This topic describes the hourly billing rules for computing resources in MaxCompute.
Background information
For hourly billing of MaxCompute, the number of used compute units (CUs) and usage duration are used as metrics. You are charged after elastically reserved CUs are scaled in.
Subscription-based hourly billing is suitable for scenarios in which you want MaxCompute to elastically scale out or scale in reserved CUs. In these scenarios, MaxCompute can temporarily scale out computing resources for the subscription-based level-1 quota in a specific time period in a day. This way, sufficient resources can be provided during peak hours. You do not need to pay for elastically reserved CUs on a monthly subscription basis. If the scale-out is successful, the usage duration starts. If the scale-in is successful, the usage duration ends. You are charged based on the number of used CUs and usage duration (scale-out duration). You pay for elastically reserved CUs after you use them. The system pushes metering data every hour on the hour and when the number of used CUs changes. You are charged based on the total number of elastically reserved CUs for the level-1 quota and the usage duration on an hourly basis. Bills are generated three hours after a billing cycle ends.
If the scale-out of elastically reserved CUs is successful, the elastically reserved CUs are allocated to the subscription quota and are used as exclusive resources, and the usage duration starts. The usage duration ends when the scale-in is successful. Therefore, if elastically reserved CUs are not required based on your business requirements, you must release the elastically reserved CUs at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise, you are charged for elastically reserved CUs even if the elastically reserved CUs are not used.
You can allow MaxCompute to scale out or scale in elastically reserved CUs by configuring parameters on the Quota Plans and Time Plans tabs of the Quotas page. For more information, see Manage quotas in the new MaxCompute console. The maximum number of elastically reserved CUs that can be scaled out is the total number of subscription-based reserved CUs that are purchased based on the associated quota. The scale-out capacity is at least 50 CUs and is increased by a multiple of 50.
Pricing of computing resources
The following table describes the pricing of elastically reserved CUs.
Type | Pricing for public cloud | Description |
Elastically reserved computing resources | USD 0.0488 per CU per hour | If you use elastically reserved CUs for more than 16 hours in a day, we recommend that you purchase subscription-based reserved CUs. |