FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is worth knowing before you build on a free plan.
01 Is everything listed here genuinely free?
Yes, with one important caveat: we list services with a real free plan you can keep using, not 14-day trials. When a service only offers a trial period — Uptime.com, for instance — we say so explicitly on its page so you do not waste your time.
02 Do I need to put in a credit card?
It depends on the service. Many never ask for one, and some request it as anti-fraud verification even though they charge nothing. In the directory you can filter by "No sign-up" to see the resources that do not even require an account.
03 How often are the limits reviewed?
Free plans change constantly: one provider trims the quota, another raises it, a third drops its free tier altogether. The last full review of the directory was Agosto de 2026. Even so, the source of truth is always the service’s official pricing page.
04 Can I use these services in a commercial project?
Not always. Vercel’s Hobby plan, for example, explicitly excludes commercial use, while other services place no restrictions at all. Each page records the known limitations, but it is worth reading the terms if the project will make money.
05 What are the criteria for including a resource?
A permanent free plan generous enough to build something real, an active and maintained service, usable documentation, and an upgrade path that is not a trap. If a service fails on any of those points, it stays out.
06 What does the "Editor’s pick" tag mean?
It marks the 33 services we would reach for first within their category, for the combination of a generous free plan, good documentation and few surprises as you grow. It does not mean the rest are worse, only that these are a safe starting point.
07 What does "Open source" imply?
That there is an open source version you can self-host. There are 19 such resources in the directory. The practical advantage is that if the cloud free plan gets worse, you can move the service to your own server without rewriting the application.
08 What happens if I go over the free limit?
Every provider reacts differently: some rate-limit you, some suspend the project until the next cycle, and some automatically charge for the overage. Before launching anything with real traffic, check what happens when you go over and set up usage alerts.
09 How do I avoid depending too much on a free plan?
Three simple rules: prefer services built on open standards (Postgres, S3, OpenTelemetry) over proprietary APIs, keep your data exportable, and avoid coupling business logic to the provider’s SDK. That way migrating takes hours, not weeks.
10 Can I suggest a resource or correct a detail?
Yes, and it is the best way to keep the directory alive. If a limit has changed or a service you use daily is missing, send the correction along with a link to the official pricing page.