> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sinarcloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Renewals and expiry

> How SinarCloud renews your VPS from your balance, what renewals cost, how to turn automatic renewal on or off, and what happens if it can't be paid.

You pay for each SinarCloud VPS one billing period at a time, from your balance. When a period ends (or 3 days before, for servers on Tencent Cloud), SinarCloud renews the server automatically by charging your balance for the next period. If the renewal can't be paid, SinarCloud suspends the server. If you turned automatic renewal off, or a suspended server isn't renewed in time, SinarCloud deletes the server and its data 6 hours after the period ends. This page explains how billing periods work, what a renewal costs, how to control renewal, how to keep a server from being deleted or get a suspended one back, and how a server's data transfer allowance fits with its renewals.

## How billing periods work

When you create a server, you choose a billing period: **Daily**, **Weekly** or **Monthly**. Your order pays for the first period from your balance. See [Create a VPS](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/vps/create.md).

* The first period starts when the server is ready, not when you place the order.
* Period lengths are fixed. A day is 24 hours, a week is 7 days, and a month is 30 days.
* Each renewal starts exactly when the previous period ends and has the same length.

## What a renewal costs

A renewal usually costs the regular price of your server's first period. Any discount on your order, from a coupon or an automatic promotion, applies only to the first period. The **Renewal** card on the server's **Billing** tab shows your server's price per period.

The price can change in one case: when SinarCloud changes the price of a plan that was offered at a reduced price when you ordered it.

* **If the plan's price goes down**, your next renewal costs less.
* **If the plan's price goes up**, nothing changes right away. SinarCloud first emails the account's owners, with the new price and the date it applies. The higher price applies only from a renewal at least 7 days after that email, and you never pay more than the price in the email. To avoid it, turn off automatic renewal or delete the server before that date. For a server on Tencent Cloud, do it at least 3 days before that date, because its renewal is charged then.

The console keeps showing the current price until that renewal. The **Renewal** card and the balance checks don't include an announced change, so use the price in the email when you check your balance.

## Check a server's billing

Open **My VPS** in the sidebar, select a server, and open the **Billing** tab.

![Billing tab of a running VPS, below the server's header with its Renews date and the Overview, Network, Access, Storage, Firewall and Billing tabs. On the left, the Billing Periods table lists a Current and an Ended monthly period with their amounts, and the Billing schedule card lists the Automatic renewal check marked Scheduled; on the right, the Renewal card shows the price per month, Current period, Renews on, Cycle 1 month, the Automatic renewal switch turned on, and a note that the wallet covers the next renewal](https://mintcdn.com/sinar-cloud/Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD/images/vps-instance-billing.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD\&q=85\&s=a10af4a63ce162e5c4ba298a1f383350)

The Billing tab of a server

The **Renewal** card shows:

* The server's price, followed by the period, for example "/ month".
* **Current period**: the start and end of the period you have paid for.
* **Renews on**: when the current period ends and the next renewal is charged (3 days earlier for servers on Tencent Cloud). When automatic renewal is off, this reads **Deleted on**.
* **Cycle**: the length of each period, for example "1 month".
* The **Automatic renewal** switch.
* Whether your balance covers the next renewal. If it doesn't, the card shows how much to add, with a **Top up** link that opens the [top-up dialog](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/billing/top-up.md).

The **Billing Periods** table lists every period of the server, newest first. The period you are in is **Current**, and earlier ones are **Ended**. **Amount** shows what you paid for each period, with any discount below it.

The **Billing schedule** card lists the server's past and upcoming billing events, with the time each one runs:

* **Automatic renewal** is the renewal check, at the time the renewal is charged: the end of a period, or 3 days before it for servers on Tencent Cloud. **Done** means the check ran, not that you were charged. It also shows **Done** when the renewal failed or automatic renewal was off.
* **Deletion after expiry** is the automatic deletion after a period ends without renewal.

To confirm a renewal, look for a new **Current** row in **Billing Periods**, or a **Server renewal** transaction on the **Billing** page.

You can also see the next renewal elsewhere in the console:

* At the top of the server's page, under **Renews** (or **Expires** when automatic renewal is off). In the last 7 days, it also shows how long is left.
* In the **Billing** card on the server's **Overview** tab, as **Renews on** or **Expires and is deleted on**.
* In the **Renewal** column of the server list.

## Automatic renewal

New servers have automatic renewal turned on. When the current period ends, SinarCloud charges your balance for the next period. Servers on Tencent Cloud are charged earlier, as described below.

* Your balance, shown as **Current Credits** on the **Billing** page, must cover the full renewal price. SinarCloud doesn't take partial payments.
* If the charge succeeds, a new period starts and **Renews on** moves forward. **Recent activity** on the server's **Overview** tab shows **Billing period renewed**.
* Stopped servers are also renewed and charged. Stopping a server doesn't pause billing, and a renewal doesn't start a stopped server. To run it again, click **Start** at the top of the server's page.
* Each server renews on its own schedule. If several servers renew around the same time, keep enough balance for all of them.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Servers on Tencent Cloud, shown under **Provider** on the server's **Overview** tab, are charged 3 days before the period ends, so keep enough balance by then. If your balance is short at that point, SinarCloud tries again when the period ends, and only that second try can suspend and delete the server. The **Billing schedule** then shows a second **Automatic renewal** row. Once the early charge goes through, the new period shows as **Current** and **Renews on** moves to its end. To stop such a server from renewing, turn off automatic renewal at least 3 days before the period ends.

You can't renew a server early or pay for several periods in advance. **Renew now** appears only on a suspended server, as described in [When a renewal fails](#when-a-renewal-fails). To keep a server, leave automatic renewal on and keep enough balance.

> [!TIP]
>
> You also pay for AI usage from your balance. Heavy AI use close to a renewal can leave too little balance for the server.

## Turn automatic renewal on or off

**1. Open the Billing tab**

Go to **My VPS**, select the server, and open the **Billing** tab.

**2. Click the Automatic renewal switch**

In the **Renewal** card, click the **Automatic renewal** switch. A confirmation dialog opens, **Turn off automatic renewal?** or **Turn on automatic renewal?**, explaining what happens when the period ends.

**3. Confirm the change**

Click **Turn off** or **Turn on**. To keep the current setting, click **Cancel**.

When automatic renewal is off, the switch reads "Off: the server and its data are deleted when the period ends." You can turn it back on any time before the period ends.

![Billing tab of a stopped VPS with automatic renewal off: the header shows Expires with the days left, and above the tabs the notice This server is stopped and a warning that the server will be deleted in a few days, with a Turn on automatic renewal button. Below, the Renewal card shows Deleted on with a date and time, and the Automatic renewal switch turned off with the note Off: the server and its data are deleted when the period ends](https://mintcdn.com/sinar-cloud/Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD/images/vps-instance-billing-auto-renew-off.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD\&q=85\&s=61116ad115a3d4b1521c9b64afdfc0a1)

A stopped server with automatic renewal off, near its period end

The switch appears only while a server is running, stopped, starting or stopping. For a suspended server, the **Renewal** card says the last renewal payment failed. To renew the server, use the notice above the tabs, as described in [When a renewal fails](#when-a-renewal-fails).

> [!WARNING]
>
> If automatic renewal is off when the period ends, SinarCloud deletes the server and all data on it. Snapshots aren't available yet, so copy any data you need off the server first.

## Reminders

In the last 7 days of a period, the server's page shows a warning above the tabs when the server is at risk:

* When automatic renewal is off, a warning such as **This server will be deleted in 3 days**. Click **Turn on automatic renewal** to open the **Billing** tab, then turn on the switch.
* When your balance doesn't cover the renewal, a warning such as **Top up before the renewal in 3 days**. Click **Top up wallet** to open the top-up dialog with the missing amount filled in, rounded up to the next Rp 1,000 and at least Rp 15,000, the smallest top-up.

The console compares your balance with this server's renewal only. SinarCloud also emails the account's owners, at their verified email addresses:

* **3 days and 1 day before a period ends**, when automatic renewal is off, or when your balance won't cover the renewal. The balance check in these emails also counts your other servers that renew first.
* **After each successful renewal**, with the amount charged and the new period.
* **When a renewal fails**, with the renewal price and the time the server will be deleted, and **when a server is deleted** after its period ends.
* **Before a renewal price goes up**, as described in [What a renewal costs](#what-a-renewal-costs).
* **About data transfer**, if SinarCloud counts the server's data transfer. See [Data transfer and renewals](#data-transfer-and-renewals).

> [!NOTE]
>
> Servers billed **Daily** don't get reminder emails or renewal receipts, because their periods are too short. They still get the emails about a failed renewal and a deletion. Check their balance yourself.

## What happens when a period ends

| Situation | What happens |
| - | - |
| Automatic renewal on and enough balance | Your balance is charged (3 days earlier for servers on Tencent Cloud) and a new period starts. The server keeps running, or stays stopped if it was stopped. |
| Automatic renewal on and not enough balance | Nothing is charged. The renewal fails and the server is marked **Suspended**. Unless you renew it within 6 hours, it's deleted with its data. See [When a renewal fails](#when-a-renewal-fails). |
| Automatic renewal off | Nothing is charged. The server is deleted with its data 6 hours after the period ends. |

### When a renewal fails

If your balance doesn't cover the renewal price when the period ends, nothing is charged, and SinarCloud suspends the server:

1. The server's status changes to **Suspended**. At the top of the server's page, **Billing** shows **Renewal failed** and **Health** shows **Suspended**. Above the tabs, the notice **This server is suspended** shows the renewal price and when the server will be deleted.
2. If the server isn't renewed by then, 6 hours after the period ended, SinarCloud deletes it with its data. The status changes to **Terminating**, and the server's page shows **This server is being deleted**.

![The instance page of a suspended server. The header shows the Suspended status, Billing Renewal failed and Health Suspended, with Reboot and Stop unavailable. Above the tabs, the notice This server is suspended says the renewal couldn't be paid from your balance, how much more to top up so the server renews and comes back as it was, and when it will be deleted if it isn't renewed, with Top up wallet and Renew now buttons. The Overview tab follows.](https://mintcdn.com/sinar-cloud/Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD/images/vps-instance-suspended.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=Zz311Jgf5s_A88RD\&q=85\&s=7d4ad1f79babdbc9730b10a2743c4bed)

A suspended server: the notice offers Top up wallet and Renew now

To get the server back, renew it before it's deleted. It comes back as it was, with all its data. A server that was stopped stays stopped. You can renew it in two ways:

* **Top up.** Click **Top up wallet** in the notice. The QRIS top-up dialog opens with the missing amount filled in. As soon as the payment comes in, SinarCloud renews the server. You don't need to do anything else. Any top-up that makes your balance cover the renewal does the same, for example one you start from the **Billing** page. See [Add balance](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/billing/top-up.md#if-a-server-is-suspended).
* **Renew now.** If your balance already covers the renewal, click **Renew now**. Use it when you added balance without a top-up, for example with a coupon, because that doesn't renew the server on its own. When the renewal goes through, you see **Server renewed**. If your balance is still too low, the top-up dialog opens instead.

The notice depends on your balance:

| Your balance | What the notice says | Buttons |
| - | - | - |
| Doesn't cover the renewal | The renewal couldn't be paid from your balance, how much more to top up, and when the server will be deleted. | **Top up wallet** and **Renew now** |
| Covers the renewal | Your balance covers the renewal now, and when the server will be deleted. | **Renew now** |

If more than one server is suspended, a top-up renews each one your balance covers, starting with the one that would be deleted first.

A renewal after a suspension costs the same as any renewal, so a first-period discount doesn't apply again. See [What a renewal costs](#what-a-renewal-costs). The new period starts when the unpaid one ended, so the time the server spent suspended counts toward it.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Once those 6 hours have passed, the server and its data are gone for good. Before each **Renews on** time, make sure your balance covers the renewal, and [add balance](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/billing/top-up.md) if it doesn't.

## Data transfer and renewals

If SinarCloud counts your server's data transfer, the server has an allowance for each transfer month. A transfer month is 30 days, counted from when the server was first ready. The console and emails call it the billing month, but it is counted separately from your renewals:

* On **Monthly** billing, each new transfer month starts at the same time as a new billing period.
* On **Daily** or **Weekly** billing, transfer months still last 30 days. Renewals don't reset the allowance.

When a server uses its whole allowance, SinarCloud stops it if it is running, and you can't start it until the transfer month ends. Everything on the server is kept. Billing and renewals continue while it is stopped, so keep enough balance. If a renewal fails in that time, the server is suspended like any other server, and deleted unless you renew it.

When the new transfer month begins, SinarCloud starts the server again if it stopped it for the allowance. A server you had stopped yourself stays stopped, but you can start it again. The server may get a new public IP address when it starts.

SinarCloud emails the account's owners about each server's data transfer, at most once of each kind per transfer month:

* At 80% of the allowance, with the subject "*server* has used *n*% of this month's data transfer". It shows the amount used, the allowance and when the billing month ends.
* When the allowance is used up, with the subject "*server* is stopped: data transfer allowance used up", or "*server* has used its data transfer allowance" if the server was already stopped. It confirms that a stopped server is still billed and renewed as usual.

For how the allowance is counted and where to check it, see [Data transfer allowance](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/vps/manage.md#data-transfer-allowance).

## How renewal charges appear in billing

Each successful renewal is a charge on your balance. To find it, open **Billing** in the sidebar and select the **Transactions** tab:

* The charge appears as **Server renewal**, with the server's name and the period length.
* **Amount** shows what was charged, and **Balance after** shows your balance right after the charge.
* The server's **Billing Periods** table shows the same amount.

Renewals aren't orders, so they don't appear on the **Orders** page. A failed renewal doesn't create a charge.

## Delete a server before its period ends

Deleting a server stops future renewals. SinarCloud doesn't refund the unused part of the current period. See [Manage a VPS](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/vps/manage.md).

> [card] [Add balance](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/billing/top-up.md)
>
> Top up your balance before your next renewal.

> [card] [Balance and billing](https://docs.sinarcloud.com/billing/overview.md)
>
> See how your balance pays for servers and AI.


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