最早AWS在计算资源成本优惠方面，面向客户推出的主要是RI折扣。2019年6月，AWS宣布推出Savings Plans，Savings Plans 比RI更加灵活易用。RI和Savings Plans都是在客户承诺1年或3年期的稳定使用量的前提下提供较低的 AWS 使用价格，简单的说就是包年套餐。
RI和Savings Plans的区别
RI和Savings Plans有什么区别呢？我们把使用AWS EC2资源类比租车，大家试着理解一下。
如果我们只租一天或者几天，我们就用列表单价On-Demand，没有必要购买包年套餐。要长期使用，就要算算，看看是否购买套餐更划算。
EC2 Instance Savings Plans（类比：城市专属套餐）
租车公司推出针对某一个城市的套餐，比如购买北京租车服务套餐，不可以在其他城市使用；我们可以针对大众帕萨特购买一个包年套餐，在这个套餐里以多不退少要补的原则可以开大众系列车Polo、帕萨特、途观；中途是否可以换成奥迪系列是一个可选项；中途是否可以更换内饰是一个可选项；"可更换"套餐（最高54%的折扣）比"不可更换"的套餐要贵一些（最高72%的折扣）；换这个动作需要办手续，更换手续可以加钱不可以退款；可以选择一次把套餐钱都付掉，或者付一部分，或者按月付，集中付钱要比分期更便宜一些。
Compute Savings Plans（类比：全国通用套餐）
租车公司推出面向全国的套餐，无论你使用哪个城市、哪个品牌系列的车都可以享受套餐价格；套餐除了可以用在租汽车上，还可以用于共享单车、高铁；套餐形式不是购买具体车型，而是承诺使用一个小时要花的钱，比如承诺一个小时花21元（开Polo 套餐价7元每小时，非套餐10元；帕萨特套餐价14元每小时，非套餐价20元；途观套餐价28元每小时，非套餐价40元），那你可以在承诺期内同时租一个Polo和帕萨特，正好21元。也可以租一个途观，享受套餐价格之外，每小时还需要付额外费用。可以选择一次把套餐钱都付掉，或者付一部分，或者按月付，集中付钱要比分期要便宜一些。最高66%的折扣。
Savings Plans类型对比
| 特性 | EC2 Instance Savings Plans | Compute Savings Plans | 预留实例（RI） |
|---|
| 最高折扣 | 72% | 66% | 72% |
| 适用范围 | 特定实例系列/区域 | 任意EC2、Fargate、Lambda | 特定实例类型/区域 |
| 灵活性 | 中 | 高 | 低 |
| 承诺方式 | 每小时消费金额 | 每小时消费金额 | 具体实例数量 |
| 跨实例族 | 同系列内可切换 | 支持 | 不支持（可转换RI除外） |
总结与购买建议
Savings Plans可以看作是RI 2.0版本，完全覆盖RI的功能，且比RI更加方便、灵活。
- 对于非常清楚自己要长期使用哪个实例系列的客户，就使用 EC2 Instance Savings Plans，价格更优惠，最高72%折扣。
- 对于没有特别确定要使用哪个实例系列，或者同时有 Fargate、Lambda 使用需求的客户，就使用 Compute Savings Plans，使用更便捷，最高66%折扣。
购买Savings Plans步骤
- 登陆 AWS Console，进入 EC2 模块，选择 Savings Plans，点击 Purchase Savings Plans。
- 进入 AWS 成本管理模块，选择 Savings Plans 中的建议，根据需求定制建议，将需求添加到购物车。
- 在购物车中预览、提交订单即可。
- 通过利用率报告和覆盖率报告查询当前 Savings Plans 使用情况。
自动化
Savings Plans 提供完整的 API，对于需要通过代码自动化购买 Savings Plans 的伙伴，可以参考 AWS Savings Plans API 文档。
如需进一步协助或服务，请留言，泰岳云业务会提供自动化工具及专业服务。
返回技术博客
AWS initially offered Reserved Instances (RI) as the primary way to reduce compute costs. In June 2019, AWS announced Savings Plans — a more flexible and easier-to-use alternative to RIs. Both RIs and Savings Plans offer lower AWS usage prices in exchange for a commitment to a consistent usage amount for 1 or 3 years, essentially an annual subscription plan.
Difference Between RI and Savings Plans
What's the difference between RI and Savings Plans? Let's use a car rental analogy to understand.
If you only need a car for a day or a few days, you use the On-Demand list price — there's no need to buy an annual plan. For long-term use, it's worth calculating whether a subscription plan is more cost-effective.
EC2 Instance Savings Plans (Analogy: City-Specific Plan)
A car rental company offers a city-specific plan — for example, a Beijing rental plan that cannot be used in other cities. You can purchase an annual plan for a Volkswagen Passat, and within that plan you can drive any Volkswagen series car (Polo, Passat, Tiguan) on a "use more, pay more; use less, pay the difference" basis. Whether you can switch to an Audi series mid-term is optional. Whether you can change the interior is optional. A "convertible" plan (up to 54% discount) costs more than a "non-convertible" plan (up to 72% discount). Switching requires a process — you can pay extra but cannot get a refund. You can pay the full amount upfront, pay partially, or pay monthly — paying all at once is cheaper than installments.
Compute Savings Plans (Analogy: Nationwide Plan)
A car rental company offers a nationwide plan — regardless of which city or brand you use, you enjoy the plan price. The plan can also be used for bike-sharing and high-speed rail. Instead of committing to a specific car model, you commit to an hourly spend amount. For example, committing to spend 21 yuan per hour (Polo plan price: 7 yuan/hour vs. 10 yuan on-demand; Passat plan price: 14 yuan/hour vs. 20 yuan on-demand; Tiguan plan price: 28 yuan/hour vs. 40 yuan on-demand) — you could rent a Polo and a Passat simultaneously for exactly 21 yuan. You can pay upfront, partially, or monthly — paying all at once is cheaper. Up to 66% discount.
Savings Plans Type Comparison
| Feature | EC2 Instance Savings Plans | Compute Savings Plans | Reserved Instances (RI) |
|---|
| Max Discount | 72% | 66% | 72% |
| Scope | Specific instance family/region | Any EC2, Fargate, Lambda | Specific instance type/region |
| Flexibility | Medium | High | Low |
| Commitment | Hourly spend amount | Hourly spend amount | Specific instance count |
| Cross-instance family | Within same family | Supported | Not supported (except Convertible RI) |
Summary and Purchase Recommendations
Savings Plans can be considered RI 2.0 — they fully cover RI functionality while being more convenient and flexible.
- For customers who know exactly which instance family they will use long-term, use EC2 Instance Savings Plans for better pricing — up to 72% discount.
- For customers who are not sure which instance family they'll use, or who also use Fargate and Lambda, use Compute Savings Plans for greater flexibility — up to 66% discount.
How to Purchase Savings Plans
- Log in to the AWS Console, go to the EC2 module, select Savings Plans, and click Purchase Savings Plans.
- Go to the AWS Cost Management module, select recommendations under Savings Plans, customize recommendations based on your needs, and add them to your cart.
- Review and submit your order in the cart.
- Use utilization reports and coverage reports to monitor your current Savings Plans usage.
Automation
Savings Plans provides a complete API for partners who need to automate purchases programmatically. Refer to the AWS Savings Plans API Reference.
For further assistance or services, please leave a message. UltraPower Cloud Business will provide automation tools and professional services.
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