: How is EC2 instance utilization computed? I'm currently on free tier but I'm thinking about moving into a t2.small instance to be able to do more. At this point, I'm just really interested

@Holmes151

Utilization in EC2 for cost purposes means the number of hours in a month that the instance is up and running, compared to the number of hours in a month.

The workload is not a factor in price.

Instances in the t2 class also have a concept of "CPU Credits," because t2 machines are burstable. They earn credits at a fixed rate while running, spend credits at a rate that varies with CPU utilization, and can only use 100% CPU when there are sufficient credits on hand (1 credit = 1 core used at 100% for 1 minute, or 1 core used at only 10% for 10 minutes, etc.), but this also is not a factor in cost. The credits are included with the instance, and the charge is the same whether they are used or not. There is no way to purchase more credits, and the performance of the instance does not vary unless the balance is depleted, and will recover in its own whenever the instance is idle.

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