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Google Launches Paid Tier for Developer Program with Benefits

2024-11-26

In June, Google made a significant announcement with the launch of the Google Developer Program. This free program aimed to provide developers with access to a plethora of resources designed to assist them in building applications using Google services. Now, with "millions" of developers having signed up, as reported by Google, the company has introduced a second, paid tier to commercialize the program. On Monday, Google launched the Google Developer Program premium membership, which is a $299-per-year upgrade from the standard program. This premium membership comes with several added benefits. One-on-one consultations with Google Cloud experts are available, along with access to e-learning programs in Google's on-demand training program, Google Cloud Skills Boost. Beyond consultations and online courses, the premium membership includes $500 in annual Google Cloud credits, a certification voucher, and "bonus" Google Cloud credits for developers who pass an annual Google Cloud certification. These additional benefits are in addition to all the resources offered in the standard, free Google Developer Program, such as AI-powered documentation and coding tools, first dibs on new products, and workspaces in Google's IDX app development platform.The new offering stands out as neither of Google's major cloud rivals, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Azure, have a similar individual dev plan. Microsoft offers paid alternatives to its free Microsoft 365 Developer Program, which is similar to the Google Developer Program, but these are mainly geared towards business users. AWS provides premium support programs, but they focus more on architectural guidance and technical assistance.Interestingly, for customers in the European Economic Region, the U.K., and Switzerland, the Google Developer Program premium membership is "restricted to business or professional use," according to the fine print. This suggests that personal use is not allowed in these countries. We have reached out to Google for clarification.Assuming one makes full use of all the benefits, the Google Developer Program premium membership could prove to be a worthwhile investment. However, some developers may be disappointed to see new features gated behind a paid tier, especially since Google gave no prior indication of planning to charge for future enhancements to the original program. In June, Google wrote in a blog post that in the coming months, the Google Developer Program will unlock new tools and resources to aid developers on their development journey, such as additional training resources and more ways to connect with the community. To access these benefits, one simply needs to sign up for the Google Developer Program.Google is presenting the Google Developer Program premium membership as a revamping of its now-defunct Cloud Innovators Plus program. This previous program offered comparable benefits at the same $299-per-year price. Notably, Cloud Innovators Plus did not include Google Cloud Skills Boost, which Google estimates is worth $299 per year on its own. In a post on Monday, Google wrote that this new offering is the next evolution of their commitment to streamlining the developer experience and represents their continued investment in the Google Developer Program as the hub of benefits and resources across their many developer products and services.Devs may have some reservations, but it seems they are also showing their support for Google with their wallets. In the company's most recent fiscal quarter (Q3 2024), Google's cloud business, which includes infrastructure and software subscriptions, grew by 35% year-over-year to $11.35 billion. Its growth exceeded that of Amazon and Microsoft's cloud divisions, both of which are significantly larger in terms of market share.