Terms and Conditions for Maintaining Oracle Cloud "Always Free" Services

1. Introduction: Understanding the Oracle Cloud Free Tier

The Oracle Cloud Free Tier is an initiative designed to allow users to explore and utilize Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services at no cost. This program is structured around two core components: a set of "Always Free" services that are available for an indefinite period, and a "Free Trial" offering US$300 in cloud credits that can be used across a wider range of eligible OCI services for up to 30 days.¹ It is essential to understand the distinction between these two offerings, as the user's inquiry specifically focuses on the conditions under which the "Always Free" services can continue to be used without incurring charges.

This report aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the terms and conditions that govern the "Always Free" services within the Oracle Cloud Free Tier. The analysis will specifically address the requirements for maintaining the free status of these services, predicated on the user's assumption that their usage remains within the advertised limitations set forth by Oracle. By examining the official documentation and related resources, this report will delineate the key obligations and restrictions that users must adhere to in order to benefit from the "Always Free" services on an ongoing basis.

2. Eligibility and Account Setup Terms for Oracle Cloud Free Tier

To participate in the Oracle Cloud Free Tier and access the "Always Free" services, individuals must meet certain eligibility criteria and adhere to specific account setup terms. A fundamental condition is that only one Oracle Cloud Free Trial or "Always Free" account is permitted per person.¹ This restriction is strictly enforced, and any attempt to create multiple free accounts is a direct violation of the terms and can lead to the suspension or termination of all associated accounts.¹

During the account sign-up process, users are required to provide accurate and valid contact information, including their name, address, and email address. Furthermore, billing information, typically in the form of a credit or debit card, must also be supplied. This information must be valid and used with the account holder's consent for the entire duration of the account.¹ Providing false, misleading, or outdated information, particularly concerning payment details, is a serious breach of the terms and can result in the suspension or termination of the account.¹ For example, if the credit card on file expires and is not updated, Oracle's periodic validity checks might fail, potentially leading to account termination.⁴

While the Oracle Cloud Free Tier offers services at no cost under specific conditions, the provision of credit or debit card information is generally a prerequisite for completing the sign-up process. This requirement serves primarily for identity verification purposes. Oracle may periodically verify the validity of the provided card, which could involve a temporary authorization hold; however, these holds are typically removed by the user's bank within a few days and do not represent actual charges if only "Always Free" services within the defined limits are utilized.¹ It is important to note that Oracle has specific policies regarding accepted payment methods. Debit cards that require a PIN, as well as virtual, single-use, or prepaid cards, are generally not accepted for Free Tier sign-up.¹ Attempting to use an unsupported payment method might prevent the successful creation of an account or could potentially cause issues with the account's standing in the future.

3. Core Terms and Conditions for Remaining "Always Free"

The cornerstone of maintaining an Oracle Cloud "Always Free" account without incurring charges is the exclusive utilization of services explicitly designated by Oracle as "Always Free".¹ The current list of these services includes offerings across various categories, such as compute, storage, database, and networking.² It is imperative for users to verify that any services they provision and use are indeed part of the "Always Free" portfolio. Employing any Oracle Cloud Infrastructure service that is not on this list will likely result in charges, particularly after the initial Free Trial credits, if applicable, have been exhausted.¹

Beyond using only the designated services, users must also strictly adhere to the specific usage quotas and limitations associated with each "Always Free" service.¹ These limits are defined by Oracle and specify the maximum amount of resources that can be consumed within the free tier for each service. Exceeding these defined limits can lead to various consequences, including incurring charges for the excess usage or having the over-provisioned resources reclaimed by Oracle.¹ Therefore, the user's assumption of meeting "all free tier limits" necessitates a detailed understanding of the precise limitations applicable to each "Always Free" service they are using or plan to use.

In addition to staying within the usage limits, Oracle requires a certain level of activity on "Always Free" accounts to prevent resources from being reclaimed due to inactivity. While the official FAQs may not specify a precise login frequency, Oracle states that "Always Free resources will remain available to you as long as you actively use your account".⁷ The definition of "active use" varies depending on the type of resource. For compute instances, it is determined by monitoring resource utilization metrics such as CPU, network, and memory usage over a 7-day period.⁷ If these metrics fall below certain thresholds (which might vary slightly across different documentation versions, for example, between 10% and 20% for some metrics), the instance may be considered idle and subject to reclamation.⁷ For Autonomous Databases and APEX instances, activity is primarily measured by the presence of successful SQL*Net or HTTPS connections. A lack of such connections for seven consecutive days could lead to the resource being stopped, and if it remains stopped for 90 days, it might be permanently deleted.⁷ Warning emails are typically sent before these actions are taken.⁷ Community discussions also suggest that even basic, periodic activity on the resources or logging into the Oracle Cloud Console might contribute to demonstrating "active use".¹¹

It is also crucial to understand that the "Always Free" services are offered without any Service Level Agreements (SLAs).¹ This means that Oracle provides no guarantees regarding the uptime, performance, or availability of these free services. Users should not expect the same level of reliability as they would with paid services that have defined SLAs.¹³ Furthermore, customers who are exclusively using "Always Free" resources have limited access to support. Direct Oracle Support is not available; instead, users must rely on community forums for assistance with any issues they might encounter.¹

4. "Always Free" Service Usage Limits

To effectively manage an Oracle Cloud "Always Free" account and ensure continued free usage, a clear understanding of the specific usage limits for each service is essential. The following table summarizes the key limits for some of the most commonly used "Always Free" services:

Service Name	Specific Limit	Key Restrictions
AMD Compute Instance	2 Virtual Machines, each with 1/8 OCPU and 1 GB memory
Arm Compute Instance	4 OCPUs and 24 GB total memory (usable as 1 to 4 VMs), 3,000 OCPU hours and 18,000 GB hours per month	Combined limit across all Arm VMs; subject to idle instance reclamation policy (CPU <10-20%, Network <10-20%, Memory <10-20% for 7 days) 7
Block Volume	200 GB total storage (combined for boot and block volumes)	Must be created in the home region 8; shared limit across all instances
Object Storage	Paid/Trial: 10 GB Standard, 10 GB Infrequent Access, 10 GB Archive data; Free Only: 20 GB combined; 50,000 API requests per month	Limits differ based on account status (Trial/Paid vs. Always Free Only) 8
Autonomous Database	2 instances, approximately 20 GB Exadata storage per instance (usable limit)	Maximum 30 simultaneous sessions per instance 14; maximum 2 instances per tenancy 14; can only be created in the home region 8

As indicated in the table, "Always Free" compute instances come in two main types: those based on AMD processors and those utilizing Arm-based Ampere A1 cores.² Users are entitled to two AMD-based VMs with modest resources.² The Arm-based instances offer significantly more processing power and memory but have a combined limit across all instances provisioned, requiring careful allocation.² It is crucial to note that both types of compute instances are subject to an idle instance reclamation policy. If utilization falls below the specified thresholds for a continuous period, Oracle may reclaim these resources.⁷

The "Always Free" tier also includes a total of 200 GB of Block Volume storage, which must be provisioned in the user's home region to remain free.⁸ This storage limit is shared across all "Always Free" compute instances, encompassing both the boot volumes and any additional block volumes created.⁸ Planning storage allocation is therefore essential, particularly when running multiple VMs.¹⁷ Additionally, users receive five free volume backups.⁸

For Object Storage, the free tier provides different storage limits depending on whether the account is still in the initial Free Trial period or has transitioned to an "Always Free only" state.⁸ Both scenarios include a monthly allowance of API requests.⁸

The Oracle Autonomous Database is a significant offering within the "Always Free" tier, providing two instances with approximately 20 GB of usable Exadata storage each.¹ However, each instance has a limit on simultaneous database sessions, and both instances must be created in the tenancy's home region.⁸

Beyond these core services, other "Always Free" services exist, such as HeatWave, Flexible Load Balancer, Virtual Cloud Networks, and APEX Application Development.¹ While their detailed limits are not the primary focus here, users should consult the official Oracle documentation for the specific usage restrictions associated with any of these additional services they might be utilizing.

5. Account Activity and Inactivity Policies

Maintaining activity on an Oracle Cloud "Always Free" account is crucial to prevent the reclamation or suspension of resources. As detailed in Section 4, compute instances are continuously monitored for resource utilization. If an instance remains below the defined idle thresholds for CPU, network, and memory usage for seven consecutive days, Oracle may deem it inactive and reclaim the resources.⁷ It is important to note that the specific utilization thresholds might vary slightly across different Oracle documentation sources ⁷, so users should always refer to the most up-to-date official guidelines for the definitive figures.

For "Always Free" Autonomous Databases and APEX instances, the primary metric for activity is the presence of successful SQL*Net or HTTPS connections.⁷ If no such connections are made within a 7-day period, the instance may be automatically stopped. If the stopped state persists for 90 days, Oracle might permanently delete the resource.⁷ Typically, users will receive warning emails before these actions are taken, providing an opportunity to re-establish a connection and reset the inactivity timer.⁷ Therefore, regular interaction with these database and application development resources is necessary to prevent them from being marked as inactive.

While the official Oracle Cloud Free Tier documentation does not explicitly state a mandatory frequency for logging into the Oracle Cloud Console to maintain account activity, some anecdotal evidence from the user community suggests that periodic logins might be a beneficial practice.¹² However, the core of Oracle's inactivity policies for the "Always Free" tier appears to be centered on the utilization of the provisioned resources themselves rather than just the act of logging into the console.

The consequences of failing to maintain sufficient activity vary depending on the type of "Always Free" resource. Idle compute instances face the risk of being reclaimed by Oracle to optimize the allocation of free tier capacity.⁷ Inactive Autonomous Databases and APEX instances undergo a more structured process of being stopped and potentially deleted after an extended period of inactivity.⁷ While less clearly documented in the main FAQs, reports from the user community suggest that prolonged overall account inactivity could potentially lead to account suspension.¹⁹ Therefore, users should strive to maintain regular and sufficient activity on their "Always Free" resources to avoid these potential consequences.

6. Consequences of Violating Terms or Exceeding Limits

Adherence to the Oracle Cloud Free Tier terms and conditions is paramount for maintaining a free account and avoiding disruptions. Failure to comply with these terms, which includes but is not limited to creating multiple accounts or providing inaccurate account information, can result in the suspension or termination of the user's account.¹ Oracle takes violations seriously and can take action even against users who are exclusively utilizing "Always Free" services.⁷

Specifically concerning usage limits, exceeding the defined quotas for "Always Free" services can also lead to negative consequences. For instance, if a user provisions more Arm-based Ampere A1 Compute resources than permitted under the free tier (i.e., exceeding the 4 OCPU and 24 GB memory limit), Oracle may disable all existing Ampere A1 Compute instances.¹ If the account is not upgraded to a paid subscription, these over-provisioned instances may be deleted after a 30-day grace period.¹ This illustrates a specific instance where exceeding the limits for a particular resource can lead to its reclamation.

Furthermore, utilizing any Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services that are not designated as "Always Free," or opting to upgrade "Always Free" resources to higher-tier configurations (if the account status allows), will likely incur charges.¹ This is particularly relevant once the initial US$300 Free Trial credits, if applicable, have been fully consumed or have expired.¹ Even if a user initially intends to remain within the "Always Free" scope, any deviation from the list of free services or their defined limits can result in unexpected costs.

It is important to be aware that if an Oracle Cloud Free Tier account is suspended or terminated due to a violation of the terms, there is no guarantee that the account can be reactivated.¹⁹ Moreover, creating a new free tier account can be difficult, as it typically requires a new phone number and credit card that have not been previously associated with a Free Tier sign-up.¹ This potential finality underscores the importance of diligently adhering to all the terms and conditions of the Oracle Cloud Free Tier program.

7. Important Considerations

Several other important considerations can affect a user's ability to maintain their Oracle Cloud "Always Free" account without incurring charges. One significant aspect is the home region dependency. "Always Free" Autonomous Databases and certain types of compute instances, such as the VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro shape, can only be provisioned within the home region that was selected during the initial account sign-up.¹ Additionally, "Always Free" block volumes must also be created in the home region to remain free of charge.⁸ The choice of home region is therefore a crucial decision that can impact the availability and cost-free status of these resources.

Users always have the option to upgrade their "Always Free" account to a paid subscription at any time.¹ Upgrading provides access to a broader range of services, higher usage limits, and the benefit of Oracle Support. This might become necessary if the limitations of the "Always Free" tier no longer meet the user's requirements. However, it is essential to understand that upgrading will introduce associated costs, and users should carefully evaluate their needs and budget before making this transition.

When attempting to create "Always Free" compute instances, users might occasionally encounter an "out of host capacity" error.¹ This indicates a temporary shortage of available resources of the requested "Always Free" shape within their selected home region. While Oracle is actively working to increase the capacity of its free tier, this issue might occur intermittently. In such cases, users might need to try again at a later time or consider creating the instance in a different availability domain within their home region, if multiple domains are available.¹

Finally, there are specific limitations regarding the upgrading of "Always Free" resources. If an Oracle Cloud account has completed its initial Free Trial period without being upgraded to a paid status, users will not be able to directly upgrade their "Always Free" resources to obtain more compute power or storage.¹ To upgrade these resources, the account must first be converted to a paid subscription. However, if the account is still within the Free Trial period or is already a paid account, direct upgrades of "Always Free" resources are possible.¹ This distinction is important for users to understand if they are considering scaling up their "Always Free" resources.

8. Conclusion: Maintaining Your "Always Free" Oracle Cloud Account

In conclusion, to ensure that an Oracle Cloud "Always Free" account remains free of charge while meeting all advertised limits, users must adhere to several key conditions. These include maintaining only one free tier account, ensuring all account information is accurate and valid, utilizing exclusively the services designated as "Always Free," and strictly staying within the defined usage quotas for each of these services. Furthermore, it is crucial to maintain sufficient activity on the account and provisioned resources to avoid being flagged for inactivity and potential reclamation or suspension. Users must also be aware of the home region restrictions that apply to the provisioning of certain "Always Free" resources.

To stay informed and ensure continued compliance, it is strongly recommended that users regularly review the official Oracle Cloud Free Tier documentation, including the Frequently Asked Questions and the terms of service, for any updates or changes to the program's policies, conditions, or the list and limits of "Always Free" services.¹ The terms and conditions of cloud services can evolve, and proactively staying informed through official Oracle channels is the best way to ensure the continued, uninterrupted, and free use of the Oracle Cloud "Always Free" tier.

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