Switch the billing method of a Data Transmission Service (DTS) data synchronization or change tracking instance between pay-as-you-go and subscription without interrupting the running task.
Billing methods
| Billing method | Also known as | Billing cycle | Best for | Switching direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Upfront / prepaid | Pay at creation | Long-term, stable workloads. Larger discounts for longer durations. | Can switch to pay-as-you-go (new console only) |
| Pay-as-you-go | Post-paid | Hourly, based on instance type, deducted from your Alibaba Cloud account | Short-term or variable workloads. Release the instance immediately after use to minimize cost. | Can switch to subscription |
| Serverless | — | Hourly, based on actual usage | Variable workloads requiring dynamic resource scaling at minute-level granularity | Can switch to pay-as-you-go (new console only) |
Scope
Billing method changes apply only to data synchronization and change tracking instances:
Data migration tasks use pay-as-you-go billing only and cannot be changed.
Data verification tasks cannot have their billing method changed.
To convert a regular synchronization instance to a Serverless instance, see Convert a synchronization instance to a Serverless instance.
What to expect after switching
| Switch direction | Result |
|---|---|
| Subscription → pay-as-you-go | The remaining subscription balance is refunded to your original payment method. |
| Pay-as-you-go → subscription | Auto Renewal is enabled by default. |
| Any direction (new console) | Instance ID stays the same. |
| Any direction (previous-version console) | Instance ID changes. The original pay-as-you-go task is released. |
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure that you have:
A DTS data synchronization, Serverless, or change tracking instance
(Previous-version console only, pay-as-you-go to subscription) A subscription task ready to serve as the destination for the change. The task must meet the following requirements:
Data synchronization tasks: Source Instance, Source Region, Destination Instance, Destination Region, and Synchronization Topology must match those of the task being changed
Change tracking tasks: Source Region must match that of the existing task
Change the billing method (new console)
The new console supports switching in both directions: pay-as-you-go ↔ subscription, and Serverless → pay-as-you-go. We recommend using the new console when possible.
Go to the data synchronization or change tracking task list.
Go to the DTS console
Log on to the DTS console. In the left navigation pane, click Data Synchronization or Change Tracking. In the upper-left corner, select the region where the instance resides.
Go to the DMS console
NoteSteps in the DMS console may vary depending on the layout mode. For details, see Simple mode and Customize the layout and style of the DMS console.
Log on to the DMS console. In the top menu bar, select Data + AI > DTS > Data Synchronization or Data + AI > DTS > Change Tracking. On the right side of the task list, select the region of the DTS instance.
Locate the target instance and click Change to Pay-as-you-go or Change to Subscription in the Billing Method column.
For data synchronization and change tracking instances, you can also click the  icon in the Actions column and select Change to Pay-as-you-go or Change to Subscription.
Verify the instance information in the dialog box.
Subscription or Serverless → pay-as-you-go: review the Basic Information of the instance.
Pay-as-you-go → subscription: review the Basic Information and select a Subscription Duration in the New Instance Class section.
Read the Data Transmission Service (Pay-as-you-go) Service Terms and select the check box to agree.
Click Pay.
Change the billing method (previous-version console)
The previous-version console supports one direction only: pay-as-you-go → subscription.
Log on to the DTS consoleDTS console.
In the left navigation pane, click Data Synchronization or Change Tracking.
Locate the target task and click Switch to Subscription in the Actions column.
In the Switch To Subscription dialog box, select the pay-as-you-go instance to convert.
After the billing method changes, the corresponding pay-as-you-go task is released.
Click OK.