GCP free tier and credits - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the GCP Free Tier?

The GCP Free Tier is a way Google Cloud offers free access to some of its services with usage limits, so you can try and learn without paying.

beginner

What are GCP credits?

GCP credits are like gift money from Google Cloud that you can use to pay for services. They help you explore and build without spending your own money.

intermediate

Name one difference between GCP Free Tier and GCP credits.

Free Tier offers always-free usage limits on some services, while credits are a fixed amount of money you can spend on any GCP service until they run out.

beginner

How long do GCP Free Tier always-free services last?

Always-free services last as long as you use them, with monthly usage limits. They do not expire.

beginner

What happens when your GCP credits run out?

When credits run out, your services stop unless you add a payment method and pay for usage beyond the free tier.

What is the main purpose of GCP Free Tier?

A To provide free, limited access to some GCP services

B To give unlimited free usage of all GCP services

C To offer discounts on paid services

D To provide free support from Google engineers

The Free Tier offers limited free usage on selected services to help users learn and experiment.

GCP credits can be used to:

A Pay for any GCP service until credits run out

B Only pay for storage services

C Extend the Free Tier limits

D Get free support

Credits act like money to pay for any GCP service until they are used up.

Which statement about GCP Free Tier always-free services is true?

A They expire after 12 months

B They have monthly usage limits and do not expire

C They require a credit card to use

D They are only for new users

Always-free services have monthly limits and remain available indefinitely.

What happens if you exceed the Free Tier limits but still have credits?

A You get a warning but no charges

B Your services stop immediately

C You must upgrade your account

D Charges are deducted from your credits

Excess usage beyond Free Tier is charged and deducted from your credits if available.

If your GCP credits run out and you have no payment method, what happens?

A You can continue using services for free

B You get more free credits automatically

C Your services stop running

D Google contacts you to add payment

Without credits or payment, your services will stop until you add payment.

Explain how GCP Free Tier and GCP credits help new users start with Google Cloud.

Think about how each helps you try GCP without paying upfront.

Describe what happens when you use more resources than the Free Tier allows but still have credits.

Consider how credits act like money to pay for extra usage.

Practice

1. What is the main difference between GCP's free tier and free credits?

easy

A. Free tier requires payment after 30 days; free credits never expire.

B. Free credits provide always-free resources; free tier is a one-time spending amount.

C. Both free tier and free credits are unlimited and always available.

D. Free tier provides always-free resources; free credits are one-time spending amounts.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand GCP free tier

   The free tier offers limited resources that are always free, such as small VM instances or storage, available indefinitely.

2. Step 2: Understand GCP free credits

   Free credits are a one-time amount of money given to spend on any GCP service, usually for new users to try services without paying upfront.

3. Final Answer:

   Free tier provides always-free resources; free credits are one-time spending amounts. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Free tier = always free, credits = one-time [OK]

Hint: Free tier is always free; credits are one-time money [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing free credits as always free
• Thinking free tier expires after 30 days
• Believing free credits are unlimited

2. Which of the following is a valid GCP free tier resource?

easy

A. A 1 vCPU, 0.6 GB RAM VM instance running 720 hours per month

B. A 1 vCPU, 3.75 GB RAM VM instance running 24/7

C. A 4 vCPU, 15 GB RAM VM instance running 100 hours per month

D. A 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM VM instance running 1000 hours per month

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall GCP free tier VM limits

   The free tier includes an f1-micro VM instance with 0.6 GB RAM and 1 vCPU, available up to 720 hours per month (full month).

2. Step 2: Compare options to free tier specs

   A 1 vCPU, 0.6 GB RAM VM instance running 720 hours per month matches the free tier VM specs exactly; others exceed CPU, RAM, or hours limits.

3. Final Answer:

   A 1 vCPU, 0.6 GB RAM VM instance running 720 hours per month -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Free tier VM = f1-micro 0.6GB, 720 hrs [OK]

Hint: Free tier VM is small: 0.6GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 720 hrs/month [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing larger VM sizes thinking they are free
• Ignoring the 720 hours monthly limit
• Confusing vCPU counts

3. A new GCP user has $300 free credits valid for 90 days. They create a VM costing $0.05 per hour. How many hours can they run the VM before credits run out?

medium

A. 1500 hours

B. 3000 hours

C. 6000 hours

D. 9000 hours

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate total hours from credits and cost

   Divide total credits ($300) by hourly cost ($0.05): 300 / 0.05 = 6000 hours.

2. Step 2: Check if hours fit within 90 days

   90 days x 24 hours = 2160 hours max usage in 90 days, so credits allow more hours than time limit.

3. Final Answer:

   6000 hours -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Credits ÷ cost/hr = hours [OK]

Hint: Divide credits by hourly cost for max hours [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring the hourly cost and dividing incorrectly
• Confusing days with hours
• Not considering credit expiration

4. A user tries to apply free credits after the 90-day expiration period. What will happen?

medium

A. The credits will still apply without any issue.

B. The credits will be rejected and cannot be used.

C. The credits will apply but only partially.

D. The credits will convert to free tier resources.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand credit expiration rules

   GCP free credits expire after the set period (usually 90 days) and cannot be used afterward.

2. Step 2: Determine system behavior on expired credits

   Once expired, credits are rejected and cannot be applied to any service usage.

3. Final Answer:

   The credits will be rejected and cannot be used. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Expired credits = rejected [OK]

Hint: Expired credits cannot be used [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming credits auto-extend or convert
• Thinking partial credit use is allowed after expiry
• Confusing free tier with credits

5. A startup wants to use GCP free credits and free tier to run a small app continuously for 3 months. Which strategy best uses both to avoid charges?

hard

A. Run a free tier VM 24/7 and use free credits for extra storage and network usage.

B. Use free credits only for VM and ignore free tier resources.

C. Run multiple large VMs using free credits and free tier simultaneously.

D. Use free tier for all resources and save free credits for after 3 months.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand free tier and credits usage

   Free tier provides always-free small VM and limited resources; free credits can pay for extra usage beyond free tier limits.

2. Step 2: Plan resource allocation

   Run the small app on free tier VM continuously to avoid charges, and use free credits for additional storage, network, or bigger VMs temporarily.

3. Final Answer:

   Run a free tier VM 24/7 and use free credits for extra storage and network usage. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Combine free tier + credits smartly [OK]

Hint: Use free tier first, credits for extras [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring free tier and using credits only
• Running large VMs exceeding free tier limits
• Saving credits without using them effectively