{"rid":"compute/google-cloud-free-tier","card":{"rid":"compute/google-cloud-free-tier","eid":"google","topic":"compute","slug":"google-cloud-free-tier","provider":"Google Cloud Free Tier (e2-micro)","url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","domain":"google.com","category":"cloud VM","tier":"Free Tier, reached through a Free Trial billing account","verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","vorder":1,"grp":"usable","confidence":"documented","binding":"per-ip-shaping","identity_kind":"card","identity_basis":"stated","needs_card":1,"needs_phone":0,"needs_id":0,"needs_institution":0,"country":null,"crypto":null,"interfaces":"rest,cli","egress_metered":1,"per_object_bytes":null,"retention_days":0,"verified_at":"2026-10-24T04:10:50.000Z","verified_basis":"live","checked_on":"2026-10-25","stale_on":"2026-11-24","n_evidence":27,"usd_month":null,"usd_per_tb_month":null,"summary":"1 non-preemptible e2-micro VM instance a month in us-west1, us-central1 or us-east1; 30 GB-months of standard persistent disk; 1 GB of outbound data transfer...","duplicate_of":null,"n_unknown":3},"record":{"topic":"compute","per_object_cap":{"stated":"not applicable","bytes":null,"notes":null},"interface":["rest","cli"],"interface_detail":"Compute Engine API, gcloud CLI, SSH keys in instance or project metadata","tooling":"gcloud, the Compute Engine API, Terraform; a real Linux VM","chaining":"one always-on micro VM for a relay or a scheduler, with an egress allowance too small to serve from","limits_note":"e2-micro is a shared-core shape: 2 vCPU bursting at about 12.5% each, so 0.25 vCPU sustained, and a burst lasts 30 seconds","reliability_note":"no reliability event recorded","confidence":"documented","verified_at":"2026-10-24T04:10:50.000Z","price_per_tb_month":null,"slug":"google-cloud-free-tier","provider":"Google Cloud Free Tier (e2-micro)","url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","category":"cloud VM","free_tier":{"stated":"1 non-preemptible e2-micro VM instance a month in us-west1, us-central1 or us-east1; 30 GB-months of standard persistent disk; 1 GB of outbound data transfer from North America","unit":"hours","metered_on":"wall-clock","source_url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","read_on":"2026-10-24","notes":"the limit is by time, not by instance: a month's worth of hours in total; the Free Tier is a separate product from the USD 300 / 90-day trial that sits on the same billing account"},"retention":{"stated":"the Free Tier has no end date; Google reserves the right to change or eliminate limits with 30 days notice","days":0,"source_url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","notes":"but the Free Tier needs an active billing account, and the trial billing account auto-closes at 90 days or USD 300 spent"},"egress":{"terms":"1 GB a month of outbound transfer from North America, excluding China and Australia; then standard rates","metered":true,"free_allowance":"1 GB a month","price_per_tb":null,"source_url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"},"limits":[{"kind":"request-rate","value":"the e2-micro allowance is one month of hours, so exactly one instance fits 24/7 and a second bills","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"},{"kind":"per-ip-shaping","value":"1 GB a month of outbound data transfer from North America","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"},{"kind":"per-object-cap","value":"30 GB-months of standard persistent disk; 1 GB of RAM, custom up to 2 GB","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"},{"kind":"retention-clamped","value":"the trial billing account auto-closes at 90 days or USD 300, and 'all of its associated projects and resources will be stopped', with permanent deletion after a 30-day grace period","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"}],"identity_cost":{"kind":"card","detail":"card or other payment method at signup; the published authorisation is between USD 0.00 and USD 1.00, a pending request rather than a charge, released within a few days to a month; debit accepted with a Visa or Mastercard logo, but a debit card that requires two-factor authentication is refused, as are prepaid and virtual cards; name, address and payment method are collected, and a tax ID only when the law requires it; no phone number is named on any signup page read, and no identity document","country":null},"evidence":[{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-22","proved":"1 non-preemptible e2-micro a month in us-west1, us-central1 or us-east1, 30 GB-months standard PD, 1 GB outbound"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-22","proved":"the e2-micro limit is by time, not by instance: eligible use is free until the hours equal the hours in the month"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-22","proved":"the Free Tier has no end date, but Google may change or eliminate limits with 30 days notice"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted: the authorisation hold is USD 0.00 to 1.00, and the always-free e2-micro is 1 GB of outbound data transfer per month from North America"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted: 'During the sign up, you must provide a credit card or other payment method'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted: '1 non-preemptible e2-micro VM instance per month' in us-west1, us-central1 or us-east1 with '30 GB-months standard persistent disk' and '1 GB of outbound data transfer', and 'A Google Cloud billing account is required to access the Google Cloud Free Tier'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/payment-methods","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted: 'Debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo' are accepted; 'Debit cards that require two-factor authentication aren't accepted for payment.'; 'Prepaid cards aren't accepted for payment.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/manage-billing-account","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the hold: 'When you create a new, self-serve Cloud Billing account, you might notice a $0.00 transaction from Google on your bank or credit card statement. These are authorization requests only, not actual charges.'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted: 'During signup, we ask for your name, address, and payment method to verify your identity.' and 'Authorizations may stay in your account for 1-14 business days depending on your bank.'"},{"url":"https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"the signup URL, opened today, redirects to https://accounts.cloud.google.com/signup/email?continueUrl=https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial and the only readable field is 'Email address' with 'Your work, personal, or any other email address you own' - so the account is created at a Google account signup, and cloud.google.com/signup returns a 404"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the form: 'During signup, we ask for your name, address, and payment method to verify your identity.' and 'Authorizations may stay in your account for 1-14 business days depending on your bank.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the card gate: 'During the sign up, you must provide a credit card or other payment method that is valid for the period of the Free Trial. Depending on your country, you might also need to verify your bank account.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the hold with its amount: 'Temporary hold: The hold often appears as a pending transaction from Google, with a value between $0.00 and $1.00 USD. Your bank might convert the amount to a local currency.' and 'The hold is typically released within a few days to a month.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/payment-methods","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the accepted cards: 'Debit cards with the Visa or MasterCard logo' are accepted; 'Debit cards that require two-factor authentication aren't accepted for payment.'; 'Prepaid cards aren't accepted for payment.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the grant: '1 non-preemptible e2-micro VM instance per month in one of the following US regions: Oregon: us-west1. Iowa: us-central1. South Carolina: us-east1. 30 GB-months standard persistent disk. 1 GB of outbound data transfer from North America to all region destinations (excluding China and Australia) per month.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the time-denominated limit: 'Your Free Tier e2-micro instance limit is by time, not by instance. Each month, eligible use of all of your e2-micro instances is free until you have used a number of hours equal to the total hours in the current month.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the two products separated: 'The Free Trial is a 90-day program' with 'a Free Trial billing account that is preloaded with $300 in free Welcome credit which is valid for 90 days', and 'The Free Tier has no end date, but Google reserves the right to change the offering, including changing or eliminating usage limits, with 30 days' advance notice.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, what the trial end does: 'If you don't upgrade to a Paid billing account before 90 days pass or if you spend the $300 in free credit, then your Free Trial billing account will be closed and all of its associated projects and resources will be stopped.' and 'Resources are stopped: All resources you created during the trial are stopped.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the billing account requirement for the free product: 'A Google Cloud billing account is required to access the Google Cloud Free Tier.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/close-or-reopen-billing-account","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, that a non-billable billing account stops even free services: 'if your projects are linked to a Cloud Billing account that is not in a billable state (such as an account suspension or billing account closure), you can't use the products and services enabled in your projects. This is true even if your projects only use Google Cloud or other billing-eligible services that are free.'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/terms/free-trial","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the trial clock and its end: 'The Free Trial starts when Customer creates a billing account in the Google Cloud console ... and ends on the earlier of: (i) the date that Customer's fees for usage exceed the $300 credit provided under the Free Trial, (ii) 3 months from the Free Trial Start Date (on this date any unused credit will expire), or (iii) the date that Customer upgrades to a paid Google Cloud Platform account.'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/terms/free-trial","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the core limit inside the trial: 'Customer's use of Google Compute Engine is restricted to only eight cores of concurrent usage per Free Trial' and 'Google may terminate or modify the Free Trial at any time with or without notice to Customer.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/compute/docs/general-purpose-machines","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the shape: 'e2-micro sustains 2 vCPUs, each for 12.5% of CPU time totaling 25% CPU time.' and the table row 'e2-micro | 2 | 0.25 | 1' for vCPUs, fractional vCPUs and memory in GB; and 'e2-micro: 30 seconds' of burst at 100%"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/support/docs/troubleshoot-signup","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the signup failure modes: 'Billing address: Verify that the billing address, name, and contact details that you entered during the signup match the exact information on file with your payment card issuer or bank.' and 'Disable VPNs and proxies' and 'Make sure that your card supports international transactions and automatic recurring payments.'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the account prerequisite: 'Your Google account must have an email associated with it. Google accounts with only a phone number are not supported.' and the named error codes 'OR-CCSEH-26, OR-CCSEH-11, OR-CCSEH-25, OR-BSBBF-55, or OR-CCSEH-05'"},{"url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, per-person eligibility: 'Each user is eligible for the $300 free credit ... if you have never been a paying customer of Google Cloud, Google Maps Platform, or Firebase and you haven't previously signed up for the Google Cloud Free Trial.'"},{"url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/verify-bank","date":"2026-10-24","proved":"quoted, the alternative payment route and its gate: 'To use a bank account as a primary payment method for self-serve (online) billing accounts, your account must have an established billing history with Google Cloud, including a minimum account age and a record of on-time payments.' - so a new account cannot start with a bank account"}],"verdict":"qualifies-with-caveat","notes":"SIGNUP PATH, read today. There is no Google Cloud signup page: cloud.google.com/signup returns a 404 and console.cloud.google.com/freetrial redirects to a Google account signup at accounts.cloud.google.com, whose first field is an email address. The Cloud form comes after the Google account exists and asks for name, address and payment method, and in some countries a bank account instead. A card is not optional: 'you must provide a credit card or other payment method'. THE HOLD IS 0.00 TO 1.00 USD, published on the free-features page, and it is the widest published range of the three providers: a bank may convert it and hold it for 'a few days to a month'. THE DEBIT RULE has a second half that matters more than the first: debit is accepted with a Visa or Mastercard logo, but 'Debit cards that require two-factor authentication aren't accepted for payment', which excludes most European and many Asian debit cards that push a one-time password by SMS. Prepaid and virtual are refused. THE GRANT IS TWO PRODUCTS. The always-free e2-micro is a permanent monthly allowance. The USD 300 is a 90-day trial on the same billing account, and when it closes Google stops 'all of its associated projects and resources' - the documentation does not carve out the always-free instance the way Oracle's FAQ does for Always Free. A user who wants the e2-micro to survive month four has to upgrade to a paid billing account, and then the always-free allowance still covers the instance and the bill is zero, but the account is now billable and the 1 GB egress overage is chargeable. That is the caveat, and it is the difference between this row and Oracle's. WHAT IT IS USABLE FOR: 1 GB a month of egress out of North America is 0.09 per cent of one TiB (1e9 bytes against 1.0995e12), so it is a relay, a scheduler, a monitoring node or an SSH jump box, and not a host. Inbound listen works and it has a public ephemeral IP, not a static one; a static IP is billed separately. The shape is 0.25 sustained vCPU with a 30-second burst, so anything CPU-bound is slow. What I could not establish: whether a phone number is required at signup, because no page read names one and the console form is behind a Google login I did not pass; the phrase 'Google accounts with only a phone number are not supported' is about the account type, not about a verification step.","extras":{"shape":{"vcpu":2,"ram_gib":1,"disk_gib":30,"gpu_class":null,"gpu_count":null},"billing_model":"allocated","granularity":{"min_billed_s":60,"rounding_s":60},"session_cap":{"wall_clock_min":null,"idle_reap_s":null,"restart_required":false,"note":"no idle reaping; suspend and resume are user-initiated only; the 90-day trial clock is the clock that ends the account"},"keep_rate":{"value":1,"basis":"an instance bills its running hours against the monthly allowance","source":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features"},"persistent_storage":{"included_gib":30,"price_gib_month":"included to 30 GB-months","durability":"persistent disk","survives_stop":true,"survives_destroy":true,"max_retention":"no end date while a billing account is active"},"network_out":{"allow_outbound":true,"allow_inbound_listen":true,"ports":"a public ephemeral external IP; all ports reachable subject to firewall rules","static_ip":false,"ipv6":null,"per_session_bytes":"1 GB a month"},"free_tier_kind":"allowance","m10h_usd":0,"m24h_usd":0,"price_arithmetic":"one month of hours at 0.25 sustained vCPU; the whole allowance is one instance","census_rows":["gcp-e2-micro","google-cloud-free-e2-micro"],"payment_methods":{"card_at_signup":"yes","debit":"accepted-with-condition","prepaid":"refused","virtual":"refused","hold_amount":"USD 0.00 to USD 1.00","hold_detail":"an authorisation request, not a charge; released in a few days to a month, or 1 to 14 business days per the FAQ","identity":"name, address and payment method; no identity document","source_url":"https://docs.cloud.google.com/free/docs/free-cloud-features","read_on":"2026-10-24"},"signup":{"url":"https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial","redirects_to":"https://accounts.cloud.google.com/signup/email?continueUrl=https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial","form_fields":["Google account email (created first, at accounts.cloud.google.com)","name","address","payment method: card number, expiry, billing address","tax ID, when the law requires it","bank account instead of a card, in some countries, only with billing history"],"company_required":false,"id_document_required":false,"phone_required":"not named on any signup page read; unverified","source_url":"https://cloud.google.com/signup-faqs","read_on":"2026-10-24"}},"binding":"per-ip-shaping","binding_note":"1 GB of outbound a month is 0.09 per cent of one TiB: egress binds before the instance-hour allowance does","confidence_note":"The grant, the egress term, the shape, the card rules and the hold each come from a first-party page read and quoted on 2026-10-24. The signup field list is documented at the FAQ level; the console form itself is behind a Google login that I did not pass, so the phone question is left unverified rather than guessed.","tier":"Free Tier, reached through a Free Trial billing account"},"claims":[{"path":"$.extras.m10h_usd","kind":"price","num":0,"unit":null,"per":"month","currency":"USD","usd":0,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.extras.m24h_usd","kind":"price","num":0,"unit":null,"per":"month","currency":"USD","usd":0,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.free_tier.stated","kind":"free-quota","num":30,"unit":"GB","per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[0].value","kind":"limit:request-rate","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"},{"path":"$.limits[1].value","kind":"limit:per-ip-shaping","num":1,"unit":"GB","per":"month","currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[2].value","kind":"limit:per-object-cap","num":30,"unit":"GB","per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"ok"},{"path":"$.limits[3].value","kind":"limit:retention-clamped","num":null,"unit":null,"per":null,"currency":null,"usd":null,"fx_date":null,"parse":"unparsed"}],"unknown":[["$.per_object_cap.notes","withheld"],["$.per_object_cap.stated","not-applicable"],["$.reliability_note","none-observed"]],"history":[],"drift":[]}