This topic describes the refund policy and unsubscription rules for ApsaraDB RDS.
Refund eligibility
The refund options for ApsaraDB RDS vary based on the billing method, as shown in the following table.
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Billing method |
Description |
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Subscription |
When you purchase a subscription ApsaraDB RDS instance, you pay in advance for the subscription period. If your business needs change and you no longer require the instance, you can apply for a refund. Before you unsubscribe, make sure you understand the Alibaba Cloud Product Unsubscription Rules, and then unsubscribe on the Unsubscription Management page. The refund amount is calculated based on your usage of the instance. |
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Pay-as-you-go and serverless |
ApsaraDB RDS instances that use the pay-as-you-go or serverless billing method are billed based on actual usage, so refunds are not applicable. If you no longer need these instances, you can release them after you back up or migrate your data to avoid business interruptions. Billing stops after an instance is released. To release an ApsaraDB RDS instance, see Release an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance, Release an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance, Release an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance, or Release an ApsaraDB RDS for MariaDB instance. |
Additionally,
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Pay-as-you-go ApsaraDB RDS resources can be used with RDS Storage Plans, RDS Compute Plans, and RDS Savings Plans. These plans offer discounts on corresponding pay-as-you-go items. As a general rule, these plans are non-refundable.
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Refunds may also be issued in scenarios such as when you switch the billing method or downgrade an instance. Refer to the relevant documentation for your specific situation.
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Scenario |
Description |
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Switch the billing method |
After you switch the billing method of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go, switch the billing method of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go, switch the billing method of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go, or switch the billing method of an ApsaraDB RDS for MariaDB instance from subscription to pay-as-you-go, you will receive a refund for the remaining prepaid fees of the subscription. The refund amount is calculated by using the following formula: Refund amount = Actual payment - Amount consumed Note
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Downgrade a subscription instance |
After you downgrade a subscription instance, you will receive a refund for the price difference between the original and new configurations. The refund amount is calculated by using the following formula: Refund amount = Actual payment - Amount consumed Note
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Cancel a renewal |
After you renew a subscription instance, if you unsubscribe from the renewal order before it takes effect, you will receive a full refund of the renewal fee. For more information, see the Unsubscribe from a Renewal Period section in Unsubscription Rules. |