Free demo limits
The free hosted demo lets you build and try useful software before choosing a paid plan. You can explore what Portacode can do, or work on a website or tool for an existing business. It includes real computing resources and a limited AI balance.
What you can do for free
- Build, edit and test software through Dashboard AI.
- Upload files to use in your work.
- Open application previews and try the result.
- Connect your own devices.
What requires a paid plan
On new free Portacode-hosted demo devices, a subscription is required to open the IDE / Project Workspace, download or export files, or transfer device ownership. Exports include copying work to another device or pushing it to a repository. Buying AI credits alone does not unlock these features.
You own your work. Subscribing unlocks these access features for your restricted demo devices, and that unlock stays with each device after cancellation. Hosting and device expiry still apply; an access unlock does not preserve a device indefinitely or restore deleted files.
The restriction applies to new free hosted devices created after the November 14, 2026 rollout. Earlier devices, devices deployed while subscribed, and devices on your own infrastructure are exempt. Exempt free devices still expire on their scheduled date. Older free accounts receive an in-app notice before their first affected deployment.
Time, AI usage and computing capacity
Free hosted devices last up to seven days. Check each device's expiry in your dashboard. Expired devices and their files may be automatically deleted. Choose how to continue before expiry; the demo is not permanent hosting or a backup service.
AI work consumes your available credits, which may run out before the device expires. Your dashboard shows your balance. The demo does not include unlimited AI usage or a recurring paid-plan allowance.
The current free hosted allocation is shared across your devices: 0.5 CPU, 1 GiB RAM and 7 GiB disk. Creating another device does not increase that allowance. Deployments are subject to eligibility and available capacity. These resources are for trying the platform, rather than a promise that every workload will fit.
One introductory trial per person
Please do not create additional accounts to claim more trials as this can risk account suspension. Moving between accounts does not create a new entitlement to free credits or hosting. See the Terms of Service.
Free one-on-one building sessions include guidance, tools and session credits. They follow the same hosted-demo access restrictions; session credits do not unlock downloads or the IDE.
Why these limits exist
Every demo uses real servers, storage, bandwidth and paid AI services. Time and resource limits keep the free experience available to more people. Paid access to the IDE and exports helps fund that experience when someone wants to keep and use the work they have built.
Ways to continue
See current plans and pricing for subscription options. Paid-plan allowances and purchase terms are shown there and at checkout; this page explains the free demo.
You can also connect your own device or set up your own infrastructure. The hosted-demo access restrictions do not apply to those devices. AI usage still consumes credits, and exporting work from a restricted hosted demo requires a subscription first.
If you need help or would like to discuss extra credits or an extension, email support@portacode.com. We review requests individually; emailing does not guarantee additional credits or time.