Microsoft has recently launched a new free offer for Azure SQL Database, which is now available across all Azure subscription types. This initiative allows users to access a 32 GB General Purpose, serverless Azure SQL database with 100,000 vCore seconds of compute free every month. This offer is designed to support a variety of use cases, including learning SQL, developing applications, and conducting proof-of-concept projects.

Offer Details

• Storage: 32 GB of data storage.
• Backup Storage: An additional 32 GB for backups.
• Compute: 100,000 vCore seconds per month.
• Duration: The free amount renews monthly for the lifetime of your subscription, making it suitable for ongoing projects without incurring costs.
• Availability: The offer is available for one database per Azure subscription and is applicable to various subscription models, including Pay-As-You-Go and enterprise agreements.

Usage Scenarios

This new offering is particularly beneficial for:

• Auto-pause: The database will pause until the next month starts, making it inaccessible during that time.
• Continue Usage: Users can opt to keep using the database beyond the free limits for additional charges. This option allows scaling up to larger configurations as needed.

Getting Started

To take advantage of this offer, users can navigate to the Azure portal, create a new SQL database, and apply the free offer through a prominent banner on the creation page.This initiative replaces an older offering that provided less storage and compute capacity, thus enhancing the capabilities available to users looking to explore Azure SQL Database without financial commitment.