Why do I need to add a payment method if my AWS account is covered by the AWS Free Tier?

Resolution

You must add a valid credit card, debit card, or another payment method for accounts covered under the AWS Free Tier for the following reasons:

• Accounts covered under the AWS Free Tier aren't restricted in what they can launch. When you ramp up with AWS, you might start to use more than what's covered under the AWS Free Tier. Because these additional resources might incur charges, you must include a payment method on the account.
• The AWS Free Tier doesn't cover all AWS services. For example, you might decide to purchase Reserved Instances, Amazon Route 53 domains, or an AWS Support subscription. These services require a valid payment method for activation.

For more information, see How do I make sure that I don't incur charges when I'm using the AWS Free Tier?

Related information

AWS Free Tier

Trying services using AWS Free Tier

Customizing your AWS payment preferences