---
title: AWS License Options for Access Server
canonical: https://openvpn.net/as-docs/faq-aws-license-options/
product: Access Server Docs
description: What are the options for Access Server on the AWS Marketplace?
---

# AWS License Options for Access Server

**Question:** What is the AWS license available for Access Server?

**Answer:**

On the Amazon AWS Marketplace, you can search for "OpenVPN Access Server" and find several offerings, most of which include a notation like "(xx connected devices)" in their title. Here's how the licensing and billing work for these AWS tiered instances:

## 1. Automatically licensed instances

- **Description:** The "(xx connected devices)" notation indicates that the instance comes pre-licensed for the specified number of VPN connections upon launch from the AWS Marketplace.
- **Billing:** Licensing costs are bundled with AWS instance costs and are billed hourly through Amazon AWS. The costs include both software licensing and running the EC2 instance.

## 2. Cost management

- **Active Running Costs:** Charges for the software license and the EC2 instance apply while the instance runs.
- **Stopping Instances:** If you stop the instance, you cease incurring additional costs for the software licensing and the instance operation, though minimal charges for storage may still apply.
- **On-Demand Use:** These instances are ideal for on-demand usage. You can keep an instance on cold standby, ready to launch as needed.

## Trial offer for five connected devices

- **Free Trial Period:** The Access Server instance for five connected devices includes a 7-day trial with no software licensing costs. You are only responsible for the infrastructure costs associated with running the EC2 instance.
- **Post-Trial Billing:** After seven days, software licensing billing commences if the instance continues to run. The 8th day marks the start of software license billing.

## Bring your own license (BYOL) option

- **BYOL Setup:** The AWS Marketplace also offers a BYOL option that allows two concurrent connections by default. To expand the number of connections, you must purchase a license from the [Access Server Portal](https://myaccount.openvpn.com/signin/as).
- **Billing:** The license key for additional connections is billed directly by OpenVPN Inc., separate from Amazon AWS. However, Amazon AWS still bills the cost of running the EC2 instance.

## PAYG license option

- **PAYG Setup:** The Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) license option allows you to purchase the software license through AWS. You can dynamically adjust the number of connections up or down based on your current needs.
- **Billing:** With PAYG, both the software license and EC2 instance charges are handled through AWS. You can modify the number of connections directly through AWS, offering flexibility to scale as required.

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