Cost Optimization Strategies¶
This page describes optional strategies to reduce infrastructure cost at scale. Each optimization has a clear trigger point tied to user count — apply them incrementally as the platform grows, not prematurely. For baseline cost components, see Infrastructure; for tiered estimates, see Projections & Profitability.
When to apply each optimization
| Optimization | Trigger | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Reserved Instances (baseline) | 1K users (always-on instances are predictable) | ~37% on 2–3 instances |
| Reserved Instances (peak) | 5K users | ~$680/month |
| Graviton migration (r7g/m7g) | ✅ Deployed | ~20% (already realized) |
| Spot instances (mixed) | 5K+ users (non-critical burst capacity) | Up to 65% on burst workers |
| 3-year RI + Savings Plans | 50K users (long-term commitment justified) | ~57% on all EC2 |
Reserved Instances / Savings Plans¶
| Commitment | Discount | Impact at 5K Users |
|---|---|---|
| On-Demand | 0% | Baseline |
| 1-year RI | ~37% | Save ~$680/month |
| 3-year RI | ~57% | Save ~$1,045/month |
Recommendation
Start Reserved Instances at 1K users for always-on baseline instances. At 5K+ users, 1-year RI on peak instances saves ~$680/month.
Graviton Migration (Deployed)¶
| Current (Graviton) | Intel Equivalent | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| r7g.xlarge ($0.258/hr) | r6i.xlarge (~$0.320/hr) | ~20% |
| m7g.large ($0.102/hr) | m6i.large (~$0.122/hr) | ~16% |
Spot Instances (Mixed Strategy)¶
- Spot r7g.xlarge: ~$0.044/hr (65% savings)
- Mixed strategy: 50% On-Demand + 50% Spot
- On-Demand base for guaranteed capacity
Full cost narrative: Summary & Pricing • Competitive Analysis.