Skip to main content

AWS Billing

Updated Apr 30, 2020 ·

Overview​

AWS billing separates costs by the services you use. Some companies may want to offer flexible pricing to their customers, like pay-as-you-go, which is not shown by default in AWS invoices. Cost allocation tags can be used to set this up.

  • Billing shows charges per AWS service
  • Pay-as-you-go not included in default invoice
  • Cost allocation tags make flexible billing possible

Using tags makes it easier to design custom billing models for customers.

Cost Allocation Tags​

Tags are labels that help organize and track resources.

  • Each tag has a key and a value
  • Keys can hold more than one value
  • Tags can be used for cost allocation

For example, adding a tag like app-username makes it possible to track usage for each user. This way, costs are easier to connect to the right resources.

Adding Tags to Files​

Once cost allocation tags are enabled, they can be added in different ways.

  • Create separate S3 buckets per user and tag them
  • Keep one bucket and tag each file individually
  • Tags appear in object properties
aws s3api put-object-tagging \
  --bucket mybucket \
  --key data/file1.txt \
  --tagging 'TagSet=[{Key=app-username,Value=alice}]'

Expected result: The file now has a tag app-username=alice stored in its properties.

These tags allow AWS Cost and Usage Reports to generate detailed usage per user or per department, making analysis easier.

AWS Organization​

Organizations help track spending across different teams.

  • Manage accounts like development, test, and production
  • Combine costs across multiple accounts
  • Share discounts across the organization

This makes it possible for each team to manage its budget while still benefiting from shared savings.

AWS Health​

AWS Health monitors service availability and disruptions.

  • Provides real-time alerts
  • Shows issues affecting your resources
  • Helps resolve problems before opening a support case

It is a proactive tool to stay ahead of possible service impacts.

AWS Support Options​

AWS offers different support plans based on needs.

  • Basic plan is free with forum access
  • Developer, Business, and Enterprise plans have fees
  • Business and Enterprise plans provide 24/7 support
  • Higher plans include training and faster response times
Developer: < 24 hours  
Business: < 1 hour  
Enterprise: < 15 minutes

The Enterprise plan also includes a Technical Account Manager for dedicated help. Choosing the right plan ensures the right level of support and faster problem resolution.