All Products
Search
Document Center

Key Management Service:Billing FAQ

Last Updated:Apr 01, 2026

Does KMS support free trials?

Yes. Apply for a free trial to get started with one software key management instance at no cost for 14 days, with no limit on the number of keys or credentials.

Eligibility: You must be a new KMS user. The offer is not available if your current Alibaba Cloud account or any associated accounts have used KMS before. If your enterprise has multiple Alibaba Cloud accounts, only one account is eligible.

What happens when the trial ends: The instance automatically converts to pay-as-you-go billing — no redeployment or data migration required. The instance cannot be converted to a subscription after the trial.

Warning

If you no longer need the instance after the trial, release it before the 14-day trial expires. Otherwise, pay-as-you-go charges will apply automatically.

Yes. You can apply for a free trial.

Warning

The trial period is 14 days. If you no longer need the KMS instance after the trial, you must release it before the trial expires. Otherwise, you will be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

  • Eligibility: You must be a new KMS user. This offer is not available if your current Alibaba Cloud account or any associated accounts have used KMS before.

  • Instance details:

    • Number of instances: The free trial includes one software key management instance. If your enterprise has multiple Alibaba Cloud accounts, only one account is eligible for the trial.

    • Instance quota: There is no limit on the number of keys or credentials.

  • Trial expiration

    • Free period: 14 days.

    • Expiration:

      • After the trial expires, the instance automatically converts to the pay-as-you-go billing method. This conversion does not require redeployment or data migration and ensures seamless business continuity. The instance cannot be converted to a subscription.

      • If you no longer need the instance after the trial, you must release it before the trial expires. Otherwise, you will be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Are expired KMS instances still billed?

No. Expired KMS instances are not billed.

Can I unsubscribe from a KMS instance?

Subscription instances support two cancellation options:

  • Unsubscription with a partial refund — available only for instances in the Disabled or Enabled state

  • Cancellation of pending renewal orders

For eligibility requirements and refund rules, see Unsubscription instructions.

For pay-as-you-go instances, release the instance when you no longer need it.

If a KMS instance uses the pay-as-you-go billing method and you no longer need it, you can release the pay-as-you-go instance.