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Getting set up with Billing - AWS Billing
Learn more about Billing featuresWhat do I do next?

Getting set up with Billing

Use this section to get started with the AWS Billing and Cost Management console. Prerequisites include signing up for AWS, setting up IAM users, and reviewing your AWS bills.

Topics

If you're new to AWS, create an AWS account. For more information, see Getting Started with AWS.

Sign up for an AWS account

To get started with AWS, you need an AWS account. For information about creating an AWS account, see Getting started with an AWS account in the AWS Account Management Reference Guide.

Activating IAM access to the AWS Billing and Cost Management console

By default, IAM roles within an AWS account can't access the Billing and Cost Management console. This is true even if the IAM user or role has IAM policies that grant access to specific Billing features. The root user can allow IAM users and roles access to Billing and Cost Management console by using the Activate IAM access setting.

To provide access to the Billing and Cost Management console

  1. Sign in to the Account page in the Billing and Cost Management console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/billing/home?#/account.

  2. Under IAM user and role access to Billing information, choose Edit.

  3. Select Activate IAM access.

  4. Choose Update.

For more information about this feature, see Activating access to the Billing and Cost Management console.

Use features in the Billing and Cost Management console to view your current AWS charges and AWS usage.

To open the Billing and Cost Management console and view your usage and charges

  1. Sign into the AWS Management Console and open the Billing and Cost Management console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/costmanagement/.

  2. Choose Bills to see details about your current charges.

  3. Choose Payments to see your historical payment transactions.

  4. Choose AWS Cost and Usage Reports to see reports that break down your costs.

For more information about setting up and using AWS Cost and Usage Reports, see the AWS Cost and Usage Reports User Guide.

AWS Billing closes the billing period at midnight on the last day of each month and calculates your bill. Most bills are ready for you to download by the seventh accounting day of the month.

To download or print your bill

  1. Sign into the AWS Management Console and open the Billing and Cost Management console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/costmanagement/.

  2. On the navigation pane, choose Bills.

  3. For Date, choose the month of the bill you want to work with.

  4. Choose Download CSV to download a comma-separated variable file or choose Print.

Adding or updating alternate contacts

Alternate contacts allows AWS to contact another person about issues with your account, even if you're unavailable. The alternate contact doesn't have to be a specific person. You could instead add an email distribution list if you have a team that manages billing, operations and security related issues.

Examples for alternate contacts

AWS will reach out to each contact type in the following scenarios:

  • Billing – When your monthly invoice is available, or your payment method needs to be updated. If you enabled Receive PDF Invoice By Email in your Billing preferences, your alternate billing contact also receives the PDF invoices. Notifications can be from AWS service teams.

  • Operations – When your service is, or will be, temporarily unavailable in one of more AWS Regions. Your contacts will also receive any notification related to operations. Notifications can be from AWS service teams

  • Security – When you have notifications from the AWS Security, AWS Trust and Safety, or AWS service teams. These notifications might include security issues or potential abusive or fraudulent activities on your AWS account. Notifications can be from AWS service teams concerning security related topics associated with your AWS account usage. Don't include sensitive information in the subject line or full name fields since this might be used in email communications to you.

For more information about managing your alternate account contacts, see Alternate account contacts in the AWS Account Management Reference Guide.

Learn more about Billing features

Understand the features available to you in the Billing and Cost Management console.

What do I do next?

Now that you can view and pay your AWS bill, you're ready to use the features available to you. The rest of this guide helps you navigate your journey using the console.

Optimize your spending using AWS Cost Management features

Use the AWS Cost Management features to budget and forecast costs so you can optimize your AWS spends and reduce your overall AWS bill. Combine and use the Billing and Cost Management console resources to manage your payments, while using AWS Cost Management features to optimize your future costs.

For more information about AWS Cost Management features, see the AWS Cost Management User Guide.

Using the Billing and Cost Management API

Use the AWS Billing and Cost Management API Reference to programmatically use some AWS Cost Management features.

Learn more

You can find more information about Billing features including presentations, virtual workshops, and blog posts on the marketing page Cloud Financial Management with AWS.

You can find virtual workshops by choosing the Services dropdown list and selecting your feature.

Get help

If you have questions about any Billing features, there are many resources available for you. To learn more, see Getting help with your bills and payments.