Backup storage fees - ApsaraDB RDS - Alibaba Cloud Documentation Center

This topic describes the billable items and pricing for the backup storage of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

Billable items

Item	Code	Charged by	References
Storage for automatic backups or manual backups	BackupCharged	ApsaraDB RDS	Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance Use the high-frequency snapshot backup feature
Storage for cross-region backups	DdrOssStorageSize	ApsaraDB RDS	Use the cross-region backup feature
Traffic that is consumed by cross-region backups	NetworkOutDuplicationSize	Database Backup (DBS)	Use the cross-region backup feature
Internet traffic that is consumed for backup downloads	NetworkOutSize	DBS	Download the backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance
File conversion fee generated when you use the advanced download feature of RDS instances that use cloud disks	BackupAnalyticSize	DBS

Billing rules

A free quota on storage is provided for each RDS instance to store backup files. If the total size of the backup files of your RDS instance does not exceed the free quota, no fees are charged. If the total size exceeds the free quota, you are charged an hourly fee for the excess backup storage that you use. The hourly fee is calculated by using the following formula: Hourly fee for backup storage = (Total size of backup files - Free quota) × Unit price of storage.

Total size of backup files

The total size of backup files is calculated by using the following formula: Total size of backup files = Size of data backup files + Size of log backup files.

Note

You can check the Backup Usage parameter in the Usage Statistics section of the Basic Information page of your RDS instance to view the total size of backup files.

Free quota

Backup method	Free quota in GB (rounded up to the next integer)	Description
Snapshot backup	If your RDS instance uses cloud disks, the free quota is equal to 200% of the storage capacity of your RDS instance.	To view the free quota, you can log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console, go to the Basic Information page of your RDS instance, and then view the free quota in the lower-right corner of the page. For more information, see View the free quota for backup storage of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.
Physical backup	If your RDS instance uses local disks, the free quota is equal to 50% of the storage capacity of your RDS instance.

Unit price

Backup method	Unit price (USD per GB)
Snapshot backup	0.00004
Physical backup	0.00020

Billing example

Your RDS instance resides in the China (Hong Kong) region, runs PostgreSQL 13, uses cloud disks, and provides 20 GB of storage capacity. After you perform a snapshot backup on the RDS instance, 40 GB of data backup files and 20 GB of log backup files are stored. The following list describes the calculation method:

Free backup quota: 20 GB x 200% GB = 40 GB
Total size of the backup files of the RDS instance: 40 GB + 20 GB= 60 GB. The total size exceeds the free quota, and you are charged an hourly fee for the excess backup storage based on the following calculation: Hourly fee = (60 GB - 40 GB) x 0.00004 = USD 0.0008 per GB. The backup files are retained for up to 730 days.

Usage notes

The backup storage fee varies based on the total size of backup files. Backup files do not consume the storage capacity of your RDS instance. Therefore, the backup storage fee is not affected by the storage usage.
When you analyze the backup storage fee, you must check the total size of backup files. You do not need to check the storage usage.

Methods to reduce the backup storage fee

Increase the free quota.
You can expand the storage capacity of your RDS instance. For more information, see Change instance specifications.
The free quota varies based on the storage capacity of your RDS instance. If your RDS instance uses local disks and you expand the storage capacity of your RDS instance from 150 GB to 300 GB, the free quota is increased from 75 GB to 150 GB.

FAQ

Why am I charged for backup storage even if the total size of the backup files of my RDS instance does not exceed the free quota for backup storage?
You are charged for backup storage because the size of the backup files exceeded the free quota in the past, and the system does not deduct the additional fee at the earliest opportunity.
The backup retention period of my RDS instance is shortened from x days to y days. Why does the size of backup files remain unchanged?
If no backup files are retained for more than y days, no backup files are deleted and the size of backup files remains unchanged after you shorten the backup retention period.