You can change the billing method for network usage of an Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance that uses an auto-assigned public IP address. If the billing method for network usage of such an instance does not meet your business requirements, you can change the billing method from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-traffic or from pay-by-traffic to pay-by-bandwidth.
Pay-by-bandwidth: the billing method in which you are charged based on the bandwidth that you specify. The actual outbound bandwidth of the instance does not exceed the specified bandwidth. This billing method is suitable for scenarios that require stable bandwidth.
Pay-by-traffic: the pay-as-you-go billing method in which you are charged based on the actual traffic volume. If you use this billing method, the specified bandwidth is the maximum bandwidth for outbound traffic. The bandwidth limit prevents out-of-control fees caused by traffic bursts. This billing method is suitable for scenarios in which bandwidth requirements are highly variable.
ImportantIf the pay-by-traffic billing method is used, the maximum inbound and outbound bandwidth values are used as the upper limits of bandwidths instead of guaranteed performance specifications. In scenarios where demands outstrip resource supplies, the maximum bandwidth values may not be reached. If you want guaranteed bandwidths for your instances, use the pay-by-bandwidth billing method for network usage.
Change from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-traffic
The following section describes how to change the billing method for network usage from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-traffic for a subscription or pay-as-you-go instance.
Log on to the ECS console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
In the top navigation bar, select the region and resource group to which the resource belongs.
Find the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. Then, perform a suitable operation to go to the configuration page based on the billing method of the instances.
Instance billing method
Change the billing method for a single pay-as-you-go instance
Change the billing method for multiple pay-as-you-go instances
Subscription
Find the instance for which you want to change the billing method for network usage and choose
in the Actions column.ImportantIf you have performed a temporary bandwidth upgrade on the instance, changing the billing method from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-traffic cancels all temporary bandwidth upgrade orders for the instance, including the orders that are in effect and are pending. You are refunded for the temporary bandwidth upgrade orders that are canceled.
Select the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. In the lower part of the page, choose
.Confirm the selected instances and click Next.
Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Subscription Instance Bandwidth in the Bandwith Configuration section.
Click Continue.
Select Downgrade Bandwidth.
Click Continue.
Pay-as-you-go
Find the instance for which you want to change the billing method for network usage and choose
in the Actions column.Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Pay-as-you-go Instance Bandwidth.
Click Continue.
Select the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. In the lower part of the page, choose
.Confirm the selected instances and click Next.
Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Pay-as-you-go Instance Bandwidth in the Bandwith Configuration section.
Click Continue.
Find the Bandwidth section, select Pay-By-Traffic, and then set a peak bandwidth value.
Read the notes and terms of service. Select ECS Service Terms.
Confirm the configuration costs, click Confirm in the lower part of the page, and then follow the on-screen instructions to perform the subsequent operations.
The new configurations immediately take effect after you change the billing method for network usage.
After you change the billing method for network usage of an instance that uses an auto-assigned public IP address from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-traffic, you are charged for the network usage of the instance based on the amount of traffic. If you convert the auto-assigned public IP address to an elastic IP address (EIP) by performing the operations described in Convert the public IP address of an ECS instance in a VPC to an EIP and then change the billing method of the EIP from pay-as-you-go to subscription by performing the operations described in Switch metering methods, a price difference may be present. Proceed with caution. For information about the price difference, see the "An instance has an auto-assigned public IP address that uses the pay-by-bandwidth metering method. After I change the metering method of the auto-assigned public IP address to pay-by-traffic, convert the auto-assigned public IP address into an EIP, and then change the billing method of the EIP to subscription, a price difference occurs. Why?" question in the Billing FAQ topic.
Change from pay-by-traffic to pay-by-bandwidth
The following section describes how to change the billing method for network usage from pay-by-traffic to pay-by-bandwidth for a subscription or pay-as-you-go instance.
Log on to the ECS console.
In the left-side navigation pane, choose .
In the top navigation bar, select the region and resource group to which the resource belongs.
Find the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. Then, perform a suitable operation to go to the configuration page based on the billing method of the instances.
Instance billing method
Change the billing method for a single pay-as-you-go instance
Change the billing method for multiple pay-as-you-go instances
Subscription
Find the instance for which you want to change the billing method for network usage and choose
in the Actions column.Select the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. In the lower part of the page, choose
.Confirm the selected instances and click Next.
Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Subscription Instance Bandwidth.
Click Continue.
Select Modify Maximum Bandwidth Value.
Click Continue.
Pay-as-you-go
Find the instance for which you want to change the billing method for network usage and choose
in the Actions column.Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Pay-as-you-go Instance Bandwidth.
Click Continue.
Select the instances for which you want to change the billing method for network usage. In the lower part of the page, choose
.Confirm the selected instances and click Next.
Click the Bandwidth Configuration tab.
Select Change Pay-as-you-go Instance Bandwidth.
Click Continue.
Find the Bandwidth section, select Pay-By-Bandwidth, and then set a bandwidth value.
Read the notes and terms of service. Select ECS Service Terms.
Confirm the configuration costs, click Confirm in the lower part of the page, and then follow the on-screen instructions to perform the subsequent operations.
The new configurations immediately take effect after you change the billing method for network usage.
References
After you change the billing method for network usage of an instance, the system calculates the public bandwidth fee of the instance based on the new billing method. For more information, see Public bandwidth.
You might need to modify the bandwidth limit or configurations to suit the new billing method for an instance.
You cannot disassociate the auto-assigned public IP address of an ECS instance that resides in a virtual private cloud (VPC) from the instance. If you want to associate or disassociate the auto-assigned public IP address to or from instances based on your business requirements and flexibly manage the IP address, you can Convert the public IP address of an ECS instance in a VPC to an EIP.