Starting November 16, 2026, Google Cloud is updating its Free Trial terms. The standard $300 welcome credit will no longer cover Gemini platform (Vertex AI) services for new or newly upgraded accounts.
According to the official Google Cloud documentation: "The $300 credit can't pay for Gemini platform (formerly known as Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, Vertex AI) services if you sign up for a free trial or upgrade to a paid account on or after November 16, 2026."
Notice the wording: "sign up for a free trial OR upgrade to a paid account."
Adding a credit card during initial registration only places your account in a restricted Free Trial state. If you register before November 16, but click "Upgrade to a Paid Account" on or after November 16, you will lose the ability to use your remaining $300 credit on Vertex AI.
How to lock in the $300 credit for 90 days (Before Nov 16):
Google’s AI billing is split into two separate tracks:
Google AI Studio (Direct API Keys):
Prepay required lock. Once active, Google spends your free $10/month Developer credits first. Keep Auto-reload: Off to prevent automatic charges.
Vertex AI / Gemini Platform (Production & Agents): Published by TechLift Solutions — IT engineering and systems architecture studio (in the industry since 2005), building custom web solutions, business automation, and open-source AI agents. Read our notes on Substack and Hashnode.