How to Create a Free Oracle Cloud VPS (Always Free)

Learn how to create and configure a free Oracle Cloud VPS with this beginner-friendly step-by-step guide.

Oracle Cloud provides one of the most generous free cloud services available today through its Always Free program.

With a free Virtual Private Server (VPS), you can learn Linux, host websites, deploy Docker containers, build development environments, and explore cloud computing without paying monthly fees.

In this tutorial, I will walk through the complete process of creating a free Oracle Cloud VPS, connecting with SSH, and preparing your Ubuntu server for future projects.

This guide is designed for beginners and anyone interested in cloud computing.

Key Takeaways

Create a free Oracle Cloud VPS.
Connect to your server using SSH.
Prepare Ubuntu for future development.
Build a solid foundation in cloud computing.

Why Choose Oracle Cloud Free Tier?
Create an Oracle Cloud Account
Create a Free VPS Instance
Connect Using SSH
Initial Ubuntu Setup
Next Steps

Why Choose Oracle Cloud Free Tier?

Oracle Cloud offers one of the most generous free cloud services available today. Unlike many cloud providers that only provide short-term free trials, Oracle Cloud’s Always Free tier allows users to continue learning and building projects without monthly fees.

The Always Free program includes ARM-based virtual machines, AMD virtual machines, block storage, object storage, networking resources, and public IP addresses. These resources are suitable for personal projects, testing environments, and learning cloud technologies.

For beginners, Oracle Cloud is an excellent platform to practice Linux administration, deploy Docker containers, host websites, and explore networking concepts. Because the free resources are available long-term, you can learn at your own pace without worrying about subscription costs.

Whether you are starting your cloud computing journey or building your first VPS, Oracle Cloud provides a reliable environment to develop practical skills that can be applied in real-world projects.

Benefits of Oracle Cloud Free Tier

Always Free cloud resources
Powerful ARM Ampere virtual machines
Full Linux server access
Public IP addresses included
Excellent platform for learning cloud computing
Suitable for hosting websites and Docker applications

Create an Oracle Cloud Account

Before creating a free VPS, you need to register for an Oracle Cloud account. Oracle offers a Free Tier account that includes Always Free resources and a limited free trial with additional credits for new users.

Visit the official Oracle Cloud website and click “Start for Free.” You will be asked to provide your email address, choose your home region, and verify your identity using a valid phone number and payment card.

Oracle uses identity verification to prevent abuse of its free services. Although a payment card is required during registration, the Always Free resources can continue to be used without monthly charges as long as you stay within the free limits.

After your account has been approved, sign in to the Oracle Cloud Console. From there, you will be ready to create your first Virtual Machine instance.

Information You Should Prepare

A valid email address
A mobile phone number
A Visa or Mastercard for identity verification
Your preferred Oracle Cloud region
A secure password

Create a Free VPS Instance

After signing in to the Oracle Cloud Console, you can create your first Virtual Machine (VM) instance. Oracle provides both AMD and ARM virtual machines, and the ARM Ampere A1 instances are usually the best choice for learning and development.

Click Create Instance and enter a name for your virtual machine. Select your preferred availability domain, choose an Ubuntu image, and configure the VM shape according to the Always Free resources.

During the setup process, upload your SSH public key or generate a new key pair. This will allow you to securely connect to your server after the instance has been created.

Review all configuration settings and click Create. Oracle will begin provisioning your virtual machine, which usually takes a few minutes to complete.

Recommended Configuration

Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
VM.Standard.A1.Flex
4 OCPUs
24 GB Memory
Boot Volume: 200 GB
Upload your SSH public key

Connect Using SSH

After your VPS has been created, you can connect to it securely using SSH. SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted remote access to your server and is the standard method for Linux administration.

If you are using Windows, applications such as Windows Terminal or PuTTY can be used. On macOS and Linux, the built-in Terminal application already includes SSH support.

Use the public IP address assigned to your VPS together with your SSH private key. After a successful connection, you can begin managing your Ubuntu server through the command line.

It is recommended to update the operating system immediately after your first login to ensure you have the latest security patches and software packages installed.

Useful SSH Commands

ssh ubuntu@your-server-ip

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade -y

hostnamectl

ls -la

What’s Next?

Congratulations! You have successfully created your first Oracle Cloud Free VPS.

With your Ubuntu server ready, you can continue exploring Linux administration, Docker containers, WordPress deployment, cloud networking, and cybersecurity projects.

Learning cloud computing is a continuous journey. Every project you build will improve your practical skills and prepare you for more advanced technologies.

In future tutorials on NextVoyage, we will continue exploring real-world cloud projects step by step.

Next Learning Goals

• Secure your server with a firewall
• Install Docker
• Deploy your first WordPress website
• Configure Cloudflare Tunnel
• Build your own cloud lab