Reserved Instance (RI)
A 1- or 3-year commitment to a specific instance type in exchange for a large discount off On-Demand.
A Standard Reserved Instance commits you to a specific instance family, size, and region for a 1- or 3-year term. In return AWS discounts the effective hourly rate — deeper for longer terms and for more upfront payment (No, Partial, or All Upfront).
This explorer shows the effective hourly for each RI option, folding any upfront payment into the hourly rate (recurring + upfront ÷ term-hours) so you compare true cost, not just the sticker rate. Standard RIs give the biggest discount but the least flexibility; Convertible RIs (not shown here) trade some discount for the ability to change instance attributes.
FAQ
What is the difference between No, Partial, and All Upfront?
They describe how much of the commitment you pay in advance. All Upfront pays the whole term at purchase for the deepest discount; No Upfront spreads it across the term at a smaller discount; Partial is in between. The effective hourly rate shown here already amortizes the upfront.