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    PolarDB:Billing methods

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    PolarDB:Billing methods

    Last Updated:Mar 28, 2026

    PolarDB for MySQL supports three billing methods: subscription, pay-as-you-go, and serverless. Use the table below to match your workload pattern to the right method.

    Choose a billing method

    Billing methodBest forPaymentCompute nodesBilling cycleSwitch to
    SubscriptionStable, predictable workloads with a known usage durationUpfrontDefined specificationsBased on the Duration you selectPay-as-you-go
    Pay-as-you-goUnpredictable or short-term workloadsPost-paidDefined specificationsPer second, billed hourlySubscription
    ServerlessFluctuating or unpredictable workloads; individual developers; development and staging environments; IoT and edge computingPost-paidDynamic (scales automatically in PolarDB Capacity Units, or PCUs)Per second, billed hourlyNot supported
    Some billable items support only the pay-as-you-go billing method. For details, see Billable items. Switch rules vary by edition. For details, see Switch billing methods.

    Serverless billing unit: A PolarDB Capacity Unit (PCU) is the billing unit for serverless clusters. Serverless clusters are billed per second based on the average number of PCUs consumed. For the full pricing formula, see Billing rules for serverless compute nodes.

    Configuration changes

    When you change a cluster's configuration, charges adjust based on the billing method. For details, see Change configurations.

    Billing methodHow charges adjust
    SubscriptionUpgrades and added nodes incur additional fees. Downgrades and deleted nodes generate a refund.
    Pay-as-you-goAfter you change the configuration, you are charged hourly based on the price of the new configuration.
    ServerlessConfiguration changes are not supported. Compute resources scale automatically based on the service payload.

    Expiration and overdue payments

    Service interruptions may occur when a subscription cluster expires or a payment becomes overdue. The system sends a notification for both events. To prevent interruptions, add funds to your Alibaba Cloud account or renew the cluster immediately. For details, see Expiration and overdue payments.

    Bills

    Each billing method uses a distinct commodity code in your bill:

    • Subscription: polardb_sub_intlpolardb_payg_intlpolardb_sub_intl

    • Pay-as-you-go: polardb_payg_intl

    • Serverless: polardb_serverless_public_intlpolardb_serverless_public_intl

    To view and analyze charges, see Bills.

    FAQ

    Why am I still billed after purchasing a subscription cluster?

    Subscription covers the compute nodes, but some items are always billed on a pay-as-you-go basis:

    Check the Bills page for a line-item breakdown.

    Why am I still billed after releasing or unsubscribing from a cluster?

    Two common reasons:

    Delayed pay-as-you-go bills: Pay-as-you-go charges are finalized after the billing cycle ends, so bills can arrive after you release the cluster. This applies to pay-as-you-go clusters and to pay-as-you-go items (such as storage) within a subscription cluster. Check the Bills page in the PolarDB console for details.

    Backup storage after release: If your backup policy is set to When the cluster is released, the cluster data is automatically backed up, and the latest backup set is retained for a long period of time., backup storage costs continue after the cluster is released. To stop these charges, delete the backup sets from the cluster recycle bin. For details, see Permanently delete a released cluster.

    How is a serverless cluster billed?

    A serverless cluster is billed per second based on the average number of PolarDB Capacity Units (PCUs) consumed. For the full billing formula, see Billing rules for serverless compute nodes.

    Can I switch from a subscription or pay-as-you-go cluster to serverless?

    Two options are available: