How do I know if I am using AWS Free Tier services or paying services?
This is one of the most important questions every AWS beginner should ask.
In simple words:
AWS does not stop your services automatically when Free Tier limits end. You must check your usage and billing to know whether you are still in Free Tier or paying.
Let us understand this clearly, step by step, just like a teacher explaining it to students.
Why It Is Important to Know This
Many beginners assume that AWS will warn them before charging money. This is partially true.
AWS provides usage details, but the responsibility is on the user to monitor usage. If you don’t check, you may get a bill even while learning.
So understanding whether you are using AWS Free Tier services or paying services is very important.
Method 1: Check AWS Free Tier Usage Dashboard (Most Important)
The easiest way to know whether you are still using AWS Free Tier services is through the Free Tier Usage Dashboard.
In your AWS account:
- Go to the Billing section
- Open the Free Tier dashboard
- You will see how much Free Tier usage is left
If usage is shown as 0% used, you are safely inside Free Tier.
If usage is 100% used, AWS has started charging you.
This dashboard clearly tells whether you are still using AWS Free Tier services or paying services.
Method 2: Check the AWS Billing Dashboard
The Billing Dashboard shows your actual charges.
If you see:
- $0.00 → You are using only Free Tier
- Any amount greater than $0 → You are using paid services
This is the most direct way to confirm your billing status.
Method 3: Look at Service-Level Usage Details
AWS shows usage service by service, such as:
- EC2 (compute)
- S3 (storage)
- RDS (database)
Each service page shows:
- Free Tier limits
- Your current usage
- Billable usage (if any)
If usage exceeds Free Tier limits, that service becomes a paid service while others may still remain free.
Method 4: Enable Billing Alerts (Strongly Recommended)
Billing alerts help you know before costs increase.
You can:
- Set an alert at $1 or $5
- Get email notifications
- Track spending in real time
This method is very useful for students and beginners who want to avoid surprises.
Method 5: Check Monthly Bills and Cost Explorer
AWS generates monthly bills that show:
- Free Tier covered usage
- Paid usage
- Total cost
Cost Explorer helps you visually understand:
- Which service is costing money
- When charges started
- How fast costs are increasing
This gives clarity on whether you are using AWS Free Tier services or paying services.
Common Signs You Are Using Paid AWS Services
You are likely paying if:
- Free Tier usage shows 100% consumed
- You launched services not included in Free Tier
- You forgot to stop running EC2 instances
- Storage size crossed Free Tier limits
These are common beginner mistakes.
How to Stay Within AWS Free Tier Safely
To remain in Free Tier:
- Use only Free Tier–eligible services
- Stop unused resources
- Delete test storage
- Monitor usage weekly
Free Tier is safe, but only if you actively manage it.
Is AWS Free Tier Automatically Disabled After One Year?
Another common confusion.
AWS Free Tier has:
- Some services valid for 12 months
- Some services always free (with limits)
After 12 months, Free Tier benefits reduce, and most services become paid. You must then rely more on billing checks.
Who Should Regularly Check AWS Free Tier Status?
You should check regularly if you are:
- A student learning AWS
- Working on college projects
- Hosting demo applications
- Practicing cloud labs
Regular checks prevent unnecessary expenses.