Oracle Always Free ARM (Ampere A1): the complete guide
Oracle's Always Free tier still includes the most generous ARM compute of any cloud: 2 Ampere A1 cores and 12GB of RAM, with 10TB of outbound traffic a month, for $0 — not a trial. Oracle halved this allowance from 4 OCPUs / 24GB on 15 June 2026, so most guides online are now out of date. This page has the current allowance, the real limits, and how to actually get an instance when capacity is tight.
What the ARM allowance actually includes
| Resource | Always Free allowance |
|---|---|
| ARM compute (Ampere A1) | 2 OCPUs + 12GB RAM total (since 15 Jun 2026), split across up to 2 VMs |
| Block storage | 200GB total, up to 32 volumes |
| Outbound data | 10TB / month |
| Load balancer | 1 flexible LB, 10 Mbps |
| Databases | 2 Autonomous Databases, 20GB each |
| Object storage | 20GB (Standard + Infrequent Access + Archive) |
How ARM compares to other free tiers
Most free tiers give you a container that sleeps, a build-minute budget, or a trial that expires. Oracle gives you a persistent Linux VM with root access. For context, 2 OCPUs and 12GB RAM is roughly the shape of a $45–$60/month instance on a mainstream provider — see the cloud cost calculator for what your specific workload would cost elsewhere.
Getting capacity when the region is full
- Pick a quieter region before your first instance — your home region can only be changed early, see changing your home region.
- Ask for less — a 1 OCPU / 6GB shape succeeds more often than the full 2/12, and you can scale up later.
- Retry automatically — capacity frees up in bursts. The ARM capacity retry script polls until it lands.
- Read the exact error — "Out of host capacity" and "service limit" are different problems; the capacity error fix covers both.
What to run on 2 ARM cores
- A production React, Next.js, or Node API behind HTTPS with room to spare.
- Self-hosted tooling: Postgres, Redis, n8n, Supabase, Uptime Kuma.
- Always-on workers: Discord bots, scrapers, cron jobs, game servers.
ARM means linux/arm64 images. If your Dockerfile assumes x86, the Dockerfile generator writes an ARM-compatible multi-stage build for you, and Cheaploy handles the provisioning, load balancer, and SSL end to end.
Before you start
Check you qualify with the eligibility checker, then follow the signup guide. If you are unsure about billing, the credit card FAQ answers the common worries.
Frequently asked
How much ARM compute is Always Free?+
As of 15 June 2026, 2 Ampere A1 OCPUs and 12GB of memory in total per tenancy (1,500 OCPU hours and 9,000 GB hours per month). Oracle halved this from the long-standing 4 OCPUs / 24GB without an announcement. You can run it as one VM or split it across two smaller VMs.
Is Always Free ARM really free forever?+
Yes — Always Free resources have no expiry, unlike the 30-day trial credits that come with a new account. If you stay within the ARM, storage, and egress allowances you are never charged.
Why do I get an 'Out of host capacity' error?+
Popular regions run out of free ARM capacity. Retrying on a schedule is the reliable fix; you can also switch your home region to a less-busy one before your first instance is created.
Can Oracle reclaim an idle Always Free ARM instance?+
Oracle may reclaim idle Always Free compute instances, but ARM instances running a real workload (a web app, a bot, a game server) stay up. Keeping a health-checked service on the box is the practical safeguard.
Do I need a credit card?+
Yes, for identity verification during signup. Oracle places a temporary hold, not a charge, and Always Free resources never bill against it.
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