Lantern WorksFree GPU and cloud compute credits
Credit programs from cloud and GPU providers for startups and researchers. Each amount is quoted from the program's official page, checked on 2026-10-29. Amounts are "up to" figures and approval is at the provider's discretion. Terms change, so confirm on the linked page before applying.
| Program | What's offered (per the official page) | Who it's for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Activate | Up to $200,000 in AWS Activate credits (Portfolio tier). Self-funded founders: start with $1,000, up to $5,000 for select participants. | Startups; the Portfolio tier needs an Organization ID from an Activate Provider (VC or accelerator). | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Google for Startups Cloud Program | Up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits. Start tier: $2,000; funded tiers (Scale, Scale AI): $200,000 to $350,000. | Early-stage startups; the tier depends on funding stage. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Microsoft for Startups | Up to $150,000 in credits. | Startups; eligibility per Microsoft's program terms. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Cloudflare for Startups | Up to $350,000 in credits for a year. Entry tier: $10,000, no minimum funding (bootstrapped or under $1M raised). | Startups; the tier depends on funding. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Modal for Startups | Startup credit grants by tier (VC-backed via Modal's partner funds, or more than $1M raised); every account also gets $30/month of free compute. | VC-backed startups for grants; the free monthly compute is for all accounts. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| RunPod Startup Program | Starter tier: $1,000 in credits. Growth tier: $25,000 in bonus credits when you commit $50,000 upfront (not free). | Startups; the Growth tier is for venture-backed teams. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Lambda Research Grant | Up to $5,000 in Lambda cloud credits for qualifying researchers. | Academic and research projects. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |
| DigitalOcean Hatch (Startups) | Credits for 12 months (amount varies by program). | Startups that have raised $10M or less. | source, checked 2026-10-29 |