How to Create An AWS Account: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Getting started with AWS begins with something simple yet essential: creating your AWS account. Whether you’re setting up a personal project, launching a startup idea, or preparing cloud infrastructure for your organization, this first step lays the foundation for everything that follows.

But the process can raise questions, especially if you’re new to cloud platforms. Should you sign up as an individual or a business? What is a root user? And why does AWS ask for an IAM username during login? This guide on how to create an AWS account breaks down each step in a beginner-friendly way and clears up common doubts, so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

How to Create An AWS Account? 

Creating an AWS account is the first step toward accessing powerful cloud services. Follow these simple steps to set up your account correctly from the start.

Step 1: Visit the AWS Website

Start by going to the official AWS homepage: https://aws.amazon.com

In the top right corner, click the “Create Account” button. This will take you to the account registration page.

If you’re wondering whether AWS is free: yes, AWS offers a Free Tier, so you can get started without paying anything up front.

Step 2: Enter Your Basic Account Information

On the first registration screen, you’ll be asked to provide:

• Email Address: This email becomes the root user login, the primary account owner with full access to all AWS services. The root user should be someone who will manage the account securely, like a senior IT person or founder in case of a business.
• Password: Choose a strong password to protect your account.
• AWS Account Name: This can be anything identifiable, your full name if it’s a personal account, or your company name if the account will be used for organizational purposes.

Tip: For companies, it’s best to use the company name as the AWS account name. This makes account identification easier, especially if you’re managing multiple projects or environments.

Click “Continue” once this information is entered.

Step 3: Choose the Account Type and Fill in Contact Details

Next, you’ll choose the account type:

• Personal: Choose this if you’re signing up for individual or learning purposes.
• Professional/Business: Choose this if the account will be used for company operations, even if you’re a small startup or freelancer working for clients.

Depending on the type, you’ll enter details such as:

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Country/Region
• Address
• Company Name (for business accounts)

Don’t worry if you’re a freelancer or a small business, just select the option that best describes how the account will be used.

Click “Continue” once you’ve filled in all the required fields.

Step 4: Add Your Payment Information

Even though AWS offers a Free Tier, they still require a credit or debit card to verify your identity.

You’ll need to enter:

• Cardholder Name
• Card Number
• Expiry Date
• Billing Address

Security Note: AWS places a temporary authorization charge (around $1 or ₹2 INR) to check if the card is valid. This is not a fee and will be automatically refunded.

AWS won’t charge you unless you use services beyond the Free Tier limits. You’ll also get regular billing alerts and detailed usage breakdowns.

Step 5: Verify Your Identity

To ensure that you’re a real person, AWS performs a quick identity verification.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Choose Text Message (SMS) or Voice Call.
• Enter your mobile number.
• You’ll receive a one-time password (OTP) via your chosen method.
• Enter the OTP into the verification box.

Once completed, AWS will confirm your identity and move you to the next step.

Step 6: Select an AWS Support Plan

Next, AWS will ask you to choose a support plan. These plans determine how much customer service help you’ll receive.

You can choose from:

1. Basic (Free) – Suitable for beginners or low-risk projects. It includes documentation, forums, and billing support.
2. Developer – Paid, for experimenting and testing with AWS, includes email support.
3. Business – Paid, ideal for production workloads with 24/7 support.
4. Enterprise – Premium support for large organizations running critical applications.

For most new users, the Basic Plan is enough to explore AWS and build small applications.

Choose your plan and proceed.

Step 7: Sign In to the AWS Management Console

Once your AWS account setup is complete, it’s time to log in and explore your cloud dashboard, known as the AWS Management Console.

To sign in:

1. Go to https://console.aws.amazon.com/
2. You’ll see two login options:
   
   • Root user – This is the email address you used during account creation.
   • IAM user – These are users created under the main AWS account with limited permissions

Important: If this is your first time logging in, select “Root user” and enter the email address you registered with. IAM users are not created by default; you must set them up manually after logging in as the root user.

3. After choosing the Root user, click “Next” and enter your password
4. Once inside the console, you’ll have full access to all AWS services.

Conclusion

Knowing how to create an AWS account is just the beginning. While the signup process is simple, the steps that follow, like configuring IAM roles, setting up security, and managing services, can quickly become complex, especially for growing projects or business-critical workloads.

For teams or businesses aiming to build reliable cloud environments without unnecessary trial and error, choosing to hire AWS developers can make the process much more efficient. With the right expertise, the journey beyond account creation becomes smoother, more secure, and better aligned with your long-term goals.