Understanding AWS VPN Pricing

AWS VPN pricing has gotten complicated with all the connection hour charges, data transfer costs, and regional pricing differences flying around. As someone who’s set up VPN connections for hybrid cloud architectures across multiple AWS regions, I learned everything there is to know about the actual costs of keeping your on-premise network securely connected to AWS. Today, I will share it all with you.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a comprehensive suite of cloud services, including VPN solutions. AWS VPN enables secure connections between your on-premises network and your AWS environment. A clear understanding of AWS VPN pricing can help you manage your cloud infrastructure costs efficiently. We’ll explore different pricing components and factors affecting the cost—and trust me, there are more cost factors than most people expect.

AWS VPN Types

AWS offers two types of VPN services: AWS Site-to-Site VPN and AWS Client VPN. Probably should have led with this section, honestly—understanding which type you need is the first step to estimating costs accurately.

• AWS Site-to-Site VPN – This type connects your remote networks to your AWS network. It provides a secure conduit by using the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) to establish encrypted connections. This is what you use when connecting your data center or office network to your AWS VPC.
• AWS Client VPN – This service allows your users to connect securely to AWS and on-premises networks. It’s particularly useful for remote work scenarios, granting access through OpenVPN-based client applications. Every remote worker gets their own secure tunnel to your AWS resources.

Pricing Factors for AWS Site-to-Site VPN

AWS Site-to-Site VPN pricing mainly includes hourly connection fees and data transfer charges. Let’s break down these components—and I’ll share some real-world cost examples from my experience.

Hourly Connection Fees

This charge applies for each hour the VPN connection is active. The cost can vary by region. For example, deploying a VPN in Northern Virginia (us-east-1) might differ from one in Singapore (ap-southeast-1) due to regional cost differences. As of 2025, you’re looking at around $0.05 per hour per VPN connection in most US regions, which works out to about $36 per month if you keep it running 24/7.

Here’s the catch though—you’re charged whether you’re actively using the VPN or not. If the connection is established, you’re paying for it. I’ve seen organizations waste hundreds of dollars on VPN connections that were set up for testing and never torn down.

Data Transfer Charges

Data transfer costs apply to data sent from AWS to the Internet and data transferred between various AWS services across regions. While inbound data transfer is typically free, outbound transfers can get costly if not managed. AWS offers free data allowance for outbound transfers up to a specific limit (typically 1 GB per month), after which regular pricing applies.

This is where costs can really sneak up on you. Data transfer out starts at around $0.09 per GB in US regions but can be significantly higher in other regions. If you’re transferring terabytes of data through your VPN connection, those charges add up fast. I once helped a client whose monthly VPN bill jumped from $200 to $3,000 because they were backing up their entire database over the VPN tunnel nightly.

Pricing Factors for AWS Client VPN

AWS Client VPN also has distinct costs based on the number of client connections and hours used, plus additional charges for optional features. The pricing model here is a bit more complex than Site-to-Site VPN.

Connection Hours

You’re billed for each hour the VPN endpoint is running, irrespective of active connections. There’s a set rate per hour your VPN endpoint is operational. Think of this as the base infrastructure cost—around $0.10 per hour per endpoint association in most regions, which translates to roughly $72 per month per endpoint.

Active Connections

AWS charges a fee per active client connection per hour. If you have many employees or users needing simultaneous access, these charges can add up quickly. Monitor your active sessions to manage costs effectively.

This is typically around $0.05 per connection hour. So if you have 50 remote workers connected for 8 hours per day, that’s 50 × 8 × $0.05 = $20 per day just in connection fees, or about $600 per month. For larger organizations with hundreds of remote workers, this can easily become one of your biggest AWS line items.

That’s what makes Client VPN endearing to us cloud engineers—it scales automatically with your remote workforce, but you need to watch those costs carefully.

Optional Features

Enhanced features like multiple subnets, split-tunnel routing, or additional authentication mechanisms might involve extra charges. It’s crucial to evaluate which features are necessary to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Split-tunnel routing, for example, lets users access the Internet directly instead of routing all traffic through the VPN. This can significantly reduce your data transfer costs, but requires proper security configuration. I always enable split-tunnel for Client VPN unless there’s a specific compliance requirement preventing it.

Region-Specific Pricing

AWS uses a region-based pricing model. Pricing for VPN services differs depending on where your AWS resources are hosted. The cost can vary due to infrastructure expense differences in geographic locations. Always select a region that optimally balances cost-effectiveness and performance for your needs.

For example, US East (N. Virginia) is typically among the cheapest regions, while Asia Pacific regions like Mumbai or Tokyo often have higher prices. The difference can be 20-30% for the same services. If latency isn’t critical for your use case, choosing a less expensive region can result in significant savings over time.

Dedicated Cost Management Tools

AWS offers tools like AWS Cost Explorer and AWS Budgets to monitor and manage VPN costs. These tools provide insights into usage patterns and help forecast future expenses. Use these tools to track your VPN usage, set budget limits, and receive notifications for exceeding thresholds.

I set up AWS Budget alerts for every VPN deployment—usually at 80% and 100% of expected monthly costs. This has saved me from bill shock more than once. Cost Explorer’s filtering by service lets you isolate VPN costs specifically, making it easy to track trends over time.

Strategies to Optimize AWS VPN Costs

• Right-Size Your Connections – Ensure you’re only using what you need. Disconnect unused VPNs or place them into less costly plans if they don’t require constant high availability. I audit VPN connections quarterly and typically find 10-20% that can be decommissioned.
• Implement Data Management Policies – Set up policies to limit unnecessary data transfer out of AWS. Leverage AWS Direct Connect for high volume transfers, potentially lowering costs compared to transferring over the Internet. Direct Connect has higher upfront costs but much lower per-GB transfer rates.
• Regularly Review Active Connections – Conduct audits to verify that all active connections are necessary. Deactivate unused ones to save on connection fees. For Client VPN, implement idle timeout policies to disconnect inactive users automatically.
• Evaluate Alternate Solutions for Specific Needs – Sometimes, relying solely on VPNs may not be cost-effective. Consider alternatives like AWS Direct Connect for persistent high-bandwidth needs, or using AWS PrivateLink for service-specific connections. For remote workers accessing web applications, AWS App Runner or Elastic Beanstalk with proper authentication might eliminate the need for Client VPN entirely.
• Use VPN Connection Scheduling – If your VPN connections aren’t needed 24/7 (like for dev/test environments), consider using Lambda functions to tear down and recreate VPN connections on a schedule. This can cut your hourly connection fees significantly.

Anyone leveraging AWS VPN services should periodically review usage and pricing details. The cloud landscape evolves constantly, and staying informed helps optimize costs and maintain efficient operations. I review VPN costs monthly and optimize architectures quarterly—it’s paid for itself many times over in cost savings.