Google recently made an exciting announcement regarding the Google Developer Program. Initially, the program was free and aimed to provide developers with access to resources to help them create applications using Google services. With millions of developers already signed up, Google has now introduced a new paid tier to further enhance the program.
The new offering, known as the Google Developer Program premium membership, comes with a price tag of $299 per year. This upgrade from the standard Google Developer Program offers a range of benefits, including one-on-one consultations with Google Cloud experts, access to e-learning programs such as Google Cloud Skills Boost, $500 in annual Google Cloud credits, a certification voucher, and additional credits for developers who pass an annual Google Cloud certification. These new features complement the existing resources available in the free version of the program, such as AI-powered documentation, coding tools, early access to new products, and workspaces in Google’s IDX app development platform.
What sets the Google Developer Program premium membership apart is that neither of Google’s major cloud competitors, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Azure, offer a similar developer plan. While Microsoft does provide paid alternatives to its free Microsoft 365 Developer Program, they are primarily targeted towards business users. AWS, on the other hand, focuses more on premium support programs for 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 limited to business or professional use only. This restriction implies that it cannot be used for personal purposes in those countries. Google has been contacted for further clarification on this matter.
Although the Google Developer Program premium membership comes with a price, the benefits it offers could quickly justify the cost. However, some developers may feel disappointed to see new features being locked behind a paid tier, especially since Google did not previously indicate that there would be charges for future enhancements to the original program.
In a blog post back in June, Google hinted at more tools and resources being unlocked in the future for developers signed up to the Google Developer Program. The company considers the premium membership as an evolution of its now-defunct Cloud Innovators Plus program, which provided similar benefits at the same price point.
While some developers may express discontent over the introduction of a paid tier, it appears that many are willing to invest in the premium membership. Google’s cloud business has shown significant growth, outpacing its competitors in the most recent fiscal quarter. With a 35% year-over-year growth to $11.35 billion, Google’s cloud division is making strides in the market despite the stiff competition from Amazon and Microsoft.
