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ApsaraDB RDS:Billable items, billing methods, and pricing

Last Updated:May 29, 2023

This topic describes the billable items of ApsaraDB RDS and the billing methods and pricing of each billable item.

Instance type

  • Definition: Fees for the instance types that you select for the primary and secondary RDS instances in your database system. For more information about the instance types that are supported by different database engines, see Primary ApsaraDB RDS instance types.

  • Billing: Subscription and pay-as-you-go. For more information about the billing methods, see Billing methods.

  • Pricing: The price of an RDS instance varies based on its configurations, such as the region, instance type, and storage capacity. For more information, visit the ApsaraDB RDS buy page.

    If you upgrade the instance type of an RDS instance, you are charged the difference between the prices of the current and new instance types. Refer to the actual price on the Change Specifications page. For more information, see Change the specifications of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

Note

When you purchase a subscription RDS instance, the subscription billing method is used only for its instance type and storage capacity. If you use features that use the pay-as-you-go billing method, bills for relevant billable items are generated on a pay-as-you-go basis. For example, you may create pay-as-you-go read-only RDS instances, use the SQL Explorer feature or the performance monitoring feature, or use more backup storage than the free quota. The billing methods of all billable items are listed in this topic.

Nodes in an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL cluster

  • Definition: An RDS cluster is billed based on the nodes in the RDS cluster. For more information about an RDS cluster, see Add a node to an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL cluster.

  • Billing: Subscription and pay-as-you-go.

  • Pricing: The price varies based on the nodes that you add to the RDS cluster. After you select specifications for a node during the cluster creation, the price of the node is displayed in the Pricing column of the table on the ApsaraDB RDS buy page. For more information about the pricing of a single node, visit the ApsaraDB RDS buy page.

    Formula: Total price of the RDS cluster = Price per node × Number of nodes. If you add a node to the RDS cluster, you need to pay for the new node.

RCU

  • Definition: A serverless RDS instance is billed based on RDS Capacity Units (RCUs). For more information about serverless RDS instances, see Overview of serverless ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances, Overview of serverless ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances, and Overview of serverless ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instances.

  • Billing: The system issues bills for the RCUs that are used by a serverless RDS instance on an hourly basis.

  • Pricing:

    ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL

    ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL

    Billable item

    Region

    Unit price

    RCU

    China (Zhangjiakou)

    USD 0.0373 per RCU-hour

    China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), China (Shenzhen), and China (Chengdu)

    USD 0.0497 per RCU-hour

    Singapore

    USD 0.0796 per RCU-hour

    China (Hong Kong)

    USD 0.0867 per RCU-hour

    Storage usage

    China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Shenzhen), and China (Chengdu)

    USD 0.0003 per RCU-hour

    Singapore and China (Hong Kong)

    USD 0.0005 per RCU-hour

    ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server

    Billable item

    Unit price

    RCU

    • China (Hong Kong): USD 0.312 per RCU-hour

    • Singapore: USD 0.288 per RCU-hour

    Storage capacity

    ESSD PL1: USD 0.0008 per GB-hour

Storage capacity

  • Definition: Fees for the storage capacity that you purchase for your RDS instance. The RDS instance can be a primary RDS instance, secondary RDS instance, read-only RDS instance, or disaster recovery RDS instance.

  • Billing: Subscription and pay-as-you-go.

  • Pricing: The pricing of storage capacity varies based on the storage type that you select. For more information, visit the ApsaraDB RDS buy page.

    If you upgrade the storage capacity of your RDS instance, you are charged the difference between the prices of the current storage capacity and new storage capacity. Refer to the actual price on Change Specifications page. For more information, see Change the specifications of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

Read-only RDS instance (optional)

  • Definition: Fees for the instance type that you select for the read-only RDS instance. For more information about read-only RDS instances, see Overview of read-only ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances.

  • Billing: Subscription and pay-as-you-go.

  • Pricing: The price of a read-only RDS instance varies based on its configurations, such as the region, instance type, and storage capacity. Refer to the actual price on the Read-only Instances page.

Data restoration to new RDS instances (optional)

  • Definition: If you restore the data of an RDS instance to a new RDS instance, you are charged for the new RDS instance. The new RDS instance is formerly known as a cloned RDS instance. For more information about cloned RDS instances, see Restore full data of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing: Subscription and pay-as-you-go.

  • The pricing of a cloned RDS instance is the same as the pricing of a new primary RDS instance. For more information, visit the ApsaraDB RDS buy page.

Backup (optional)

Backup storage

  • Definition: Fees for the storage of backup files that are generated by automatic backup or manual backup. For more information, see Enable the automatic backup feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. Alibaba Cloud provides a certain amount of free backup storage capacity. If the size of the backup files exceeds the free quota, you are charged for the excess storage on an hourly basis. The following list describes the free quotas for RDS instances of different storage types:

    • RDS instances that use cloud disks: The free quota equals 200% of the storage capacity of an RDS instance.

    • RDS instances that use local disks: The free quota equals 50% of the storage capacity of an RDS instance.

    Note

    You can view the storage usage in the Usage Statistics section of the Basic Information page of your RDS instance.View the storage usage

    The following tables describe the unit prices of excess storage for different database engines.

    ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL

    Storage typeUnit price for backup files that are stored for up to 730 days (USD per GB-hour)Unit price for archived backup files that are stored for more than 730 days (USD per GB-hour)
    Standard SSD or ESSD0.00004The unit price varies in different regions:
    • Japan (Tokyo), India (Mumbai), Singapore, Australia (Sydney), Indonesia (Jakarta), and Philippines (Manila): 0.000034
    • China (Hong Kong): 0.000031
    • UAE (Dubai): 0.000028
    • Germany (Frankfurt), UK (London), US (Silicon Valley), and US (Virginia): 0.000022
    • Other regions: 0.000025
    Local SSD0.00020

    ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL

    Backup methodUnit price (USD per GB)
    Snapshot backup0.00004
    Physical backup0.00020

    ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server

    Backup methodUnit price (USD per GB)
    Snapshot backup0.00004
    Physical backup
    • RDS instances that use standard SSDs or ESSDs: 0.00004
    • RDS instances that use local SSDs: 0.00020
    Note

    For more information about how to reduce the size and storage cost of your backup files, see Billable items and pricing for the backup storage of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

Cross-region backup

  • Definition: Fees for the storage of backup files that are generated by the cross-region backup feature. For more information, see Use the cross-region backup feature of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. You are charged based on the size and storage duration of backup files.

  • Pricing:

    ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL

    • Cloud disks

      ItemRegionUnit price
      Cross-region storage feeChina (Beijing), China (Hohhot), China (Ulanqab), China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Shenzhen), China (Heyuan), China (Chengdu), and China (Qingdao)

      USD 0.0009375 per GB per day

      China (Hong Kong), US (Silicon Valley), US (Virginia), Germany (Frankfurt), UK (London), Japan (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Indonesia (Jakarta), and India (Mumbai)

      USD 0.001125 per GB per day

      Network traffic feeFor more information about the billing rules for each region, see Network traffic fees.
    • Local disks

      ItemUnit price
      Cross-region storage fee

      USD 0.0002 per GB per hour

      Network traffic feeFor more information about the billing rules for each region, see Network traffic fees.

    ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL

    The following fees are generated if you perform cross-region backups on an RDS instance or download the generated backup files in the ApsaraDB RDS console.
    • Cross-region storage fee: USD 0.0002 per GB per hour
    • Network traffic fee. For more information, see Network traffic fees.

    ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server

    The following fees are generated if you perform cross-region backups on an RDS instance or download the generated backup files in the ApsaraDB RDS console.
    • Cross-region storage fee: USD 0.0002 per GB per hour
    • Network traffic fee. For more information about the billing rules, see Network traffic fees.

Backup sets of deleted RDS instances

  • Definition: If the backup sets of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance are retained more than seven days after the RDS instance is deleted, you are charged for the storage of the backup sets. For more information, see Retain backup files after instance release.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. You are charged based on the size and storage duration of backup sets.

  • Pricing:

    Type

    Region

    Unit price (USD per GB-day)

    Public cloud

    China (Hangzhou), China (Beijing), China (Shanghai), China (Shenzhen), China (Qingdao), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Hohhot), China (Chengdu), China (Heyuan), China (Ulanqab), and China (Guangzhou)

    0.00058

    China (Hong Kong), Singapore, US (Silicon Valley), Germany (Frankfurt), Indonesia (Jakarta), Philippines (Manila), and Thailand (Bangkok)

    0.00067

    Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), and Australia (Sydney)

    0.0007

    US (Virginia)

    0.00062

    India (Mumbai)

    0.00063

    Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

    0.00064

    UK (London)

    0.00065

    UAE (Dubai)

    0.00072

Backup download

  • Definition: If you download the backup files of an RDS instance that uses cloud disks, you are charged for the traffic generated during the download.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. You are charged based on the download traffic. If you use the advanced download feature to download backup files, you are also charged for conversion of the backup files.

    Note
  • Pricing:

    Download traffic fee

    • Downloads over an internal network: You are not charged for the traffic that you consume.
    • Downloads over the Internet: After the free quota is exhausted, you are charged for the excess traffic that you consume based on the pay-as-you-go billing method. Fees are deducted from your account on a daily basis. For more information, see Billing overview.
    • Free quota for backup downloads over the Internet: The free quota for each RDS instance is 500 GB per month.

    Backup file conversion fee

    RegionUnit price (USD/GB)
    Public Cloud0.03125

Fast restoration for individual databases and tables (optional)

  • Definition: Fees for using the fast restoration feature for individual databases and tables of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance. For more information, see Restore individual databases and tables of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing:

    • RDS instances that use cloud disks: This feature is in public review and is provided free of charge.

    • RDS instances that use local disks: You are charged for this feature based on the pay-as-you-go billing method.

  • Pricing:USD 0.24 per GB-month

Performance monitoring (optional)

  • Definition: Fees for using the performance monitoring feature. For more information, see Set the monitoring frequency of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing:

    • The performance monitoring feature is provided free of charge for RDS instances that run PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and MariaDB.

    • For RDS instances that run MySQL, if you select the 5-second monitoring frequency, you are charged an hourly fee for the feature. However, if you select the 60-second or 300-second monitoring frequency, you are not charged fees for the feature.

  • Pricing:USD 0.012 per hour.

SQL Explorer and Audit (optional)

  • Definition: Fees for using the SQL Explorer and Audit feature. For more information, see Use the SQL Explorer feature on an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. This feature is disabled by default. If you enable it, you are charged an hourly fee for it. Fees are deducted from your Alibaba Cloud account on an hourly basis.

  • Pricing:

    ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL

    • SQL Explorer Trial Edition: Since August 20, 2020, new billing rules are applied to SQL Explorer Trial Edition in Alibaba Cloud regions in phases.

      SQL Explorer Trial Edition provides a 15-day free trial. After the 15-day free trial expires, the SQL Explorer feature becomes unavailable. If you want to continue using the SQL Explorer feature, we recommend that you purchase SQL Explorer Paid Edition before the free trial expires.

      Note You can enable SQL Explorer Trial Edition only once for each RDS instance.
    • SQL Explorer Paid Edition: You are charged on an hourly basis. The price varies based on the region of your RDS instance.
      • USD 0.0015 per GB per hour: China (Hong Kong), US (Silicon Valley), and US (Virginia)
      • USD 0.0018 per GB per hour: Singapore (Singapore), Japan (Tokyo), Germany (Frankfurt), UAE (Dubai), Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), India (Mumbai), Indonesia (Jakarta), and UK (London)
      • USD 0.0012 per GB per hour: all regions except the preceding regions

    ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL

    • USD 0.15 per GB per hour: China (Hong Kong), US (Silicon Valley), and US (Virginia).
    • USD 0.18 per GB per hour: Singapore (Singapore), Japan (Tokyo), Germany (Frankfurt), UAE (Dubai), Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), India (Mumbai), Indonesia (Jakarta), and UK (London).
    • USD 0.12 per GB per hour: all regions except the preceding regions.

    ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server

    • USD 0.15 per GB per hour: China (Hong Kong), US (Silicon Valley), and US (Virginia).
    • USD 0.18 per GB per hour: Singapore (Singapore), Japan (Tokyo), Germany (Frankfurt), UAE (Dubai), Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), India (Mumbai), Indonesia (Jakarta), and UK (London).
    • USD 0.12 per GB per hour: all regions except the preceding regions.
    Note

    For ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instances that run RDS Enterprise Edition, this feature is enabled by default and is provided free of charge. However, if you disable and then enable this feature again, you will be charged fees for this feature by DAS.

Database proxy (optional)

  • Definition: Fees for using database proxies. Database proxies are used to implement read/write splitting. For more information, see What are database proxies?

    Note

    Database proxies are supported for RDS instances that run MySQL and PostgreSQL.

  • Billing: Pay-as-you-go. This feature is disabled by default. If you enable it, you are charged an hourly fee for it. Fees are deducted from your Alibaba Cloud account on an hourly basis.

  • Pricing:

    ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL

    RegionPrice
    NameCodeUSD/hour/proxy
    China (Hangzhou)cn-hangzhou0.173
    China (Shanghai)cn-shanghai0.173
    China (Qingdao)cn-qingdao0.173
    China (Beijing)cn-beijing0.173
    China (Zhangjiakou)cn-zhangjiakou0.120
    China (Hohhot)cn-huhehaote0.173
    China (Shenzhen)cn-shenzhen0.173
    China (Heyuan)cn-heyuan0.173
    China (Chengdu)cn-chengdu0.173
    China (Hong Kong)cn-hongkong0.297
    Japan (Tokyo)ap-northeast-10.288
    India (Mumbai)ap-south-10.231
    Singapore (Singapore)ap-southeast-10.271
    Australia (Sydney)ap-southeast-20.273
    Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)ap-southeast-30.253
    Indonesia (Jakarta)ap-southeast-50.271
    Germany (Frankfurt)eu-central-10.243
    UK (London)eu-west-10.280
    UAE (Dubai)me-east-10.377
    US (Virginia)us-east-10.237
    US (Silicon Valley)us-west-10.284

    ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL

    RegionPrice (USD per proxy-hour)
    UAE (Dubai)0.377
    Australia (Sydney)0.273
    Germany (Frankfurt)0.243
    China (Zhangjiakou) and China (Ulanqab)0.120
    Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)0.253
    US (Virginia)0.237
    US (Silicon Valley)0.284
    Japan (Tokyo)0.288
    Singapore (Singapore) and Indonesia (Jakarta)0.271
    India (Mumbai)0.231
    UK (London)0.280
    China (Hong Kong)0.297
    Other regions0.173

Automatic expansion (optional)

Internet-based connection

  • Definition: Fees for connecting to RDS instances by using public endpoints. For more information, see Apply for or release a public endpoint.

  • Billing: You are not charged for the inbound or outbound Internet traffic that you use to connect to your RDS instance. It may become a paid feature in the future.