In this post, I am going to summarize about Oracle’s always free VPS and requirements and conditions.
What is Oracle’s Always free VPS?
VPS means virtual private server and this servers are used to host applications, database, websites, and even Saas etc. Oracle is offering always free VPS to attract users to use their cloud services.
Oracle’s always free services are ideal starting points for building, testing, exploring, and learning in a cloud environment without any initial investment.
Whether you’re a developer building and testing applications, a startup founder creating new systems with the intention of scaling later, an enterprise looking to test things before moving to cloud, a student wanting to learn, or an academic developing curriculum in the cloud, Oracle Cloud Free Tier enables you to learn, explore, build and test for free.
Since 2022, I’ve been utilizing Oracle’s Always Free VPS, running two Ubuntu Linux servers. One server hosts various web applications I use, while the other is using to run a blog website. I found no problem with my apps so far.
Understanding the Free Tier Limitations
Yeah, like any other free cloud services there are some limits and conditions to use oracle always free vps. So, how much you can get for free and what are the conditions?
First, Let’s talk about specs
Oracle offers two types of VMs based on the processor type – AMD and Arm.
- Micro Instances (AMD Processor):
- Oracle provides up to two Always Free VM instances that use VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro shape with AMD processor.
- Each instance includes 1 CPU and 1 GB memory.
- Ampere A1 Compute Instances (Arm Processor):
- Users get 3,000 OCPU hours and 18,000 GB hours per month for free for VMs using the VM.Standard.A1.Flex shape with an Arm processor.
- For Always Free tenancies, this equates to 4 OCPUs and 24 GB of memory.
(4 OCPUs * 24 hours * 30 days = 2880 OCPU hours, 24 GB memory * 24 hours * 30 days = 17280 GB hours)
- Additionally, you get 200 GB of Always Free block volume.
My personal setup includes two VPS, each with an Arm processor, 2 OCPU, 12 GB of memory, and 100GB block volume.
Conditions and Requirements
To access Oracle’s Always Free resources, you need a valid credit card. Oracle states, “We accept credit and debit cards that function like credit cards. We do not accept debit cards with a PIN or virtual, single-use, or prepaid cards.” in Faq section.
This requirement is for identity verification and account setup. Oracle periodically checks the validity of the card, which may result in a temporary authorization hold. This hold is typically removed within three to five days and your card will not be actually charged.
So, you need a credit card or ask a friend who have credit card to use oracle always free vps.
Other conditions
They may bun your account if you use one credit card in multiple accounts.
They may reject you if your billing information is not accurate and valid.
Conclusion
Oracle’s Always Free VPS is a valuable resource for various users, offering a reliable platform for numerous applications. While there are specific requirements and limitations, understanding and adhering to these can lead to a fruitful experience. My journey with Oracle’s free service has been largely positive, offering a stable and efficient environment for my web applications and blog.
Bonus: Oracle is offering some always free services not only vps, but also there are always free email delivery with 3000 sent emails per day, always free NoSQL Database with 133 million reads per month, 133 million writes per month, 25 GB storage per table, up to 3 tables, always free Oracle Autonomous Database, and many others.
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