locations, you can choose the best server close to your audience for low latency and better speed. It supports both Linux and Windows, and you can fully customize CPU, RAM, and storage to match your project needs.

vpsserver

It offers a 30-day free cloud server trial where you also get a $100 credit bonus to test their high-performance hosting. During the trial, you can launch a VPS in minutes, try out CPU-optimized or memory-optimized plans, and explore features like real-time backups, advanced firewall protection, and DDoS security without paying upfront.

Unique Features

  • Instant Server Activation: You don’t have to wait hours for setup. With VPSServer, your cloud server goes live in seconds so you can start building or hosting instantly.
  • Flexible Billing With $100 Free Credits: The free trial includes $100 in credits that let you test different configurations without risk. You can try hourly, daily, or monthly billing with no contracts attached.
  • 20+ Global Locations: You can deploy your trial server from over 20 worldwide data centers. This helps you get the lowest latency possible for your users, no matter where they are.
  • High-End Security & Live Backups: Even in the trial, your VPS gets protection from DDoS attacks, fast firewall setup, and real-time data backups. This means your site or app stays safe and online.
Get Started

Plans

Plan#1 (RAM: 512MB, Storage: 5GB NVMe SSD)$4 per month (Hourly billing available as well)
Plan#2 (RAM: 2GB, Storage: 20GB NVMe SSD)$6 per month (Hourly billing available as well)

Best for

Developers, startups, and small businesses who want to test cloud hosting before paying

Alibaba Cloud Free Tier

Alibaba Cloud offers a Free Cloud Server Trial through its Elastic Compute Service (ECS), allowing users to explore enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with no upfront cost.

With high-performance CPUs, scalable storage, and secure networking, the trial helps businesses and developers experience the platform before committing to a plan. Users can quickly deploy instances across global regions and scale up or down based on demand.

Alibaba Cloud Free Tier

The free trial also provides access to advanced features like global deployment, high availability, and flexible billing methods. Developers, startups, and enterprises can experiment with different workloads, be it for web hosting, testing environments, or lightweight applications, while ensuring security and reliability backed by a 99.975% SLA.

Unique Features

  • High Availability: Alibaba Cloud ECS delivers a 99.995% for multi-zone deployments, ensuring business continuity. It uses technology from DAMO Academy to detect and prevent failures without impacting users.
  • Elastic Scalability: The trial provides instant scalability with the ability to deploy hundreds of thousands of vCPUs in minutes. The businesses can adjust resources dynamically, optimizing cost while meeting real-time workload needs.
  • Global Deployment: Users can deploy servers in 29 countries worldwide, including Asia, the US, Europe, and the Middle East. This makes it perfect for projects that need a global footprint with centralized management in one account.
  • Advanced Security & Certifications: Alibaba ECS follows the ISO 27001 certification, offering enterprise-grade security. It ensures user data confidentiality and privacy, making it a trusted choice for sensitive workloads.

Plans

ECS Compute Instance c9i (8vCore CPU)$31.90 per month
ECS General Purpose g9i (8vCore CPU)$40.69 per month

Best for

Startups can use the free services to launch websites or apps cost-effectively with scalable resources.

Oracle Cloud Free Tier

Oracle Cloud Free Tier lets you build, test, and run your apps without paying at the start. You get US$300 free credits for 30 days to try out all Oracle Cloud services, along with a set of Always Free services that never expire. This means even after your trial ends, you still have free access to basic cloud resources.

oracle

With the free trial, you can explore compute power, storage, AI, databases, and more without risk. If you like the services, you can later switch to a Pay-As-You-Go plan and pay only for what you use. If not, you still continue enjoying the Always Free services forever.

Unique Features

  • Free Credits + Always Free Services: You get $300 worth of free credits for 30 days to test all services, and after that, Always Free services like compute VMs and storage keep running at no cost.
  • Free Compute Instances: Oracle gives you free VMs, including AMD-based VMs and Arm-based Ampere A1 cores with up to 24 GB memory, perfect for hosting apps, testing, or learning.
  • AI & Machine Learning Access: With the trial, you can use AI services like Vision, Speech, and Language to build smart apps, analyze text, process documents, or convert speech to text.
  • Databases & Analytics: Oracle includes free access to databases and powerful analytics tools so you can store, manage, and understand data without paying upfront.

Plans (Table format)

Compute – Ampere A1 – OCPU$0.009 per CPU per Hour 
Compute – Standard – A2 – OCPU$0.03 per CPU per Hour

Best for

It is useful for Data Scientists & AI Developers for training models and experimenting with AI.

How to Choose the Best Cloud Server? Key Factors

Getting hold of the right cloud server can be really a headache because there are so many platforms offering free trials and free tiers. Each service looks good, but the hidden limitations make the decision tricky. Picking the best free cloud server is actually a skill and to master it, you need to look closely at four main factors.

Free tier limitations (CPU, RAM, bandwidth)

  • Most free servers come with limited power, like only 1 CPU, low RAM, or capped bandwidth. Always check whether these resources are enough for your project. If you are just testing apps, small resources may work, but for heavier use, you might quickly hit limits.

Admin/root access, OS flexibility

  • Some providers give full root access and the freedom to install any OS you want, while others restrict you. Root access means you can configure the server exactly as you like. This flexibility is important if you want to test different environments or custom software.

Reliability, support, and documentation

  • A server is useless if it’s always down or if you can’t find answers to your questions. That’s why reliability and uptime matter a lot. Good customer support via LiveChat will save you time when you’re stuck.

No credit card or easy signup process

  • Many free trials ask for a credit card, which is not OK for everyone. Look for providers that offer simple signup without strict requirements. This makes it quick and easy to start experimenting without stress.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Started with a Free Linux Cloud Server?

Many developers reading this blog might be complete beginners who have never used a cloud server before. If you’re one of them, don’t worry! Setting up a free Linux cloud server is much easier than it looks. Here, we’ll guide you step by step on how to sign up and start a free trial with Kamatera, one of the popular platforms for developers.

We’ve used Kamatera’s free cloud server 30 days free trial as the setup is easy and navigable to show.

  • Go to the Kamatera website >> Click on “Start Free Trial” >> You’ll see a clear option on the homepage to begin.
  • Create your account >> Enter your email address, password, and other required details.
  • Verify your email >> Kamatera will send a confirmation link to your email >> As you login, you’ll be redirected to the Client’s portal.
  • Enter basic information >> Fill out your name, phone number, and country.
  • Choose the “Linux” option >> While setting up, pick Linux as your operating system.
  • Select your server configuration >> Decide on CPU, RAM, and storage (within free trial limits).
  • Finalize and launch >> Once everything is set, launch your server and you’re ready to go.

Lastly, you can access your server and use the login details (IP, username, password) to connect via SSH.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are startups using cloud server hosting?

Startups love cloud servers because they don’t need to buy expensive hardware to get started. Instead of spending money on physical servers, they can rent space on the cloud and pay only for what they use. This helps them save money and grow faster. Cloud servers also make it easy to test new apps, launch websites, or try new ideas without any big risks.

What happens after free credits expire?

Cloud platforms give free credits for a limited time so users can try their premium services. Once the free credits are finished, your account usually stops working until you add a payment method. This means your apps or projects on that server may go offline. To continue using the service, you need to upgrade to a paid plan or add billing details.

Do free tiers include SLAs (service-level agreements)?

No! Free cloud server tiers do not come with SLAs. An SLA is a guarantee from the provider about uptime and support. Since free services are meant mainly for learning & experimenting, companies usually don’t promise strong performance. That means if your server goes down, you may not get support or compensation.

What programming languages are supported on these platforms?

Almost all big cloud platforms support a wide range of programming languages like Python, Java, JavaScript (Node.js), PHP, Ruby, Go, C#, and more. They also support frameworks like Django, Laravel, React, or Spring Boot.

How difficult is it to migrate from free to paid plans?

Moving from a free plan to a paid plan is very simple. You only need to add your billing details and select the plan you want. Your existing projects or databases remain the same, so you don’t lose your work.

The upgrade just unlocks more features, more server power, and better support. For example, if you were using a free database, it can continue to work as is but with a paid plan, you can store more data and get faster performance.

Conclusion

Free cloud servers are a good way for new developers to practice, test, and grow their skills without spending money upfront. They give you a safe space to try out coding experiments, test apps, or run projects online before launching them fully. 

Features like cloud storage, staging areas, and easy setups make them a very useful option for learning as well as professional use.

If you’re not sure which one to go for, try Kamatera. Why? 

It gives you a 30-day free trial along with $100 credit to explore their services. You’ll also get 1TB cloud storage, access to a load balancer, and multiple data centers to pick from. Plus, you can configure the cloud server in your own way to match your project’s needs.

With all these benefits, free cloud servers can save both your time and effort while helping you focus on building better projects. So, go ahead and set one up, it might be the easiest step you take toward smoother and smarter development.

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Last Update: September 15, 2025