Review Detail
2.8 2
Misleading AWS "Free Tier" – $74 Charge for Almost No Use
Overall rating
1.0
Price
1.0
Features
1.0
Uptime
1.0
Customer Support
1.0
I signed up for AWS's Free Tier to trial hosting a simple single-page website (HTML + CSS + JS). I spent a couple of days experimenting, then gave up.
I also briefly created a SQL database instance that I never used. No data, no queries, no interaction.
Weeks later, I received a $74 bill — the majority of it for background CPU credit usage I was never warned about.
There were no upfront, clear pricing details or real-time alerts. The usage was minimal and inactive.
This experience feels predatory and deceptive, especially for individuals trialling the platform.
AWS should not be advertising a Free Tier when inactive or trivial services silently accrue unexpected charges.
I've contacted support for a full reversal. No one trialling a product should walk away with a $74 punishment.
I also briefly created a SQL database instance that I never used. No data, no queries, no interaction.
Weeks later, I received a $74 bill — the majority of it for background CPU credit usage I was never warned about.
There were no upfront, clear pricing details or real-time alerts. The usage was minimal and inactive.
This experience feels predatory and deceptive, especially for individuals trialling the platform.
AWS should not be advertising a Free Tier when inactive or trivial services silently accrue unexpected charges.
I've contacted support for a full reversal. No one trialling a product should walk away with a $74 punishment.
PC
Pete Celliers