how to get credits or trial for AI services?

Shlomi Hatan 25 Reputation points
2026-04-06T12:41:00.4+00:00

I would like to try and learn about using AI services (such as invoice reading) - How can I get free credits? is there a sandbox enviroment for that?

This question is related to the following Learning Module

Azure | Azure Training
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AI answer

2026-04-06T12:41:15.8333333+00:00

To get free credits and a sandbox-style environment for trying Azure AI services (including invoice/document reading scenarios), use an Azure free account and the free/low-tier services provided.

  1. Create an Azure free account
  • Sign up for an Azure free account: this provides a 30‑day trial with credits (currently equivalent to USD200) that can be used to create and test Azure AI services at no charge during the trial period.
  • The free account requires:
    • Internet connection and supported browser
    • Phone number
    • Credit or debit card
    • Microsoft or GitHub account

For AI scenarios like invoice reading (for example, using Azure AI Document Intelligence or other Azure AI services), these credits can be used to provision the necessary resources and run experiments.

  1. Use free and low-cost tiers where available
  • Azure AI Search example:
    • Free tier: Does not consume credits and provides limited capacity (50 MB of storage). One free search service per subscription; always free and does not expire after the 30‑day trial. This is suitable for small demos and learning scenarios.
    • Basic tier: Fits within the free‑account credit limits and consumes about one‑third of the USD200 credits over 30 days, with more capacity and full feature support.
  • Similar patterns apply across Azure AI services: start with free or lowest paid tiers to maximize use of the trial credits.
  1. Track and manage trial credit usage
  • During the trial, monitor remaining credits in the Azure portal (notification area in the upper‑right corner).
  • For more detailed cost and usage information, open Subscriptions in the portal and use the Overview and cost management views to track spending and forecasts.
  1. Learning modules and sandbox-style guidance
  • Several Microsoft Learn modules introduce Azure AI services and show how to create and use AI resources within the constraints of a free or pay‑as‑you‑go account, for example:
    • "Fundamentals of Azure AI services" – explains how to access Azure AI services in the portal and use keys/endpoints for authentication.
    • "Plan and prepare to develop AI solutions on Azure" – helps identify which Azure AI services and tools to use for AI projects.
    • "Introduction to Azure AI Document Intelligence" – specifically focused on document extraction scenarios (such as invoices), showing how to use the service via SDKs or REST API.

These modules guide through setting up resources in a way that works well with the free‑account credits, effectively giving a sandbox environment for experimentation.

References:

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