Last June, Google announced the Google Developer Program, a free program that gives developers access to resources to help them build applications using Google services. Now that “millions” of developers have signed up (according to Google), the company is introducing a second paid tier to commercialize the program.
On Monday, Google launched its Google Developer Program Premium membership, a $299 per year upgrade from the standard Google Developer Program. This comes with several added benefits, including one-on-one consultations with Google Cloud experts and access to e-learning programs from Google Cloud Skills Boost, Google’s on-demand training program.
In addition to consultations and online courses, the Google Developer Program Premium membership includes $500 in annual Google Cloud credits, certification vouchers, and “bonus” Google Cloud credits for developers who pass the annual Google Cloud certification. It includes all the resources of the standard free Google Developer program, including AI-powered documentation and coding tools, early access to new products, and a workspace on the Google IDX app development platform.
The new offering stands out because neither of Google’s main cloud competitors, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Azure, have similar developer plans. Microsoft offers a paid alternative to its free Microsoft 365 Developer Program, which is roughly equivalent to Google’s Developer Program, but is primarily aimed at business users. AWS offers a premium support program, but it focuses more on architectural guidance and technical support.
Interestingly, for customers in the European Economic Area, the UK, and Switzerland, Google Developer Program Premium membership is “limited to business or professional use,” according to the fine print. It implies the following: ~ no Personal use is permitted in your country. We’ve reached out to Google for clarification.
Assuming you take advantage of all the benefits, a Google Developer Program premium membership can pay for itself relatively quickly. However, given that Google has no plans to charge for future improvements to the original program, you have to think that some developers will be discouraged to see new features included in the paid tier.
“In the coming months, the Google Developer Program will offer new tools and resources to help you on your development journey, including additional training resources and more ways to connect with the community,” Google said in a blog post in June. “To take advantage of these benefits, simply join the Google Developer Program.”
Developers may grumble, but they seem to be voting 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 35% year over year to $11.35 billion. Its growth has outstripped the cloud divisions of Amazon and Microsoft, both of which have much larger market shares.
