How do you guys like the new free tier?

AWS recently enhanced its Free Tier program (as of July 16, 2025) with some significant changes. The new program offers new customers up to $200 in AWS credits - $100 upon sign-up and the opportunity to earn an additional $100 by completing activities with specific services like Amazon EC2, Amazon Bedrock, and others.

Regarding your question about the Free account plan versus the Paid account plan:

The Free account plan:

• Ensures you won't incur any charges while exploring AWS
• Lasts for 6 months or until your credits are fully used (whichever comes first)
• After expiration, your account closes automatically (though AWS retains your content for 90 days)
• Provides access to over 30 always-free services but doesn't include all AWS services

The Paid account plan:

• Gives immediate access to all AWS services
• Uses standard pay-as-you-go pricing when usage exceeds your credit balance
• Your account remains open even after credits are depleted

Whether it's worth creating a new account depends on your needs. If you're just experimenting or building proof-of-concepts, the Free account plan could be ideal since you won't incur charges. However, if you're planning to build production applications or need access to all AWS services, the Paid account plan would be more suitable.

Remember that regardless of which plan you choose, you'll receive the initial $100 credit and can earn the additional $100 by completing specific activities.
Sources
AWS Free Tier now offers $200 in credits and 6-month free plan to explore AWS at no cost - AWS
Explore AWS services with AWS Free Tier - AWS Billing
AWS Free Tier update: New customers can get started and explore AWS with up to $200 in credits | AWS News Blog
Choosing an AWS Free Tier plan - AWS Billing