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💳 How to Check and Redeem AWS Credits in the Console

#aws #credit #saving #beginners

AWS credits are a great way to get started with cloud computing without worrying about immediate costs. If you've received promotional credits through AWS Activate, AWS Educate, events, or programs, it's important to know how to check and redeem them properly.

In this blog, I'll walk you through how to check your credit balance and redeem new credits using the AWS Console.

✅ Step 1: Log In to Your AWS Account

Visit https://aws.amazon.com/console and log in using your root account.

🛑 AWS credits can only be redeemed using the root user, not an IAM user.

📊 Step 2: Go to the Billing Dashboard

billing and cost management

💰 Step 3: Check Your Credit Balance

  • In the left-hand sidebar, click Credits under the Billing section.
  • Here you’ll see:
    • Total remaining credits
    • Expiration date
    • Type of credit (Activate, promotional, educational, etc.)

🎯 Tip: Credits are automatically applied to eligible charges during billing. No manual action is needed once they’re redeemed.

credits

🎁 Step 4: Redeem AWS Credits

To apply a new credit code:

  1. In the Billing Console, go to the Credits section.
  2. Click on the “Redeem credit” button.
  3. Enter your AWS promotional credit code.
  4. Click Redeem.

You should see a confirmation message and the credit will be added to your account.

creditdetails

⚠️ Notes and Best Practices

  • 🔑 Use the root account for all credit-related actions.
  • ⏳ Check expiration dates frequently.
  • 💬 If your credits don’t appear, contact AWS Support with your code.
  • 🚫 Credits do not cover support plans, third-party marketplace products, or some taxes.

🧠 Use Cases for AWS Credits

  • Hosting your portfolio on S3 + CloudFront
  • Launching EC2 or RDS instances for testing
  • Exploring serverless apps using Lambda
  • Building proof-of-concept projects on a budget

🧾 Final Thoughts

Whether you're a student, developer, or startup founder, AWS credits can power your cloud journey at zero cost—if you use them wisely. Checking and redeeming them is simple, but easily forgotten. Bookmark your Billing Console and review your credit balance regularly.

🛠 Bonus: Set a Budget

Even if you have credits, it's smart to set a Budget Alert in the Billing section to avoid exceeding your credit amount.

Have questions about AWS credits or cloud billing?

Drop a comment below or connect with me—happy to help!

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