# RDS

## AWS RDS — commitment brief

> **Data sourced**: March 2026. Verify current figures at the [AWS Pricing Calculator](https://calculator.aws/pricing/2/home).

### Coverage summary

Amazon RDS supports Standard Reserved DB Instances (1-yr and 3-yr terms) for all major database engines, and is also covered by **Database Savings Plans** (launched December 2025), which provide up to 35% savings with portfolio-level flexibility across managed database services. Unlike EC2, there is no Convertible RI option for RDS, and RDS is not covered by EC2 or Compute Savings Plans. Reserved DB Instances are scoped to a specific DB engine, instance class, region, and deployment type (Single-AZ or Multi-AZ). Instance size flexibility applies for MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Db2, and Oracle BYOL within the same instance class family, allowing the reservation to spread across sizes in that family.

**What is covered**: RDS DB instance compute and memory charges (the vCPU/RAM component of the DB instance hour). For Multi-AZ reservations, the commitment covers both primary and standby instances.

**What is not covered**: RDS storage (gp2, gp3, io1, io2 EBS volumes), I/O request charges, data transfer, automated backup storage beyond the 100% free tier, RDS Proxy, Performance Insights (additional tiers), and database software license costs for Oracle and SQL Server BYOL licensing scenarios. On-demand mode or usage above the reserved quantity is billed at on-demand rates.

### RI types

> Amazon RDS offers **Standard Reserved DB Instances** only — there is no Convertible RI equivalent for RDS. Payment options: **All Upfront** (highest discount, up to 63% for 3-yr), **Partial Upfront** (up to 60% for 3-yr), **No Upfront** (up to 30%, 1-yr term only). All Upfront and Partial Upfront are available for both 1-yr and 3-yr terms.

### Database Savings Plan

> As of December 2025, RDS provisioned instances are also covered by **Database Savings Plans** — a spend-based commitment ($/hour) that applies flexibly across RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, ElastiCache, DocumentDB, Neptune, and other eligible managed database services. Terms: **1-year only, No Upfront payment**. Discount: up to **\~35%** vs. on-demand. The Database Savings Plan offers less discount depth than an RI (up to 63% All Upfront) but trades that depth for flexibility — the same commitment automatically shifts between any covered database service as usage changes. Best used alongside RIs: use RIs for your predictable, engine-specific baseline and a Database SP to cover remaining flexible spend.

### Instance / node / tier coverage

| Engine / Instance Class                 | Standard RI | Database SP | 1-yr RI (All Upfront) | 3-yr RI (All Upfront) | DB SP (1-yr No Upfront) | Notes                                                      |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------- | ----------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| MySQL — db.t3, db.t4g (burstable)       | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility within t-family                           |
| MySQL — db.m5, db.m6g, db.m7g (general) | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility within m-family                           |
| MySQL — db.r5, db.r6g, db.r7g (memory)  | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility within r-family                           |
| PostgreSQL — db.t3, db.t4g              | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility within t-family                           |
| PostgreSQL — db.m5, db.m6g, db.m7g      | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   |                                                            |
| PostgreSQL — db.r5, db.r6g, db.r7g      | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   |                                                            |
| MariaDB — db.t3, db.m5, db.r5, db.r6g   | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility applies                                   |
| Oracle SE2 / EE (BYOL)                  | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | License BYOL; size flexibility for BYOL edition            |
| Oracle SE2 / EE (License Included)      | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | License cost included in reservation price                 |
| SQL Server (SE/EE/Web/Express — LI)     | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | License Included; no size flexibility for SQL Server       |
| Db2 (Standard/Advanced/Advanced+)       | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Size flexibility applies                                   |
| Multi-AZ deployment (any engine)        | ✅ Yes       | ✅ Yes       | \~30–40%              | \~50–60%              | \~35%                   | Multi-AZ RI price \~2× Single-AZ; covers primary + standby |
| RDS Custom for Oracle                   | ⚠️ Partial  | ⚠️ Partial  | varies                | varies                | varies                  | RDS Custom supports RIs; check specific class availability |
| RDS Custom for SQL Server               | ⚠️ Partial  | ⚠️ Partial  | varies                | varies                | varies                  | RDS Custom supports RIs; check specific class availability |

## Regional availability

**Commitment scope**: Regional — Reserved DB Instances are purchased for a specific region and apply to usage in that region only. Database Savings Plans are region-flexible and apply across all covered database services in any supported region.

Available in all commercial AWS regions. RDS Reserved DB Instances are available for all supported DB engines across all standard AWS regions, including GovCloud and China regions.

**Partition notes**: GovCloud (us-gov-*) regions support RDS Reserved DB Instances. Database Savings Plans cannot be purchased from GovCloud accounts — they must be purchased from a linked standard account. China (cn-*) regions support RDS Reserved DB Instances (via dedicated China account credentials), but Database Savings Plans are not available in China regions.

⚠️ Regional and partition availability varies by instance type. Always verify at the [AWS Pricing Console](https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/) before purchasing.

### Archera

Amazon RDS is a core service within Archera's commitment management scope. Archera can automate Reserved DB Instance purchases across all supported engines, track utilization by instance class family (including size-flexible reservations), and wrap commitments in a GRI/GSP — eliminating downside risk on over-commitment while preserving the full RI discount. Archera handles both Single-AZ and Multi-AZ reservation types.

***

**Sources**

* [Amazon RDS Reserved Instances](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/reserved-instances/)
* [Reserved DB instances for Amazon RDS](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_WorkingWithReservedDBInstances.html)
* [Amazon RDS Pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/rds/pricing/)
* [Database Savings Plans](https://aws.amazon.com/savingsplans/database-pricing/)
* [Introducing Database Savings Plans for AWS databases](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/introducing-database-savings-plans-for-aws-databases/)

⚠️ Discount percentages are approximate and region/instance-type-dependent. Always verify with the [AWS Pricing Calculator](https://calculator.aws/pricing/2/home).