New Free Azure SQL Database Offer Now Available in All Subscriptions

Introduction

Hey everyone! I wanted to quickly update you about Microsoft Azure’s new free SQL database offer, which is now available in all subscription types. This updated offer provides a more flexible and long-term solution compared to the previous one, and I’m excited to share the details.

What Has Changed?

Previously, Azure offered a free SQL database option, but it was limited to 12 months and based on an S0 tier instance, which didn’t provide much in terms of scalability or usage. Now, Azure has upgraded the offer significantly. Here’s what’s new:

1. Lifetime Access: Unlike before, this offer is available for the entire lifetime of your subscription.
2. Available for All Subscriptions: This isn't just limited to trial or free subscriptions. No matter what type of subscription you have, you can take advantage of it.

Key Features of the New Offer

This new offer revolves around serverless SQL databases and provides some solid perks:

100,000 vCore Seconds per Month

You get 100,000 vCore seconds of usage per month. What’s great is that this resets every month, ensuring you always have access to this free usage.

32 GB of Storage and Backup Space

In addition to the vCore seconds, Azure offers 32 GB of storage and 32 GB of backup space, allowing you to handle a decent amount of data.

Serverless Flexibility

Since this is a serverless option, you can scale up your usage without worrying about managing infrastructure. Plus, you have the option to:

• Auto-pause your instance when the free quota is reached, avoiding any additional charges.
• Pay for overages if you need more resources beyond the free limit.

Managing Overages

One of the coolest features is the ability to customize what happens when you hit the monthly limit. By default, Azure will pause the service automatically once the 100,000 vCore seconds are used up, meaning you won’t incur any charges.

However, if you want to continue beyond the free usage, you can opt to pay for the extra resources. This is especially useful if you're running applications in production but want to keep the costs under control.

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No Service Level Agreement (SLA) on Free Usage

It’s important to note that free services don’t come with an SLA. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) provide credits if uptime or performance doesn’t meet certain standards. Since this offer is free, no SLA applies until you move into paid overages. However, the infrastructure behind both free and paid instances is the same, so you can still expect high reliability and availability.

How to Activate the Offer

Activating this offer is super simple. If you log into the Azure Portal and go to create a new SQL database, you’ll see an option for this free SQL database. Once you apply it, the rate card will show zero charges by default since overage billing is turned off. You can always modify this if you plan to use more resources.

Important Notes:

• The offer is limited to one free SQL database per subscription.
• The service will automatically pause once the free limit is reached if overage billing is off.

Conclusion

Azure is making it easier to explore and experiment with SQL databases by offering this free serverless SQL database option. With 100,000 vCore seconds, 32 GB of storage, and 32 GB of backup space every month, it’s a fantastic way to test projects or even run production apps with minimal cost.