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:Change the billing method of an instance

Last Updated:Jun 20, 2026

If the current pay-as-you-go or subscription billing method for your RDS Custom instance no longer meets your needs, you can change it by following the instructions in this topic.

Prerequisites

The RDS Custom instance must be in the Running or Suspended state.

Impacts

Changing the billing method does not affect the instance's operation.

Scenarios

RDS Custom instance

Cloud disk attached to the instance

Result

Change from pay-as-you-go to subscription

Pay-as-you-go

Important

A subscription cloud disk can be attached only to a subscription instance. It cannot be attached to a pay-as-you-go instance.

The billing methods of both the instance and the cloud disk are changed to subscription.

Change from subscription to pay-as-you-go

Subscription

The billing methods of both the instance and the cloud disk are changed to pay-as-you-go.

Pay-as-you-go

  • The billing method of the instance is changed to pay-as-you-go.

  • The billing method of the cloud disk remains unchanged.

Both subscription and pay-as-you-go

  • The billing method of the instance is changed to pay-as-you-go.

  • The billing method of the subscription cloud disk is changed to pay-as-you-go.

  • The billing method of the pay-as-you-go cloud disk remains unchanged.

Change from pay-as-you-go to subscription

Usage notes

  • If an instance has an unpaid order to change its billing method to subscription, you must pay for or cancel the order on the Order Management page before you can change the billing method.

  • When you change the billing method from pay-as-you-go to subscription, if the change spans across the hour, the instance is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis for the hour in which the change is initiated. After the top of the hour, the instance is billed on a subscription basis.

    For example, you start to change the billing method of an instance from pay-as-you-go to subscription at 09:55. The billing method is officially changed to subscription at 10:10. The instance is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis for the 09:00 to 10:00 period and on a subscription basis after 10:00.

    Note
    • Pay-as-you-go instances are billed hourly. Bill generation may be delayed. You can check the bill later.

    • We recommend that you change the billing method 15 to 30 minutes before the top of the hour.

Procedure

  1. Log on to the RDS console. In the navigation pane on the left, click RDS Custom >  Custom Instances. Then, select a region from the top navigation bar.

  2. Find the target instance. In the Actions column, click More > Change To Subscription.

    Alternatively, on the Basic Information page of the instance, click Switch to Subscription Billing next to Billing Method.

  3. Select a Duration and click Pay Now.

    Note

    The system generates an order to change the billing method to subscription. If this order is not paid or is canceled, you cannot purchase new instances or change the billing method of an existing instance to subscription. You can pay for or cancel the order on the Order Management page.

  4. Complete the payment as prompted.

Change from subscription to pay-as-you-go

Usage notes

Procedure

  1. Log on to the RDS console. In the navigation pane on the left, click RDS Custom >  Custom Instances. Then, select a region from the top navigation bar.

  2. Find the target instance. In the Actions column, click More > Change to Pay-as-You-Go.

    Alternatively, on the Basic Information page of the instance, click Change to Pay-As-You-Go next to Billing Method.

  3. Confirm the instance information, then click Pay Now.

Related API operations

ModifyRCInstanceChargeType: Changes the billing method of an RDS Custom instance or a cloud disk.

References