Data Transfer Costs Explained
One of the most overlooked items on a cloud bill is data transfer — the cost of moving data out of, and sometimes within, the cloud. It can quietly become a meaningful expense if no one is paying attention.
This article demystifies how these charges arise and how to keep them low.
The General Rule
Bringing data into the cloud is usually free, but sending it out to the internet — or between regions — generally costs money. The more you serve to users or shift between locations, the more this adds up.
| Type of transfer | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Inbound (into the cloud) | Usually free |
| Are these charges usually significant? | For most sites they are modest, but high-traffic or media-heavy services can rack them up. We monitor transfer so it never becomes a hidden surprise. |
| Out to the internet | Charged per gigabyte |
| Between regions | Charged, varies by distance |
| Within one zone | Often free or cheapest |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we reduce these costs?
Using a CDN, compressing content and keeping chatty systems in the same region all help cut transfer charges.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.