Cost of Model training

Question

I am slightly confused on the cost to train a model. This page discusses the cost of training a neural model, saying that it is free for the first 10 hours, then billing charges would apply at $3 per hour. Does this apply per month? And if I use the paid tier, do I still get the benefits of 10 hours of free model training? Additionally, does this apply per model or for all models? I.e. if I have two models that take 5 hours to train each then will I have used all my free training for the month?

Additionally, does the cost of model training apply to custom template or custom classification models as well? I couldn't find anything that discussed the costs for training those models. Would the training time associated with them contribute to the total training time for the month for all models?

Finally, is there a minimum granularity to model training time? For example, if I train my model for 11 minutes, will the charge be prorated for those 11 minutes, or is 30 minutes the minimum, in which case I would be charged $1.50 at least?

Answer 1

Hello Marques Chacon,

Greetings and Welcome to Microsoft Q&A! Thanks for posting the question.

I understand your confusion regarding the cost structure for training models in Azure.

The 10 free training hours for model training are provided on a monthly basis, regardless of whether you are on the free or paid tier. After exhausting this free quota, additional training hours are charged at $3 per hour. The 10 free hours are shared across all models within your subscription, not allocated per model. For example, if you train two models that each take 5 hours, the combined 10-hour free allowance for the month will be fully utilized. Any training beyond this limit will result in additional charges.

The cost of training also applies to custom template models and custom classification models, and their training time contributes to the total training hours for the month. The same pricing rules are applicable: the first 10 hours are free, and additional training is billed at $3 per hour. While the documentation may not always explicitly mention these models, they are included under the general pricing structure for Azure AI Document Intelligence. you can calculate pricing through this Pricing calculator by referring this Estimate price.

Training time is typically calculated to the nearest minute, you are charged only for the exact duration of the training. For instance, if a model takes 11 minutes to train, the cost would be based on those 11 minutes. There is no indication of a minimum charge, such as 30 minutes, so you only pay for the actual time used.

I Hope this helps. Do let me know if you have any further queries.

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