Hey everyone! So, you're probably here because you're wondering, "How much Azure credit do I have left?" It's a super common question, especially if you're managing a budget, running a startup, or just want to keep an eye on your cloud spending. Nobody wants surprise bills, right? Luckily, checking your Azure credit balance is pretty straightforward, and I'm here to walk you through exactly how to do it. We'll dive into the different places you can find this info, what it means, and maybe even a few tips to keep your cloud costs in check. So grab your favorite beverage, and let's get this sorted!

Finding Your Azure Credit Balance

Alright guys, let's get down to business. The primary place you'll want to head to check your Azure credit is the Azure portal. Think of it as your command center for everything Azure. Once you're logged in, there are a couple of key areas that will show you your credit situation. The most direct route is usually through the Billing section. Navigate to the Billing blade, and within that, look for options related to Subscriptions, Costs, or Billing profiles. Each of these can give you a slightly different perspective, but they all ultimately lead to the financial data you need. You're looking for information that details your remaining credit, especially if you're on a free trial, an Azure Pass, or a specific credit-based offer. Sometimes, it's displayed as a monetary value (like $100 remaining), and other times it might be tied to specific services or a time frame. It’s crucial to understand the context of your credit – is it a one-time grant, an ongoing monthly allowance, or tied to a particular commitment? Knowing this will help you manage your resources more effectively and avoid hitting unexpected limits. Keep in mind that different types of Azure offers might present this information slightly differently, so don't get discouraged if the exact wording isn't precisely what you expect. The core idea is to locate the financial overview of your Azure account.

Checking Through Subscriptions

So, you've logged into the Azure portal. Awesome! Now, let's talk about the Subscriptions blade. This is where you manage all your active Azure subscriptions. When you click on a specific subscription, you'll often see a summary that includes billing information. Sometimes, directly on the subscription overview page, you might see a snapshot of your current spending or any applicable credits. However, for a more detailed breakdown, you’ll want to look for a link or a section specifically related to Cost analysis or Cost Management. This is where the magic happens. You can filter by subscription, resource group, or even individual resources to see where your money is going. More importantly, within the Cost Management + Billing hub, you'll find sections like Budgets and Cost analysis. Setting up budgets is a fantastic way to proactively monitor your spending against predefined limits, and it will often show you how much of your allocated credit or budget you've consumed. For those using specific credit offers, like an Azure Pass or Visual Studio benefits, the way credits are applied might be detailed within this area or sometimes even on a dedicated page related to that specific offer. It's all about drilling down into the financial details of your account. Remember, the Azure portal is dynamic, so Microsoft might update the UI occasionally. If you can't find something exactly where it used to be, look for keywords like 'Billing', 'Costs', 'Subscriptions', or 'Credit'. These terms are your breadcrumbs to the financial information you seek. Don't hesitate to use the search bar at the top of the Azure portal if you're really stuck – just type in 'credit' or 'billing' and see what comes up!

Understanding Your Credit Types

Before we go any further, let's chat about the different types of Azure credits you might encounter. Understanding these is key to knowing how much you actually have left and how it's being used. The most common ones include: Free Trial Credits: If you're new to Azure, you probably started with a free trial. These typically come with a set amount of credit and a time limit (usually 30 days). Once the time is up, or the credit is exhausted, you'll need to upgrade to a paid subscription to continue using services. Azure Pass Credits: These are often given out during events, training sessions, or as part of specific programs. They usually have a monetary value and an expiration date, and they're applied directly to your Azure spending. Visual Studio Subscription Credits: If you're a Visual Studio subscriber, you often get monthly Azure credits as part of your subscription. These are fantastic for development and testing environments. They renew monthly and have their own set of terms and conditions. Promotional Credits: Sometimes Microsoft offers promotional credits for various reasons, like signing up for a new service or participating in a specific campaign. These also typically have an expiry date. Enterprise Agreement (EA) Credits: For larger organizations on an Enterprise Agreement, you might have pre-purchased Azure credits that are consumed as you use services. Sponsorship Credits: If you're part of a startup program or accelerator, you might receive sponsorship credits. Each of these credit types might be displayed a bit differently within the Azure portal. Some might be aggregated, while others might be itemized separately. The key is to check the Cost Management + Billing section and look for specifics related to your offer type. For example, if you have a Visual Studio benefit, there might be a dedicated page showing your monthly allotment and consumption. Always pay attention to the expiration dates – credits don't last forever, and you don't want them to go to waste!

Navigating the Azure Portal for Credit Info

Okay, so you're in the Azure portal, and you're ready to find that elusive credit balance. Let's break down the navigation step-by-step. First things first, log in to the Azure portal. Once you're in, you'll see a search bar at the very top. This is your best friend! You can type in terms like “Cost Management”, “Billing”, or even “Subscriptions” and hit Enter. This will usually take you right to the relevant section. If you prefer to navigate manually, look for the main menu on the left-hand side (you might need to click the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner to expand it). Find and click on Cost Management + Billing. This is the central hub for all your financial data in Azure. Inside Cost Management + Billing, you'll see a menu on the left. Here are the key areas to explore:

1. Overview: This often provides a high-level summary of your current spending, any budget alerts, and sometimes a quick glance at available credit or credit utilization. It's a good starting point to get a general sense of your financial health.
2. Cost analysis: This is where you can dive deep into your spending patterns. While it's primarily for analyzing past spending, it can also show you projected costs based on current usage, which helps in estimating future credit consumption. You can filter by subscription, resource group, service, and time period.
3. Budgets: This is a critical section for managing credit. You can set budgets for your subscriptions or resource groups and receive alerts when your spending reaches a certain percentage of the budget. This is a proactive way to ensure you don't exceed your allocated credit.
4. Invoices: You can view and download your past invoices here. While this won't show remaining credit, it’s essential for tracking actual costs incurred.
5. Payments & Credit: Look for a specific section labeled Payments & credit or similar. This is often where you'll find details about any credit balances, their types (e.g., promotional, free trial), and crucially, their expiration dates. This is probably the most direct place to see your available credit amount.

If you're using a specific offer like an Azure Pass or a Visual Studio benefit, there might be a separate link or section within the Cost Management + Billing area that pertains directly to that offer. For example, you might see a link like “Azure Pass” or “Visual Studio Benefits”. Always check these specific areas if they apply to you. Remember, the goal is to find the section that explicitly lists your available credit balance and its associated terms.

Using the Azure CLI or PowerShell

For you tech wizards out there, or if you just prefer working from the command line, checking your Azure credit balance is also possible using the Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell. These tools offer a more scriptable and automated way to retrieve information. It's super handy if you need to check the balance regularly or integrate it into a monitoring system.

Azure CLI: First, make sure you have the Azure CLI installed and you're logged in (az login). Then, you can use commands related to billing or subscriptions. While there isn't a single, direct command that just spits out