Alibaba Cloud will discontinue Classic Load Balancer (CLB) subscription instances starting December 1, 2024.
What is being discontinued
Classic Load Balancer (CLB) subscription instances.
Discontinuation timeline
Effective 00:00:00 on December 1, 2024, you can no longer purchase new subscription CLB instances.
Effective December 1, 2026, you can no longer renew subscription CLB instances.
The renewal deadline has been extended to December 1, 2026. For more information, see Announcement on extending the renewal period for subscription-based Classic Load Balancer (CLB) instances.
Impact
The subscription option will no longer be available for new CLB instance purchases.
You can no longer convert pay-as-you-go CLB instances to subscription instances.
Your existing subscription CLB instances will not be affected. You can continue to use them with all original benefits and support until the subscription expires.
You can continue to renew your subscription CLB instances until 23:59:59 on November 30, 2026. Before your subscription expires, you can either renew it or convert it to another available billing method.
The renewal deadline has been extended to December 1, 2026. For more information, see Announcement on extending the renewal period for subscription-based Classic Load Balancer (CLB) instances.
Recommended alternatives
We recommend the following alternatives for new load balancer instances:
Use CLB pay-as-you-go: This flexible and efficient billing method charges you based on actual usage and allows you to release resources at any time.
Use a CLB resource plan: Classic Load Balancer (CLB) will soon launch a resource plan that can automatically offset the instance and LCU fees for your pay-as-you-go CLB instances. Stay tuned for official announcements on the launch of the CLB resource plan.
Use Application Load Balancer (ALB) or Network Load Balancer (NLB): ALB and NLB instances offer higher performance, automatic scaling, and a streamlined pay-as-you-go billing structure. This prevents the need to frequently adjust your load balancer's billing method as your business grows.
Contact us
Please plan and adjust your services accordingly. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our support team through official Alibaba Cloud channels.
Related documents
To modify the configuration of a subscription CLB instance—such as upgrading its specifications, converting it to pay-as-you-go, or renewing it—see Change Subscription Instance Configuration.
To renew a subscription CLB instance, see Renew Subscription Instance.