This topic describes the billable items of PolarDB.

The following chart shows the approximate proportion of each billable item in a PolarDB cluster.

Percentage
Table 1. Billable items
Billable itemDescriptionBilling method
Compute nodes
  • Compute nodes contain primary and read-only nodes.
  • You are charged for compute nodes based on their region, specifications, and usage duration.
  • Pay-as-you-go
  • Subscription
  • Serverless
Note
Storage space
  • Storage space is used to store cluster data files, index files, log files, and temporary files. Log files include online and archived logs. You are charged for the amount of storage space that you use.
  • The amount for which you are charged depends on the volume of data stored and the length of time for which data is retained.
  • Pay-as-you-go and storage plan
  • Pay-as-you-go
  • Subscription
  • Serverless
Note
  • We recommend that you purchase storage plans, which are cost-effective. For more information, see .
  • For more information about the billing rules for storage, see Billing rules for storage.
Backup storage space (only charged after the free quota is reached)
  • Backup files consume storage spaces. PolarDB offers a free storage quota for backup files. After this quota is exhausted, you are charged for the amount of excess storage space consumed by backup files.
  • The amount you are charged depends on the size of data backup files and the length of time for which the files are retained.
  • Pay-as-you-go and storage plan
  • Pay-as-you-go
  • Serverless
Note The subscription billing method is not supported for backup storage space. If you select Subscription when you purchase a cluster, the subscription billing method is applied only to compute nodes, and you may still be charged for other items, such as the storage of backup files. We recommend that you purchase storage plans to offset fees generated by level-1 backup. For more information, see Billing rules of backup storage that exceeds the free quota.
PolarProxy (serverless)PolarProxy is billed on an hourly basis in PCUs. The bill of PolarProxy depends on the region where the serverless cluster is deployed and the duration. Serverless
SQL Explorer (optional)
  • The SQL Explorer feature on Database Autonomy Service (DAS) provides value-added capabilities such as security audits and performance diagnostics. After you enable this feature, you are charged for the amount of storage space consumed by audit logs. A free storage quota is provided for the SQL Explorer feature. After this quota is exhausted, you are charged for the amount of excess storage space.
  • The amount you are charged depends on the size of audit logs and the length of time for which the logs are retained.
  • Pay-as-you-go
  • Serverless
Note
  • The SQL Explorer feature does not support the subscription billing method. If you select Subscription when you purchase a cluster, the subscription billing method is applied only to compute nodes, and you may still be charged for other items, such as the audit logs generated by the SQL Explorer feature.
  • For more information about the billing of SQL Explorer, see Billing rules of SQL Explorer (optional).
Note
  • The global database network (GDN) feature is provided free of charge. You are charged only for each PolarDB cluster that uses the GDN feature. For more information, see GDN.
  • The multi-zone deployment feature is provided free of charge. For more information, see Multi-zone deployment.