The Hidden Costs of Cloud Based Servers: Bandwidth, API Calls & Egress Fees!

 

Many businesses choose cloud based servers due to its flexibility and scalability. Against traditional hosting, Cloud solutions allow you to increase and reduce the resources according to demand. Although cloud web hosting provides many benefits, there are costs hidden in it, which can surprise you- especially if you don't plan carefully. 

Egress Fees: The Hidden Cost of Moving Data Out:

Bandwidth Costs can Rise Quickly:

When you host any website or app on cloud based web hosting services, You pay the payment for transferred data between your server and users. Some providers do the advertisement of "unlimited bandwidth", but it comes with throttling after fair use policies and certain limitations. If traffic suddenly increases on your website- such as during marketing campaigns- you may have to face slow speed or extra cost. 

Free tier and low price plans may be attractive, but often strict bandwidth caps are included in those. Unexpected cost can be applicable from crossing these limits, which can increase your bill faster. 

2. API Calls: Small Costs with Increase:

Many cloud base servers charge the costs for platform API (Application Programming Interface). Every time, when your app or website interacts with cloud services- such as getting user data, processing the transaction or accessing the storage- It is counted as an API call. 

Whereas the personal API call cost is just a fraction of only a cent , high traffic applications generate lacs of API calls every month. With time, these micro-charge are accumulated, from which there is a significant increase in your costs.  Some providers take the charge for internal API calls between their own services, which tracking can be difficult. 

3. Exhaust Price- Carrying Out Cost of Data:

One of most ignorable costs in cloud web hosting is carrying-out cost- transferring cost of take-out of data from providers' network. There are includes in common scenario:

Downloading the stored large files in cloud:

• Providing the media (Videos, Images) to worldwide users

• Migrating to any other providers 

According to providers exit costs are different-different, but some charge up to $0.09 per GB- which is faster increases for data-heavy applications. It makes it expensive to change providers, effectively it can bound you with a single seller.

Read Also This: Why Cloud Servers Fail Silently and How to Detect It Before It’s Too Late!

4. Extra Hidden Costs:

Instead of bandwidth and API costs, other costs can be dominate on you:

• Compute Time: Some providers charge per second of server uses, which means, background processes can increase the cost. 

• Storage Level: Cold storage is cheap, but retrieval cost in it is more, whereas the cost of hot storage is higher than before. 

• Support Plans: Basic support can be free, but premium support often comes with high rates.  

How to avoid Sudden Cloud Hosting Bills?

Closely monitoring the uses: Use dashboard for tracking bandwidth, API calls and data transfer. 

• Optimize Data Storage: Compress files, use CDN and implement caching for reducing withdrawal fee.

• Choose Right Plan: Compare the providers and read fine prints for avoiding hidden costs.  

Conclusion:

Cloud based web hosting is powerful, but if you are not aware, cost can increase. By understanding bandwidth limitation, API cost and withdrawal cost, you can customize the price and take maximum benefits of cloud based server. 

Before connecting with any provider, always research their cost determination with a real usage scenario. Some pre-research can prevent you from budget related aftershocks!