The billable items for ApsaraDB RDS include RDS instance billable items, value-added service billable items, and billable items for other Alibaba Cloud services related to RDS. This topic describes the definitions, billing formulas, and billing methods of the billable items.
RDS instances
Based on the billing method, RDS instances can be classified into the following types:
Subscription or pay-as-you-go RDS instances. When you purchase such an RDS instance, you must specify the specifications of the computing resources and storage capacity. After you purchase the instance, you are charged RDS instance type fees and storage capacity fees.
Serverless instances. The computing resources of a serverless RDS instance are automatically scaled within the specified range based on your workloads. The storage capacity of the serverless RDS instance is automatically expanded based on the data volume. Serverless instances incur RCU fees and storage capacity fees.
RDS instance type
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the computing resource specifications of subscription or pay-as-you-go RDS instances (including regular instances, read-only instances). The billable item is named RDS Instance Type (rds_class) or Instance Type (ClassCode). After you create an RDS instance, fees are generated for the billable item. If the computing resource specifications or the number of nodes of the instance are increased or decreased, the fees for the billable item generally change. |
Billing formula |
Note The unit price of the instance type varies based on the region, database engine, and specifications. For more information, visit the ApsaraDB RDS buy page or check your bills. |
Billing method | Subscription or pay-as-you-go. |
RCU for serverless instances
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the computing resources of a serverless RDS instance. The billable item is named RCU (rds_serverless_rcu). After you create a serverless RDS instance, fees are generated for the billable item based on the actual usage of RCUs. If you suspend the serverless RDS instance, fees are no longer generated for the billable item. |
Billing formula | RCU fee = Unit price of RCUs on a single node × Number of RCUs used by a single node × Number of nodes × Duration Note For more information about the unit price of RCUs, see Serverless ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL fees. |
Billing method | Serverless. |
Storage capacity
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the storage capacity of subscription, pay-as-you-go, or serverless RDS instances (including regular instances, read-only instances, and disaster recovery instances). The billable item is named Storage Capacity (rds_storage or Storage). After you create an RDS instance, fees are generated for the billable item. If you expand or reduce the storage capacity of your RDS instance, the fees for the billable item change. |
Billing formula |
Note
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Billing method | Subscription, pay-as-you-go, and serverless. |
Value-added features of ApsaraDB RDS
The value-added features are the paid features that are provided by ApsaraDB RDS. After you enable or use a value-added feature, fees are generated for the feature. The fee for the value-added feature is charged by ApsaraDB RDS.
I/O burst for premium performance disks
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the I/O burst of an RDS instance that uses premium performance disks. You are not charged for enabling the I/O burst feature for premium performance disks. However, if you enable the feature and the I/O burst exceeds the free quota, fees are generated for the billable item named I/O Burst (io_burst). For more information about the feature, see I/O burst for ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL. |
Billing formula | I/O burst fee for premium performance disks = (Total I/O burst of all nodes in the instance - Free quota) × Unit price of I/O burst × Duration Note For more information about the total I/O burst of all nodes in the instance, free quota, and unit price of I/O burst, see Billing of I/O burst for ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL. |
Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
Premium performance disk data archiving
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the archived data volume of an RDS instance that uses premium performance disks. You are not charged for enabling the data archiving feature. However, if you enable the feature, fees are generated for the billable item named OSS Storage Capacity (rds_oss_storage) for the data that is archived to Object Storage Service (OSS). For more information about the feature, see Data archiving for ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL. |
Billing formula | Premium performance disk data archiving fee = Archived data volume × Unit price of data archiving × Duration Note For more information about the unit price of data archiving, see Billing of data archiving for ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL. |
Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
Regular backup and archived backup
Regular backup storage
Category | Description |
Definition | Data backup files and log backup files are stored in the backup storage that is provided by Alibaba Cloud. Alibaba Cloud provides a free quota for backup storage. If the backup storage exceeds the free quota, you are charged for the excess backup storage on a pay-as-you-go basis. The billable item is named RDS Basic Backup Fee (backup_charged). For more information about the feature, see Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance. |
Billable product | Relational database. |
Billing formula | Backup storage fee = (Total storage of backup files - Free quota) × Unit price of backup storage × Duration Note
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Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
The billing items generated by cross-region backup include relational database and Database Backup products on your bill. For more information, see Data Disaster Recovery: cross-region backup, backup storage for deleted instances, and download of backup files.
download of backup files are billed as Database Backup products. For more information, see Data Disaster Recovery: cross-region backup, backup storage for deleted instances, and download of backup files.
Full restoration and regular database and table restoration
Full restoration (instance cloning)
When you use data backups and log backups of the original instance for data restoration to a new instance, you are charged for the RDS instance type and storage of the new instance.
For more information, see Restore PostgreSQL data.
Regular database and table restoration
If you restore specific databases or tables to the original RDS instance by using backup sets or to a point in time, no fees are generated.
For more information, see Restore PostgreSQL databases and tables.
SQL Audit (DAS Enterprise V0)
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the storage of the SQL logs that are generated by the SQL Audit feature. If you enable the SQL Audit feature, you are charged based on the size of the SQL logs that are generated by the SQL Audit feature and storage duration of the logs. The billing item is named SQL Audit (sql_collected). For more information, see RDS PostgreSQL SQL Explorer and Audit. |
Billing product | Relational database. |
Billing formula | SQL audit fee = Unit price × Storage used by SQL logs that are generated by the SQL Audit feature × Duration Note For the unit price of SQL Audit, see Billing. |
Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
For the SQL Explorer and Audit feature provided by DAS Enterprise V3/V2/V1, the billing product is Database Autonomy Service. For more information, see DAS: SQL Explorer and Audit.
Database proxy
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees for the database proxy feature. When you enable the database proxy feature and select Dedicated proxy as the proxy type, you are charged based on the specifications of the proxy and the duration of use. The billing item is named Number of database proxy instance shards (MaxscaleChargedSliceNum). General-purpose database proxies are provided free of charge. For more information about this feature, see RDS PostgreSQL database proxy. |
Billing formula | Database proxy fee = Unit price × Number of database proxies × Duration Note For the unit price of database proxies, see Dedicated proxy pricing. |
Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
Public endpoint traffic
If you apply for a public endpoint for your RDS instance and use the public endpoint to connect to your RDS instance, Internet traffic is consumed. Currently, you are not charged for the inbound or outbound Internet traffic that is consumed to connect to your RDS instance by using the public endpoint.
For more information, see Enable or disable the public endpoint for an RDS PostgreSQL instance.
Other cloud products providing services and billing
ApsaraDB RDS integrates with other Alibaba Cloud services. If you use the following features, additional billable items are generated.
Data Disaster Recovery: cross-region backup, backup storage for deleted instances, download of backup files
Cross-region backup
Category | Description |
Definition | Fee for traffic that is consumed by cross-region backups and fee for the storage of backup files that are generated by cross-region backups. The following billable items are used: Cross-region backup storage (DdrOssStorageSize) and Traffic consumed by cross-region backups (NetworkOutDuplicationSize). For more information, see Cross-region backup for SQL Server. |
Billing product |
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Billing formula |
Note
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Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
Whether savings plans or resource plans can be used for deduction | DBS network plan can be used to offset the traffic consumed by cross-region backups (NetworkOutDuplicationSize) fees for subscription or pay-as-you-go ApsaraDB RDS instances. |
Download of backup files
Category | Description |
Definition | Fees that are generated when you download the backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS instance, including the outbound traffic over Internet (NetworkOutSize) fee and the traffic consumed for the backup set conversion (BackupAnalyticSize) fee that is generated when you use the advanced download feature. For more information, see Download the backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance. |
Billing product | Database Backup. |
Billing formula |
Note For the unit price of backup calculation data volume (also called backup conversion fee unit price) and outbound traffic over Internet unit price generated by downloading backups, see Download backup. |
Billing method | Pay-as-you-go. |
Whether savings plans or resource plans can be used for deduction | DBS network plan can be used to offset the outbound traffic over Internet (NetworkOutSize) fees for subscription or pay-as-you-go ApsaraDB RDS instances. |
DAS: SQL Explorer and Audit
The billable items of DAS Enterprise Edition V3, DAS Enterprise Edition V2, and DAS Enterprise Edition V1 belong to the Database Autonomy Service billing product.
Enterprise Edition V3
Billing for Enterprise Edition V3 is feature-based, offering more flexibility and significant cost savings.
Upon activating Enterprise Edition V3, log traffic fees apply by default, with additional fees incurred based on the use of specific features.
Data migration from Enterprise Edition V1 and V2 to V3 is complimentary. Charges apply according to the source version before migration and the destination version upon completion. For more information, see the referenced document.
Enterprise Edition V3 billing method overview
Billing examples
The following are two billing examples based on business scenarios and selected features:
Scenario
Supports comprehensive SQL log recording and cluster analysis for quick SQL issue querying and resolution, emergency service handling, and in-depth optimization. For more information, see SQL Explorer and Audit. In the O&M scenario, consider enabling the following features.
For an instance with 10 GB of daily write traffic, set SQL Log Storage to 30 days and Log Indexing hot storage to 7 days.
The SQL Log Storage Duration is the total time for SQL Log Storage, which defaults to cold storage. For instance, after enabling log indexing, new logs are stored in hot storage for 7 days and then in cold storage for the remaining 23 days.
Feature | Billable items | Daily unit price (for Alibaba Cloud public cloud in the Chinese mainland) | Daily usage | Daily fee |
SQL logs | Log traffic (DataIngestion) | 0.24 CNY/GB | 10 GB | 2.4 CNY |
Cold storage (SqlInsightColdDataSize) | 0.003 CNY/GB/day | After SQL logs start to be stored in cold storage 10 GB on the first day 20 GB on the second day …… and 230 GB on the 23rd day | 0 (Logs can be stored in cold storage free of charge for 30 days.) | |
Log indexing | Log indexing (RealTimeSearchAnalytics) | 0.24 CNY/GB | 10 GB | 2.4 CNY |
Hot storage (SqlInsightHotDataSize) | 0.01 CNY/GB/day | After this feature is enabled the daily usage is 10 GB on the first day 20 GB on the second day …… and 70 GB on the seventh day (Data is dumped to cold storage after seven days.) | If data is stored in hot storage for seven days 10 × (7 - 1) × 0.01 = 0.6 CNY (Logs are stored in hot storage free of charge on the first day.) | |
SQL Explorer | Insight analysis (InsightAnalysis) | 0.08 CNY/GB | 10 GB | 0.8 CNY |
Audit and compliance
Meets bank-level security compliance and regulatory requirements in the Chinese mainland, offering long-term transparent monitoring of database behavior with real-time alerts. It detects abnormal access, vulnerability attacks, data breaches, and baseline deviations to protect database services. For more information, see Security Audit (new version). In this scenario, consider enabling the following features.
For an instance with 10 GB of daily write traffic, set SQL Log Storage to 180 days to comply with regulations in the Chinese mainland.
The SQL Log Storage Duration is the total storage time for SQL Log, which defaults to cold storage.
To comply with regulations in the Chinese mainland, the cold storage duration must be at least 180 days.
Feature | Billable items | Daily unit price (for Alibaba Cloud public cloud in the Chinese mainland) | Daily usage | Daily fee |
SQL logs | Log traffic (DataIngestion) | 0.24 CNY/GB | 10 GB | 2.4 CNY |
Cold storage (SqlInsightColdDataSize) | 0.003 CNY/GB/day | 10 GB on the first day 20 GB on the second day …… and 1,800 GB on the 180th day | 10 × (180 - 30) × 0.003 = 4.5 CNY (Logs can be stored in cold storage free of charge for 30 days.) | |
Security audit | Security audit (SecurityAudit) | 0.48 CNY/GB | 10 GB | 4.8 CNY |
Public cloud
Billable items | Billing method | Pricing in the Chinese mainland | Pricing in Hong Kong (China) and regions outside China | Description |
Log traffic (DataIngestion) | Pay-as-you-go | 0.04 USD/GB | 0.06 USD/GB | Default Fee. You are charged for the traffic consumed for collecting, transferring, and writing logs to storage on a pay-as-you-go basis. For more information, see the referenced document. |
Log indexing (RealTimeSearchAnalytics) | 0.04 USD/GB | 0.06 USD/GB | You are charged fees after you enable the log indexing feature. Log indexes are stored as hot data. DAS dynamically adjusts and optimizes indexes to ensure rapid data retrieval. If you enable the log indexing feature, log indexes can be stored in hot storage free of charge for one day. | |
SQL Explorer (InsightAnalysis) | 0.0134 USD/GB | 0.02 USD/GB | You are charged for automatic data aggregation and analysis by using the SQL Explorer feature based on the log volume. | |
Hot storage (SqlInsightHotDataSize) | 0.00167 USD/GB/day | 0.0025 USD/GB/day | You are charged for hot storage based on the log volume and storage duration. Logs can be stored in hot storage free of charge for one day after they are written to hot storage. If cold storage is enabled, the logs are automatically dumped to cold storage free of charge after the specified hot storage duration ends. Logs can be stored in hot storage for up to seven days. | |
Cold storage (SqlInsightColdDataSize) | 0.0005 USD/GB/day | 0.00075 USD/GB/day | Default Fee. You are charged for cold storage based on the log volume and storage duration.
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Cold query (SqlScanDataSize) | 0.0025 USD/GB | 0.00375 USD/GB | You are charged for querying logs in cold storage offline based on the log volume. | |
Cold query (SqlScanDataSize) | 0.067 USD/GB | 0.1 USD/GB | You are charged for data exporting and dumping. Currently, this service is free of charge. | |
Security audit (SecurityAudit) | 0.08 USD/GB | 0.12 USD/GB | You are charged for the new version of the security audit feature based on the log volume. |
Enterprise Edition V2
Public cloud
Billable items | Billing method | Pricing in the Chinese mainland, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Indonesia (Jakarta) | Pricing in Hong Kong (China) and Singapore | Description |
Hot storage (SqlInsightHotDataSize) | Pay-as-you-go | 0.00145 USD/GB/hour | 0.002175 USD/GB/hour | Data is stored in high-performance storage devices to provide query acceleration and SQL aggregation information capabilities. The SQL Explorer and Audit data generated in the previous seven days is stored in hot storage. |
Cold storage (SqlInsightColdDataSize) | 0.00018 USD/GB/hour | 0.00027 USD/GB/hour | Data is stored in low-cost storage devices to reduce usage costs. SQL Explorer and Audit data that exceeds the previous seven days is automatically transferred from hot storage to cold storage. The response time of a cold data query is longer than that of a hot data query. | |
Data query fee (SqlScanDataSize) | 0.029 USD/GB | 0.0435 USD/GB | You are charged for querying data that is stored in cold storage on a pay-as-you-go basis. | |
Security audit (SecurityAudit) | 0.08 USD/GB | 0.12 USD/GB |
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Enterprise Edition V1 and V0
Enterprise Edition V1 incurs subscription fees only.
Billable items | Billing method | Pricing | Description |
Subscription costs | Subscription | USD 6.2 per instance-month | The number of instances used for billing refers to the specified quota of DAS Enterprise Edition V1, which indicates the total number of database instances for which you can enable DAS Professional Edition V1. For example, if the current account's Enterprise Edition V1 quota is 3 and the number of database instances with DAS Professional Edition enabled is 1, then the subscription fee for DAS Professional Edition for this account is Important You are charged subscription fees only for DAS Enterprise Edition V1. |
Storage fees for SQL Explorer (sql_storage_used) | Pay-as-you-go |
| Pricing in the Chinese mainland, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Indonesia (Jakarta). |
| Applicable regions: China (Hong Kong) and Singapore. | ||
Security audit (SecurityAudit) |
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Economy edition
Billable items | Billing method | Pricing | Description |
Basic plan | Subscription | USD 7.5714 per month | Up to 10 database instances can be connected. |
Medium plan | USD 21.4286 per month | Up to 50 database instances can be connected. | |
Advanced plan | USD 42.8571 per month | The number of database instances that can be connected is not limited. |
Basic Edition
Complimentary.