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 SQL Server instance.

Billable items

Item	Code	Charged by	References
Storage for automatic backups or manual backups	BackupCharged	ApsaraDB RDS	Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance Enable the 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 data backup files and log backup files

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 only up to the next integer)	Description
Snapshot backup	Free quota: 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 on backup storage of an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console.
Physical backup	Free quota: 50% of the storage capacity of your RDS instance

Unit price

Backup method	Unit price (USD per GB)
Snapshot backup	0.00004
Physical backup	RDS instances that use cloud disks: 0.00004 RDS instances that use local disks: 0.00020

Billing example

Your RDS instance resides in the China (Hong Kong) region, runs SQL Server 2019 SE, uses cloud disks, and provides 20 GB of storage capacity. After you perform a physical backup on the RDS instance, 20 GB of data backup files and 10 GB of log backup files are stored. The following list describes the billing method of the backup files:

Free quota: 20 GB x 50% = 10 GB
Total size of the backup files of the RDS instance: 20 GB +10 GB = 30 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 = (30 GB - 10 GB) x 0.00004 = USD 0.0008 per GB.

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

Reduce the total size of backup files.
You can delete backup files, reduce the backup frequency, or shorten the backup retention period. For more information, see Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
Increase the free quota.
You can expand the storage capacity of your RDS instance. For more information, see Change the specifications of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
The free quota varies based on the storage capacity of your RDS instance. For example, your RDS instance uses the physical backup method and is expanded from 150 GB to 300 GB, the free quota increases from 75 GB to 150 GB.

View the free quota on backup storage of an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console

Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
In the Usage Statistics section of the page that appears, view the free quota that is displayed to the right of the Backup Usage parameter.
Note
The free quota on backup storage varies based on the instance configuration.

Billing 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.