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Is it free to use B2ats v2 VM within subscription for new pay-as-you-go user?

Ho Hung 20 Reputation points
2026-05-20T14:44:59.1266667+00:00

I have tried to create a VM whose size B2ats v2. The information denoted that this size of VM is "free services eligible", which means it is free in the first 750 hr per month. However, my subscription doesn't include enough quotas for this VM, so I write a ticket and received enough quotas. I successfully created the VM using that provided quota, but in the dashboard of my subscription, the section B2ats v2 VM remains "not in use". I am so confused and always wondered if the VM is actually free or not. Anyone has been the same situation yet? Thank you.

Azure Virtual Machines
Azure Virtual Machines

An Azure service that is used to provision Windows and Linux virtual machines.

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AI answer

2026-05-20T14:45:23.4433333+00:00

B2ats v2 is one of the VM sizes that’s eligible as a free service for new Azure free accounts, up to 750 hours per month. However, “free services eligible” doesn’t mean it’s always free in every subscription or scenario:

  1. The free 750 hours apply only:
    • In an Azure free account (or a subscription upgraded from that free account), and
    • While the 12‑month free period is still active, and
    • As long as total usage of eligible VMs (B1S, B2pts v2, B2ats v2) stays within the free limits.
  2. Quotas and “free” are separate:
    • vCPU/VM-family quotas only control how much capacity can be deployed.
    • Increasing quotas (for example, via a support request) doesn’t grant or extend free benefits; it only allows more cores/VMs to be created.
  3. Why the dashboard shows “not in use” for B2ats v2:
    • The “free services” grid in the subscription view tracks usage of services that are part of the Azure free account benefits.
    • If the subscription isn’t an Azure free account (or the 12‑month free period has ended), that grid can show “not in use” or no usage even though a VM is running, because the VM is being billed at pay‑as‑you‑go rates instead of consuming free-tier benefits.
    • It can also show “not in use” if the VM is created outside the “Free services” flow and the configuration doesn’t match the exact free tier being tracked.
  4. How to ensure a VM is actually free:
    • Confirm the subscription is an Azure free account or an upgraded free account still within the 12‑month free period.
    • Create the VM from the Free services page in the Azure portal and explicitly select the free tier/size.
    • Keep total usage of eligible VMs within the 750 hours/month limit.

If any of these conditions aren’t met, the B2ats v2 VM will be billed at normal pay‑as‑you‑go rates even though it is “free services eligible” in principle.

References:

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