How to Set Up an AWS Free Tier Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that offers IT resources on-demand over the Internet, featuring pay-as-you-go pricing. Instead of owning and managing physical data centers and servers, users can access compute, storage, databases, and more as required.

AWS offers a free tier with limited usage available to new AWS customers for 12 months from the date of sign-up. See more details on the free tier here.

Let's create an AWS Free Tier Account.

Step 1 - Visit AWS Website:

• Navigate to the AWS website and click on the create an AWS account button on the top right corner.

Step 2 - Provide Your Email Address:

• Enter your vaild Email, Password and AWS account name, then click verify email address. You will recive the verification code on your mail, enter the verification code then Click “Next.”

Step 3 - Provide Contact Information:

• Provide your contact information, including your name, company name (if applicable), and phone number. AWS may use this information to reach out regarding your account.

Step 4 - Payment Information:

• Enter your payment information. AWS requires valid credit card details during account setup to verify your identity.
• A nominal charge of about INR ₹2.00 may be applied to confirm the card's validity, it will refunded within 2-3 working days. You will receive OTP to verify your identity and complete the payment process.

Step 5 - Choose your Support Plan:

• Select your desired AWS support plan. If you're new to AWS, consider starting with the free Basic support plan. Select a support plan from below and make your choice from the available options.
• I recommend familiarizing yourself with the details of each Support plan to understand what is covered. For me, I've opted for the Basic support - Free plan.
• Finally, proceed with completing the sign-up process.

Step 6 - Confirmation:

• Your AWS account has been successfully created.

Step 7 - Sign in to AWS:

• After completing the setup, navigate to the AWS Management Console. Enter your personalized experience and click Submit. Sign in to the Console using your new AWS account credentials.

Step 8 - Welcome to AWS!

• Congratulations, your AWS account is now active! You can begin exploring AWS services, creating resources, and managing your cloud infrastructure.

Step 9 - Secure Your AWS Account:

• Let's enable Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA) for the root user in AWS.
• Navigate to "Security Credentials" under your account settings.
• In the "Security Credentials" tab, locate the section for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

• Click on "Assign MFA Device".
  

• Give Device a Name and select MFA option from list. Select Authenticator App and click "Next".
  

• Follow the instructions provided to enable MFA using a virtual MFA device such as Google Authenticator:
  Here is a list of compatible applications
  

  • Download and install Google Authenticator or a similar app on your smartphone.
  • Scan the QR code displayed on the AWS console screen using your MFA app, or enter the secret key manually.
  • Enter the verification code generated by your MFA app to complete the setup.

• AWS will confirm successful MFA activation.

• Enabling MFA adds an extra layer of security to your AWS root account, helping protect it against unauthorized access.

Step 10 - Configure Billing Alarm:

• Let's Configure Billing Alarm to ensure compliance with AWS Free Tier limits and avoid incurring charges. Below are the steps to achieve this:

Step i - Navigate to AWS Billing Dashboard:

• Sign in to the AWS Management Console, then navigate to the "Billing and Cost Management" dashboard under your user account.

Step ii - Access Billing Alarms:

• In the left-hand menu, go to the "Preferences and Settings" section and click on "Billing Preferences." Next, enable "Invoice delivery preferences" and "Alert preferences" by entering your email ID, and ensure all three options are selected to receive alerts via email.

Step iii - Setup CloudWatch Alram:

• Now under services, locate the CloudWatch service (which is a monitoring service). Ensure you are in the "N. Virginia" region to create a billing alarm and monitor your bills effectively.
  

• In the left-hand menu, navigate to the "Alarms" section and click on "All Alarms" to view existing alarms or "Create Alarm" to set up a new one.
  

• Now click on "Select Metric", choose "Billing" as the service, then select "Total Estimated Charge", ensure the currency is set to "USD", and click "Select Metric" to proceed.
  

Step iv - Define Alarm Threshold:

• Set the alarm threshold just below the Free Tier usage limits to receive alerts before incurring charges. For example, set the alarm when estimated charges exceed $5 if applicable.

Step v - Configure Notification:

• Create an SNS topic to receive notifications when the alarm threshold is reached, then click "Next" to proceed.

Step vi - Confirm and Create:

• Give the alarm a name, then click "Next" to review your settings.
  Finally, click "Create Alarm" to activate the billing alarm.
  

• You will receive an email to confirm your subscription and start receiving alerts.
  
  

AWS Billing and Cost Management offers tools and resources for monitoring, managing, and optimizing AWS spending and usage. It enables setting budgets, tracking costs, analyzing usage patterns, and accessing detailed billing reports to effectively manage AWS expenses.

Documentation:
AWS Free Tier.
AWS Billing & Cost Management.

Regularly monitor your AWS usage and configure billing alerts to notify you when your usage nears or exceeds the free tier limits. Ensure responsible and secure account management at all times!