Ask HN: I'm bootstrapping, How to get free credits for Notion,GitHub,Slack etc.?

6 points·jerrygoyal··6 comments

I'm bootstrapping a SaaS AI-based startup, is there a way to get free credits for tools like Notion, Github, Slack, and Figma?

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Not sure it's worth the time looking for free credits. Even if you get a year for free you'll end up saving maybe $500 max.

If you're worried about costs, look for alternatives. In the apps you've listed, only Figma is a real useful app.

Notion is just documents, a markdown editor and a shared drive will give you 99% of Notion you need. The rest is overengineered anyways.

Github free tier gets you pretty far already.

Slack is just chat, tons of free alternatives there.

As @d--b mentioned, look for alternatives.

I use Gitlab free tier (I can even use the CI/CD as I have a Linode small VPS box - US$5/month with their runner installed - no minutes from their end needed).

Rocket.Chat used to be a very look-a-like Slack.

For github: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/startups

Like other ppl mentioned most credits are given to funded startups.

If you go through YC startup school curriculum, at the end you get a bunch of perks. https://www.startupschool.org/cofounder-matching

As mentioned, YC Startup School has a few perks. If you get a Brex card, I believe you get some perks through them.

Beyond that, there are few paid options:

1. ProductHunt Marketplace Pro ($720 one time)

2. Secret (joinsecret.com) ($149 per year)

Not sure if the paid plans have anything the free ones don't.

not sure about those you mentioned, but yc startup deals can give you other things.

go to startupschool.org

create your company profile

post weekly updates for 2 to 3 months

apply to yc startup deals, get $5k aws credits, discounted stripe, etc.

apply to next yc batch.

Free credits for these type of products tend to be through startup programs that require venture funding.

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