Google Cloud Free Tier will start charging for static or ephemeral IP Address?

8
votes

I am using Google Cloud Platform on their Free Tier (https://cloud.google.com/free/) to run a web server that can be accessed publicly (externally). I have setup everything under their Free Tier: F1-micro instance, standard VM instance with standard routing, etc. so I am not paying for it.

According to this: https://cloud.google.com/compute/all-pricing#ipaddress

Google will start charging for static and ephemeral IP addresses in use on standard VM instances at $0.004 per hour starting January 1st, 2020.

Is there any possible way to still have a completely free web server with public access using the Google Cloud Platform or is the lowest cost $2.92 USD per month because they will be charging for the use of an external IP address (AKA, no real Free Tier exists after January 1, 2020)?

1
google-cloud-platformcloudgoogle-compute-engine

1 Answers

10
votes

While the below was accurate when it was written, as of earlier in 2021, Google will charge even for in-use static IPs, as noted on the free tier pricing page. So, the answer is now no, there will be at least a fee for the external IP.

Original answer, now obsolete:

At the top of the section that you linked it says:

Note: Starting January 1st, 2020, GCP will introduce an additional charge for publicly addressed VM instances that don't fall under the Free Tier.

Additionally, the free tier page states:

Note: Starting January 1st, 2020, GCP will charge for VM instance external IP addresses. However, under the Free Tier, in-use external IP addresses will be free until you have used a number of hours equal to the total hours in the current month. Free Tier for in-use external IP addresses apply to all instance types (not just f1.micro instances).

So, the additional pricing for IP addresses won't affect IP addresses attached to instances under the free tier (e.g. your f1-micro), but it is actually broader than that. Effectively, they are giving 1 free month worth of ip-address-hours every month, so (quota permitting) you could use 700+ addresses for 1 hour, or 1 address for the entire month.