SQL Azure Billing

Had a quick chat with Buck today regarding a recent bill (for $1.38 USD) for my Azure subscription.

If you are using Azure for testing (like me), and you want to minimize your chances of being billed, then just drop the user databases you have created. You don’t need to drop your Azure subscription, so please do not think that is the case.

Now, if you want to be extra safe, you can also go ahead and drop the SQL Azure database server, but that step is not necessary at this time as you do not get billed for a server that is only running the master database. You only get billed for user databases that exist.

And as always, the web moves fast. Things change. Don’t blow by the agreement you’re signing up for – it’s a new model, so understand what Microsoft is saying. More here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee621788.aspx

Thanks Buck!