Billing Methods
1. ECS
An ECS instance includes an instance (vCPUs and memory), an image, and a system disk, and uses one of the following basic billing methods: subscription, pay-as-you-go.
The following table describes the billing item of each billing method.
| Billing Method | Billing Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | ● Instance ● Ultra-Disk/Standard SSD | A billing method that allows you to use ECS resources only after you pay for them. You must pay for subscription resources before you can use them. |
| Pay-as-you-go | ● Instance ● Ultra-Disk/Standard SSD ● Snapshot | A billing method that allows you to use ECS resources and pay for them afterward. The system generates bills in each billing cycle and deducts corresponding fees from your account. |
Subscription and pay-as-you-go instances support different features. The following table describes the differences:
| Feature | Subscription | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | Supported | Supported |
| Release instances | ● Not supported ● If you do not renew an instance within the required period, the instance is automatically released. | ● Supported. ● Release pay-as-you-go instances that you no longer need at the earliest opportunity. If you do not release them, the ECS resources continue to incur charges until the instances are released due to overdue payments. |
| Change instance types (Upgrade/Downgrade) | Supported | Supported |
| Renew | Supported (including ECS instance, server guard, and system disk) | Not supported |
2. Data Disk
Data Disk uses one of the following basic billing methods: subscription, pay-as-you-go.
The following table describes the billing item of each billing method.
| Billing Method | Billing Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Ultra-Disk/Standard SSD | A billing method that allows you to use Disk resources only after you pay for them. You must pay for subscription resources before you can use them. |
| Pay-as-you-go | Ultra-Disk/Standard SSD | A billing method that allows you to use Disk resources and pay for them afterward. The system generates bills in each billing cycle and deducts corresponding fees from your account. |
Subscription and pay-as-you-go instances support different features. The following table describes the differences:
| Feature | Subscription | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | Supported | Supported |
| Release instances | ● Not supported ● If you do not renew an instance within the required period, the instance is automatically released. | Supported |
| Change | Supported | Supported |
| Renew | Supported | Not supported |