This topic provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the billing of elastic IP addresses (EIPs).
Can I switch the billing method of an EIP from subscription to pay-as-you-go?
After I release a pay-as-you-go EIP, am I still charged for the EIP?
Why do I need to set the maximum bandwidth for a pay-by-data-transfer EIP?
Can I downgrade a subscription EIP?
You can only increase the maximum bandwidth of a subscription EIP and cannot decrease the maximum bandwidth.
To downgrade a subscription EIP, use the following methods:
Switch the subscription EIP to a pay-as-you-go EIP, and then downgrade the subscription EIP. For more information, see Switch from subscription to pay-as-you-go (pay-by-bandwidth) and Modify the configuration of a pay-as-you-go EIP.
If you downgrade the bandwidth when you renew an EIP, the new bandwidth is effective during the renewal period. For more information, see Modify the configuration of an EIP when you renew the subscription of the EIP.
Can I renew multiple subscription EIPs at a time?
Yes.
You can go to the Renewal page to renew subscription EIPs.
Can I switch a subscription EIP to a pay-as-you-go EIP?
Yes.
You can switch subscription EIPs to pay-as-you-go (pay-by-data-transfer) EIPs. For more information, see Switch from subscription to pay-as-you-go (pay-by-data-transfer).
You can switch subscription EIPs to pay-as-you-go (pay-by-bandwidth) EIPs. For more information, see Switch from subscription to pay-as-you-go (pay-by-bandwidth).
Is an EIP still billed if the the Alibaba Cloud account to which the EIP belongs has overdue payments?
Yes. The billing of an EIP is stopped only after the EIP is released.
The EIP is still billed if the Alibaba Cloud account to which the EIP belongs has overdue payments. To continue to use the EIP, top up your account. If you no longer need the EIP, you can release the EIP. For more information about how to release an EIP, see Release a pay-as-you-go EIP.
After I release a pay-as-you-go EIP, why am I still charged for the EIP?
For a pay-as-you-go EIP, the bill for the current hour is generated within the next hour or next day. Although the bill is sent to you after the EIP is released, the billing is stopped when the EIP is released. Examples:
If you release a pay-by-data-transfer EIP at 10:30:00, you will receive the EIP bill for the data transfer from 10:00:00 to 11:00:00 after 11:00:00.
If you release a pay-by-bandwidth EIP on December 30, 2020, you will receive a bill on December 31, 2020 for the bandwidth usage on December 30, 2020.
Why do I need to set a maximum bandwidth value for a pay-by-data-transfer EIP?
For a pay-by-data-transfer EIP, we recommend that you set a maximum bandwidth value to prevent unnecessary fees caused by excessive outbound traffic.
The maximum bandwidth is not guaranteed for a pay-by-data-transfer EIP. The maximum bandwidth is not guaranteed for a pay-by-data-transfer EIP. For example, if the maximum bandwidth value of a pay-by-data-transfer EIP is set to 200 Mbit/s, the peak bandwidth may not reach 200 Mbit/s. If you want to use an EIP with a guaranteed maximum bandwidth value, you must purchase a pay-by-bandwidth EIP or an Internet Shared Bandwidth instance.
Can I switch the metering method of a pay-as-you-go EIP from pay-by-data-transfer to pay-by-bandwidth or from pay-by-bandwidth to pay-by-data-transfer?
Yes. Take note of the following limits before you switch the billing method:
The new metering method takes effect at 00:00:00 (UTC+8) the next day.
Before the new metering method takes effect, you cannot modify the maximum bandwidth of the EIP.
For more information, see Switch the metering method.
Am I still charged an EIP configuration fee after I associate an EIP with an Internet Shared Bandwidth instance?
Whether you are charged an EIP configuration fee is determined by the associated resource type and number of EIPs, and is irrelevant to whether the EIP is associated with an Internet Shared Bandwidth instance. For more information, see EIP configuration fee (public IP retention fee).