Skip to main content

AWS Cost Calculator

The CloudDrove AWS Cost Optimization Calculator analyzes your AWS spending and estimates where you can cut costs — across compute, storage, reservations, and more. Upload your Cost Explorer export, answer six quick questions, and receive a personalized savings breakdown by email.

Live tool: calculator.clouddrove.com

What it checks​

The calculator evaluates your infrastructure against six optimization dimensions:

AreaWhat it looks for
Spot InstancesWorkloads that could move from On-Demand to Spot pricing
Reserved Instances / Savings PlansSteady-state compute that would benefit from 1- or 3-year commitments
S3 Storage ArchivingObjects in Standard that qualify for Infrequent Access or Glacier tiers
Idle / Underutilized ResourcesEC2 instances, RDS, load balancers, and NAT gateways with low utilization
Right-sizingOversized instance types relative to actual CPU and memory usage
NetworkingData transfer and NAT Gateway costs that can be reduced

How to use it​

Step 1 — Export your AWS cost data​

In the AWS Console, go to Cost Management → Cost Explorer, then:

Reports → Export → CSV

Export a date range of at least 30 days. Keep the file under 1 MB.

Alternatively, use the AWS CLI:

aws ce get-cost-and-usage \
  --time-period Start=2024-01-01,End=2024-01-31 \
  --granularity MONTHLY \
  --metrics "BlendedCost" \
  --output json > cost-export.json

Step 2 — Open the calculator​

Go to calculator.clouddrove.com.

Step 3 — Answer the six questions​

The form asks about your current optimization practices (e.g., "Are you using Spot Instances?"). These answers calibrate the savings model to your actual situation.

Step 4 — Upload your CSV and submit​

Upload the Cost Explorer export, enter your email, and click Submit. The calculator processes your data and sends the savings breakdown directly to your inbox.

What you receive​

The emailed report includes:

  • Total estimated savings across all categories
  • Per-category breakdown showing which areas have the most opportunity
  • Prioritised recommendations — highest-ROI actions listed first

For a deeper analysis with implementation guidance, you can request a full assessment via the contact option in the tool.

Security​

  • The calculator processes cost and usage data only — no AWS credentials, account IDs, or resource identifiers are required
  • Uploaded files are not stored after processing
  • File size is capped at 1 MB to limit exposure

Use cases​

  • Quick pre-audit check before an AWS cost review
  • Identifying low-hanging fruit before committing to a Reserved Instance purchase
  • Benchmarking spend efficiency when onboarding a new AWS account
  • Building a business case for a right-sizing or Spot migration project