Amazon ElastiCache Free Trial Program FAQs

What is the Amazon ElastiCache Free Trial Program?
AWS is offering a limited time 60-day free trial program to new Amazon ElastiCache customers. Customers who have had no paid ElastiCache usage since March 1, 2012, are also eligible. Per month, the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program provides:

• 750 hours of Amazon ElastiCache Small Cache Node usage – enough hours to run continuously each month

Your usage is calculated each month across all Regions and automatically applied to your bill. For example, you will receive 750 Small Cache Node hours for free across all Regions, not 750 hours per Region.

When your free trial program expires after 60 days or if your application use exceeds the free usage limits, you simply pay standard, On-Demand service rates (see Amazon ElastiCache page for full pricing details). Restrictions apply; see offer terms for more details.

When does the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program expire?
The Amazon ElastiCache free trial program will expire 60 days from the date you first use Amazon ElastiCache. For example, if you start using Amazon ElastiCache on June 10th, your free trial will expire on the 9th of August. When your free usage expires or if your application use exceeds the free usage tiers, you simply pay standard, On-Demand rates.

What do I need to do to qualify for the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program?
All new AWS customers are eligible and automatically enrolled into the free trial. Existing AWS customers who have had no paid Amazon ElastiCache usage since March 1, 2012 are also eligible. Note: the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program is separate from the AWS free tier, and your eligibility for both programs is decided independently.

If I sign-up for Consolidated Billing, can I get the Amazon ElastiCache free trial for each account?
No, customers who use Consolidated Billing to consolidate payment across multiple accounts will only have access to one free Amazon ElastiCache free trial.

If I don’t use all of my free usage in one month will it roll over to the next month?
No, the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program is applied to your monthly usage, will expire on the 1st day of the new month, and does not accumulate.

If I sign up during the middle of the month, will I be able to get 60 days of free trial?
Yes, your 60 days will count from the first day of Amazon ElastiCache usage. The 60 days of free usage is computed across month boundaries.

If I go over the free usage per month, how much will I have to pay?
If your usage exceeds the monthly free usage limit, you simply pay standard, On-Demand Amazon ElastiCache rates.

How do I know how much I’ve used and if I’ve gone over the free usage limit?
By logging into your Account Activity page, you can see current and past Amazon ElastiCache usage by region, and download Usage Reports.

Can I use the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program in any region?
Yes, the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program applies across all AWS regions: US East (Northern Virginia), US West (Oregon), US West (Northern California), EU (Ireland), Asia Pacific (Singapore), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), and South America (Sao Paulo). Your usage is calculated each month across all regions and automatically applied to your bill. For example, you will receive 750 Small Cache Node hours for free across all of the regions, not 750 hours per region.

Are there any limitations to how I use the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program?
This offering provides new Amazon ElastiCache customers with free usage to help you get started with Amazon ElastiCache. If you have a new idea that you’d like to launch or if you have an existing application you want to run with Amazon ElastiCache, this is a great way to get started for free. Some ideas include, but are not limited to, the caching layer for websites or blogs, social media applications, gaming applications, development and test projects, cloud prototype projects and more. The Amazon ElastiCache free trial program is not limited to specific use cases, but some restrictions apply. See offer terms for more details.

I’m eligible for the Amazon ElastiCache free trial program, but I received a charge. Why?
The free trial applies up to a specific maximum amount of usage each month (usage amounts are defined above). If your account goes over the free usage limits, the standard Amazon ElastiCache rates will be billed to your credit card.
If you have not exceeded the usage tiers, you may have been charged for other AWS services. For example, if you are using an Amazon EC2 m1.small instance to connect to a free Amazon ElastiCache Cache Node, your bill may include charges for Amazon EC2 usage. Additional examples include: if you are running an Amazon ElastiCache m1.large Cache Node rather than an m1.small Cache Node, or if you are using another service not included in the free trial program.
To review your AWS usage activity, log into your Account Activity page and download Usage Reports.

I started a single m1.Small Cache Node with the free trial program. Can I add another node to my Cache Cluster?
You can add a Cache Node to your cluster using the AWS Console or the API at any time. Please note that if you're running more than one small Cache Node simultaneously, you'll consume your free usage more quickly. After you've used up your 750 hours, you will be charged the standard, On-Demand Amazon ElastiCache rates.