Billing
Elastic Compute Agent uses Credits as the unified billing unit. The service is free to activate and supports two billing methods—pay-as-you-go and resource packages—that can be used together.
Credits
Credits are the unified metering and settlement unit for Elastic Compute Agent. Resource consumption from sessions, scheduled tasks, and other operations is converted into Credits for billing. Different tasks consume different amounts of Credits based on complexity.
Consumption reference
The following table lists estimated Credits consumption for common operations.
| Operation type | Estimated Credits consumed |
| Standard knowledge Q&A | ~2 Credits |
| Query and analyze 10 ECS instances | ~5 Credits |
| Health inspection of 1 machine | ~20 Credits |
The values above are estimates. Actual consumption varies based on task complexity, the number of resources involved, and the number of tool calls. For accurate data, see the Usage and Quota page in the console.
Billing methods and pricing
Elastic Compute Agent supports two billing methods: pay-as-you-go and resource packages. Both methods are available to all customers and can be used together.
| Dimension | Pay-as-you-go | Resource package |
| When to use | High usage fluctuations or difficulty estimating monthly consumption | Stable usage with preference for lower unit pricing |
| How to activate | Enabled by default after activating Elastic Compute Agent | Purchase from the Elastic Compute Agent Credit Resource Package page. Takes effect immediately after purchase. |
| Pricing | 0.05 CNY/Credit, post-paid, billed every 5 minutes | One-time prepayment. Multiple packages can be purchased. |
| Validity | Permanently valid | 1 month. Unused Credits are cleared upon expiration. |
| Combined use | After resource package Credits are depleted, pay-as-you-go billing applies automatically | Multiple resource packages can be purchased and take effect simultaneously |
Credit resource packages can only be used to offset Credits consumed by Elastic Compute Agent and cannot be used for other Alibaba Cloud products.
Consumption logic
When multiple active resource packages exist, Credits are deducted from the earliest-expiring package first.
After all resource packages are consumed or expired, pay-as-you-go billing applies at 0.05 CNY/Credit with a billing cycle of 5 minutes.
Agent consumption is governed by the Permission Configuration.
FAQ
Is Credits consumption data consistent with billing data?
Yes. Credits consumption data is based on the Usage and Quota page, and billing records summarize actual charges in 5-minute billing cycles.
What happens to unused Credits in a resource package after it expires?
After the resource package expires, unused Credits are cleared and cannot be renewed or carried forward. Select the appropriate resource package size based on your historical usage.
Is there a free Credits quota?
New users may receive complimentary Credits upon activation. The specific amount is subject to what is displayed on the Usage and Quota page in the console.
What should I do if a RAM user receives an insufficient permissions error when purchasing a Credit resource package?
Purchasing a Credit resource package requires AliyunBSSOrderAccess (permission to pay for orders) and Elastic Compute Agent-related permissions. Use the primary account to purchase, or contact the primary account administrator to grant the RAM user the corresponding permissions.