Question 1

Can I get AWS certified for free?

Accepted Answer

The exam itself is not free ($100–$300), but you can prep almost entirely free: AWS Skill Builder (official free courses), AWS Free Tier (12 months hands-on labs), freeCodeCamp's full Cloud Practitioner course on YouTube, and r/AWSCertifications study guides. Periodically AWS runs 50%-off voucher promos and free re-take vouchers, watch for AWS re:Invent and re:Inforce events.

Question 2

How much does AWS certification cost in India in rupees?

Accepted Answer

In India (2026): Cloud Practitioner ₹8,500 (~$100), Associate-level (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps) ₹12,500 (~$150), Professional & Specialty ₹25,000 (~$300). Practice exams ₹1,500–₹3,000. Add ₹3,000–₹15,000 for a Stephane Maarek or Adrian Cantrill course on Udemy/A Cloud Guru. Total realistic spend per cert: ₹15,000–₹35,000.

Question 3

AWS vs Azure, which certification pays more?

Accepted Answer

In the U.S., AWS Solutions Architect Associate averages slightly higher ($140K–$160K) than Azure Administrator ($130K–$150K) due to AWS's larger market share. In Europe and government-heavy markets, Azure pays more thanks to Microsoft enterprise dominance. The Solutions Architect Professional (AWS) and Solutions Architect Expert (Azure) both clear $170K+.

Question 4

Is AWS certification too expensive, is it worth it?

Accepted Answer

$150–$300 per associate exam is a strong ROI: certified AWS engineers in the U.S. report 15–25% salary uplifts, and recruiters use AWS certs as keyword filters. The 'too expensive' complaint usually comes from candidates who pay for unnecessary $500+ bootcamps, Stephane Maarek's $15 Udemy course + AWS Free Tier is enough for most.

Question 5

Reddit AWS Solutions Architect review, what does r/AWSCertifications say?

Accepted Answer

r/AWSCertifications consistently recommends Stephane Maarek + Tutorials Dojo practice exams as the gold-standard SAA-C03 prep. Adrian Cantrill is praised for depth. Most pass within 6–10 weeks of dedicated study. Common pitfall: skipping hands-on labs, the exam tests scenario judgement, not just trivia.

AWS Solutions Architect Exam Preparation