A CDN resource plan is a prepaid package that offsets your Content Delivery Network usage charges. Resource plans take effect immediately upon purchase. This topic explains when deductions begin, how multiple plans are applied, and the scope and restrictions of each plan type.
When deductions begin
Resource plans take effect immediately upon purchase.
A 3–4 hour delay applies before a resource plan starts offsetting charges. CDN usage is billed hourly: the system generates the bill for a usage window after that hour closes, then the 3–4 hour processing delay begins. The resource plan offset is applied only after this delay elapses.
Example: If you purchase a 1-month, 1 TB outbound data transfer resource plan for the Chinese mainland at 10:30:30 on August 12, 2021, deductions begin at approximately 14:00:00. The system first bills the 10:00–11:00 usage window after 11:00:00, then applies the 3–4 hour delay from the time of bill generation, resulting in an offset around 14:00:00.
Deduction order
For each resource plan type, if you hold multiple plans, they are applied based on expiration time: the plan that expires soonest is deducted first. When all plans of a given type are exhausted, any remaining usage is automatically billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The same principle applies when comparing plans across different types that cover overlapping regions — the system selects whichever applicable plan expires first.
Example: If you purchased two outbound data transfer resource plans for the Chinese mainland with expiration dates of July 1, 2021 and August 1, 2021, the system deducts from the plan expiring on July 1, 2021 first.
Scope and coverage
CDN resource plans apply at the account level, not per domain. As long as any domain under your Alibaba Cloud account is connected to CDN and generates usage that matches the plan type, the system automatically deducts from the corresponding active resource plan. You do not need to manually bind or assign a plan to a specific domain.
Multiple accelerated domains under the same account share the same resource plan. The system deducts based on each domain's actual usage automatically.
After you purchase a resource plan, you do not need to modify any domain configuration, manually deploy certificates, or rebind SSL certificates. As long as your domain has completed CNAME resolution and is connected to CDN, the generated traffic is automatically deducted.
Whether you are purchasing a resource plan for the first time or repurchasing after a plan expires, no additional configuration or domain setting changes are required. The system automatically prioritizes deduction from valid plans within their validity period and matching the region and type. When an old plan expires, the new plan takes over automatically.
Coverage and restrictions
Plan-to-item mapping
Each resource plan type offsets only the charges for its corresponding billable item. It cannot be applied to other types of charges.
Example: An outbound data transfer resource plan covers outbound data transfer fees only. It does not apply to HTTPS request fees or any other billable items.
Region and metering restrictions
Outbound data transfer resource plans apply only when the metering method is set to pay-by-data-transfer. If your CDN service uses the pay-by-bandwidth metering method, outbound data transfer resource plans cannot be applied. Charges are calculated based on bandwidth billing rules instead. Additionally, resource plans are region-specific and cannot offset charges across different acceleration regions.
Example: An outbound data transfer resource plan for the Chinese mainland can only offset charges incurred within the Chinese mainland. It cannot be used for charges incurred in Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), Taiwan (China), or any region outside the Chinese mainland.
Global resource plan
The CDN global data transfer plan offsets only traffic from regions outside the Chinese mainland, including Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), and Taiwan (China). It does not cover Chinese mainland traffic. To offset Chinese mainland outbound data transfer, you must purchase a separate Chinese mainland outbound data transfer plan.
If your services span the globe, you need both a Chinese mainland plan and a global or overseas plan to cover all regions. Traffic in regions not covered by any plan is billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Expiration behavior
When a resource plan expires or is fully consumed, the system automatically switches to pay-as-you-go billing for any subsequent usage. Monitor your resource plan usage and purchase additional plans before your current ones are exhausted to avoid unexpected pay-as-you-go charges.
Renewal recommendation
If you need to renew a resource plan, we recommend purchasing a new plan one day before your current plan expires. The new plan takes effect immediately upon purchase. Because the system prioritizes deductions based on expiration time, it continues deducting from the older plan first. After the old plan expires, the system automatically switches to the new plan, ensuring a seamless transition and preventing pay-as-you-go charges caused by a lapse in coverage.
FAQ
Does a CDN resource plan refresh monthly or support extensions?
CDN outbound data transfer resource plans typically have a validity period of one year (subject to the purchase page). The total capacity is fixed (for example, 500 GB) and does not refresh monthly. Resource plans do not support extensions. Unused capacity is automatically cleared after the plan expires.
You cannot directly renew a resource plan. We recommend that you purchase a new plan after the current one expires. If you purchase a new plan of the same type while the existing plan is still valid, the remaining capacity is automatically combined. The system deducts from the plan that expires soonest.
Can a newly purchased resource plan offset historical bills or traffic generated before the purchase?
No. A newly purchased resource plan takes effect only for traffic generated after the purchase. It cannot retroactively offset pay-as-you-go bills that have already been generated or charges incurred before the purchase time.
Although a resource plan takes effect immediately upon purchase, the actual deduction may be delayed by 3 to 4 hours because the system needs to generate the hourly bill before applying the plan. This delay does not change the principle that plans cannot offset pre-purchase usage.
Why am I still receiving expiration reminders or incurring small charges after purchasing a resource plan?
Resource plans typically offset only outbound data transfer fees. If your CDN service generates charges for other billable items such as HTTPS requests or HTTP requests, and these items are not covered by your resource plan, the charges are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. Even if your data transfer plan still has remaining capacity, the system may send expiration or overdue payment reminders due to charges for non-traffic billable items such as request fees.
We recommend that you check the billing details in the Alibaba Cloud console to identify whether the charges are for request fees or other non-traffic items. For more information about request billing rules, see the relevant billing documentation.
Do CDN resource plans provide acceleration capabilities?
No. CDN outbound data transfer resource plans are used only to offset data transfer fees. They do not provide CDN origin fetch acceleration or improve transmission speeds. To enable acceleration, you must first configure domain access in the CDN console, including adding an accelerated domain and configuring CNAME resolution. Resource plans only offset fees for traffic generated by the acceleration service.
Can I enable auto-renewal for an expired resource plan?
No. After a resource plan expires, the auto-renewal toggle is grayed out and cannot be enabled. If you want to continue using a resource plan to offset data transfer fees, you need to purchase a new resource plan.