Switch an ApsaraDB RDS instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go billing to gain usage flexibility. A refund is issued for the remaining subscription period.
After the switch, make sure your payment method has enough balance. Overdue payments can disrupt instance operations. For long-term workloads, subscription offers deeper discounts than pay-as-you-go. The longer the subscription term, the greater the savings.
Prerequisites
The instance uses the subscription billing method. For details, see Billable items.
The instance is in the Running state.
The instance does not use a legacy instance type. If it does, change the instance type first.
If a subscription instance is locked due to expiration, renew the instance before changing the billing method. See Manual renewal.
Refund calculation
After the billing method changes, the refundable amount is returned to your original payment method.
Refundable amount = Amount paid - Amount consumed
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Amount paid | The actual cash amount paid for the order. This excludes deductions from vouchers or coupons. |
| Amount consumed | Daily unit price x Usage duration x Applicable discount for the usage duration |
For example, if you paid $360 for a 12-month subscription and used the instance for 4 months at a daily unit price of $1.00 with no applicable discount, the amount consumed is $1.00 x 120 days x 1.0 = $120. Your refund would be $360 - $120 = $240.
For the full refund policy, see Refund rules for changing the billing method from subscription to pay-as-you-go.
Procedure
This operation does not affect the running state of the instance.
Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the navigation pane, click Instances. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
Find the target instance and open the Change from Subscription to Pay-as-you-go page by using one of the following methods:
In the Billing Method column, click Switch to Pay-as-you-go.
Click the instance ID. In the Status section, find Billing Method and click Change to Pay-As-You-Go.
Confirm the instance information, read the Terms of Service, and then click Confirm Order.
Verify the result
After the order is processed, go back to the instance list. In the Billing Method column, confirm that the billing method is now Pay-as-you-go.
FAQ
What should I do if the price inquiry fails?
This usually happens for one of two reasons:
Classic network: The classic network is no longer available for RDS. Switch the network type to a virtual private cloud (VPC) before changing the billing method.
Legacy instance type: If a pop-up message says "The current instance type is a legacy instance type", change to a currently available instance type first, then retry. See Legacy instance types.
API reference
| API | Description |
|---|---|
| TransformDBInstancePayType | Changes the billing method of an RDS instance. |