50+ Startup Credits, Discounts & Free Software for Startups in 2026

Starting a company can become expensive very quickly.

Cloud services, AI tools, project management software, databases, communication apps, sales platforms, and productivity tools can easily add up to a large monthly bill before a startup sees meaningful revenue.

Many software companies provide startup credits, free plans, extended trials, and special discounts to help early-stage companies cut costs. This support allows founders to feel more confident about managing expenses.

Some programs offer hundreds of dollars, while others can be worth thousands—or even tens of thousands—when used by a growing team.

For instance, eligible startups can currently apply for up to $200,000 in AWS Activate credits. In contrast, Notion's startup program can offer up to six months of its Business plan with Notion AI for qualifying companies.

We've gathered some of the most helpful startup credits and software deals in one place, making it easier for founders to find the programs worth applying for.

→ Browse all startup credits on ChooseMyStack

Best Startup Credits & Software Deals in 2026

Offers, eligibility requirements, and credit amounts can change, so always check the current terms before applying. This helps founders feel informed and in control of their options.

1. AWS Startup Credits

If your startup needs cloud services, AWS is one of the top startup credit programs to consider.

AWS Activate currently provides eligible startups up to $200,000 in credits, based on the startup's funding stage and eligibility. Self-funded startups can apply through the Activate Founders path for up to $5,000. Eligible portfolio startups can apply for up to $200,000 through the Activate Portfolio program.

AWS credits can be used across eligible AWS services, making them especially valuable for startups developing an MVP, launching a SaaS product, or scaling an existing application.

Best for: SaaS startups, developers, AI startups, and tech companies.

→ See the full AWS startup credits guide

2. Supabase Startup Credits

Supabase is particularly useful for startups that need a backend without building every infrastructure piece from scratch.

It offers a PostgreSQL database along with authentication, storage, APIs, and other backend services.

For early-stage founders, startup credits can help lower infrastructure costs while building and testing an MVP.

Best for: SaaS products, AI applications, web apps, and developer startups.

→ Check the Supabase startup credits offer

When selecting cloud and backend options, consider Supabase, AWS, and other infrastructure programs to find the best fit for your startup's needs.

3. Sarvam AI Startup Credits

AI startups often encounter a different cost issue: model usage.

API calls, inference, and experimentation can become costly before a product achieves significant revenue. Startup programs from AI companies can be especially valuable during the MVP and early-growth stages.

Sarvam AI is one program founders should explore if they are creating AI products, particularly those aimed at Indian languages and users.

Best for: AI startups, Indian-language applications, and developers using generative AI.

→ See the Sarvam AI startup credits offer

4. Google Workspace for Startups

Email, calendars, documents, and team collaboration are essential for nearly every startup.

Google Workspace can provide a new company with a professional email address and a familiar set of productivity tools without requiring founders to manage multiple separate services.

Google also has broader startup programs that may include Google Cloud credits and other benefits. Its current Google for Startups Cloud program features different tiers based on the startup's stage.

Best for: Almost every startup.

→ Check the Google Workspace startup deal

5. Notion for Startups

Notion has become a popular tool for early-stage companies because founders can use it for documentation, project management, knowledge management, roadmaps, and internal wikis.

Notion's startup program can provide eligible companies with up to six months free on the Business plan, which includes Notion AI. Partner-affiliated startups can qualify for six months, while other eligible startups may get three months. Smaller teams or companies that do not meet the criteria may receive a shorter offer.

Best for: Startup operations, documentation, project management, and team knowledge.

→ See the Notion startup credits and discount

6. Apollo Startup Deal

Building a startup usually involves creating a sales pipeline.

Apollo combines prospecting, contact data, and sales engagement features, making it useful for founders who need to identify potential customers without building a sales stack from multiple products.

Its startup offer can help early-stage companies lower the cost of setting up their outbound sales workflow.

Best for: B2B startups, sales teams, and founders doing outbound prospecting.

→ Check the Apollo startup deal

7. Slack for Startups

Slack is designed for team communication and can be the main communication tool for distributed startup teams.

Instead of relying solely on email, startups can organize conversations around projects, departments, customers, and integrations.

Best for: Remote teams, SaaS startups, and growing companies.

→ Check the Slack startup offer

8. Make Startup Credits

Automation can save an early-stage team a surprising amount of time.

Make lets startups connect applications and automate repetitive tasks without needing to build each integration from scratch.

For example, a startup could link forms, CRM systems, email platforms, spreadsheets, and other applications into automated workflows.

Best for: No-code automation, operations, and lean startup teams.

→ See the Make startup credits offer

9. Granola for Startups

Meeting notes are another area where startups can cut down on manual work with AI.

Granola helps users capture and organize information from meetings, making it valuable for founders and teams that spend a lot of time in customer calls, sales meetings, interviews, and internal discussions.

Best for: Founders, sales teams, customer research, and remote teams.

→ Check the Granola startup offer

10. Lovable for Startups

Traditionally, building an MVP required developers, designers, and substantial upfront development time.

AI application builders are changing that process.

Lovable can assist founders in transforming ideas into working software and prototypes. This tool is particularly appealing for non-technical founders and early-stage teams.

Best for: MVPs, prototypes, and AI-assisted software development.

→ See the Lovable startup offer

How Much Can a Startup Save With Credits?

The value of startup programs varies depending on your stack and eligibility.

A founder might combine:

• Cloud infrastructure credits
• Database credits
• AI API credits
• Productivity software
• Team communication tools
• Sales software
• Automation platforms
• AI meeting tools
• Development tools

The biggest mistake is evaluating each offer separately.

A $500 credit from one company might not seem significant. However, if your startup combines 10–15 programs, the total savings can become substantial.

For example, cloud credits can cover infrastructure while productivity offers reduce ongoing SaaS costs, and AI credits lower model experimentation expenses.

Best Startup Credits by Category

Best Cloud Credits

AWS is one of the most valuable programs for startups needing scalable infrastructure, allowing eligible companies to apply for up to $200,000 in Activate credits.

Google Cloud is another major option. Its current startup program includes a Start tier with up to $2,000 in Cloud credits and a Scale tier with significantly larger benefits for qualifying funded startups. AI startups can receive additional benefits.

Best picks: AWS, Google Cloud, Supabase

Best AI Startup Credits

AI startups should look beyond general SaaS discounts.

AI model and infrastructure costs can become high during product development, so programs from companies like Sarvam AI and other AI providers are particularly helpful.

Best picks: Sarvam AI and other AI startup programs

Best Productivity Startup Deals

For managing company information and workflows, Notion is among the best startup offers to consider.

Its current program includes Notion AI and can give up to six months free for eligible partner-affiliated startups.

Google Workspace is another essential tool because it covers business email, documents, calendars, and collaboration.

Best picks: Notion, Google Workspace

Best Sales & Marketing Deals

Startups need customers just as much as they need infrastructure.

Apollo can help early-stage companies create prospect lists and outbound sales workflows without building a large sales stack.

Best pick: Apollo

Best Automation Tools

Make is particularly useful for connecting multiple tools and automating repetitive tasks.

For a lean startup, automation can reduce the amount of manual operational work as the company expands.

Best pick: Make

Startup Credits vs. Startup Discounts: What's the Difference?

Not every startup offer works the same way.

Startup credits

Credits usually provide a specific dollar amount that can be used for eligible products or services. For example:

• Cloud credits
• API credits
• Infrastructure credits
• AI usage credits

The advantage is that credits can sometimes cover significant use before a startup has to pay.

Startup discounts

Discounts lower the price of an existing subscription. For instance, a startup might receive:

• 50% off
• Several months free
• A free annual plan
• Discounted seats

These can be especially useful for software startups since recurring SaaS costs can add up quickly.

Extended free trials

Some programs offer additional free months. Notion's current startup program is an example, providing eligible startups with between one and six months free based on their situation.

How to Get Startup Credits

Most startup programs follow a similar process.

1. Check the eligibility requirements

Some programs are open to nearly any early-stage company, while others may require:

• A registered company
• A company website
• A certain funding stage
• A specific startup age
• A VC or accelerator relationship
• A company email address
• A new account

For example, AWS requires eligible startups to be pre-Series B, founded within the last 10 years, and using an AWS paid-tier account, among other criteria.

2. Prepare your company information

Before applying, have the following ready:

• Company website
• Business email
• Company description
• Founder information
• Funding information
• Accelerator or investor details, if relevant

3. Apply through the official program

Don't assume that finding a discount code is enough. Some programs require an application and verification before activating the benefit.

4. Track expiration dates

Credits and free periods may not last indefinitely. Create a simple spreadsheet with:

• Program
• Benefit
• Start Date
• Expiration
• Status

This helps prevent valuable credits from expiring unused.

How to Build a Startup Stack for Less

You don't need to claim every startup offer. A better strategy is to build a stack around your actual needs.

For a new SaaS startup, consider:

• Infrastructure: AWS or Google Cloud
• Database: Supabase
• Workspace: Notion
• Email: Google Workspace
• Communication: Slack
• Automation: Make
• Sales: Apollo
• AI: Sarvam AI and other AI providers

This gives a founder a strong starting point across infrastructure, operations, sales, automation, and AI without paying for many different tools right away.

Don't Build Your Stack Around Discounts

A startup discount isn't automatically a good deal.

Before applying, ask:

• Do we really need the product?
• Will we still use it after the free period?
• Does it work with our existing stack?
• What happens when the credits expire?
• Will switching later create costs?
• Is there a cheaper alternative?

A $10,000 credit isn't beneficial if the product doesn't address a problem your startup faces. The goal should be to lower startup costs without creating unnecessary software dependencies.

More Startup Credits & Free Tools

We continuously add startup programs, software discounts, and free resources for founders.

Explore the full collection:

→ Browse all startup credits and startup deals on ChooseMyStack

You can find offers across categories including:

• AI
• Cloud infrastructure
• Productivity
• Sales
• Marketing
• Automation
• Development
• Collaboration
• Finance
• Operations

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Startup software costs can increase quickly, but founders don't need to pay full price from the start. Cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud can help lower infrastructure costs. Products like Supabase can ease backend development. Tools like Notion, Google Workspace, and Slack can cut costs for running a team. Apollo and Make can assist with sales and automation.

The smartest strategy is to identify the tools your company actually needs, check for available startup programs, and apply before paying for a standard plan.

→ Explore all current startup credits and discounts