Why measure value for money
DMIT plans range from $6.90 to $79.90, but the cheapest isn't always the best deal, and the most expensive isn't always the best fit. To objectively compare plans, we use two quantitative metrics:
- Per-GB traffic price = monthly price ÷ monthly traffic allowance
- Compute unit price = monthly price ÷ vCores ÷ RAM(GB)
The comparison table on the plans page calculates both metrics automatically and flags "Best value" (lowest per-GB) and "Best compute" (lowest compute unit price). This article explains what these metrics mean and how to use them.
Per-GB traffic price: who offers the cheapest data
Per-GB traffic price measures the unit cost of data, useful for high-traffic scenarios. Based on the 2026-08-17 official snapshot (low to high):
| PID | Plan | Location | Monthly | Traffic | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | LAX.AN5.T1.V2C4G | LAX | $23.90 | 10000GB | $0.0024 |
| 169 | LAX.AN5.T1.V2C2G | LAX | $14.90 | 5000GB | $0.0030 |
| 132 | TYO.AS3.T1.STARTER | TYO | $12.90 | 4000GB | $0.0032 |
| 199 | HKG.AS3.T1.STARTER | HKG | $12.90 | 4000GB | $0.0032 |
| 131 | TYO.AS3.T1.TINY | TYO | $6.90 | 2000GB | $0.0035 |
| 198 | HKG.AS3.T1.TINY | HKG | $6.90 | 2000GB | $0.0035 |
Tier 1 plans generally have lower per-GB prices than Premium and Eyeball because they offer larger traffic allowances. For backups, monitoring or CDN origin use cases with high traffic, Tier 1 is usually the better deal.
Compute unit price: who offers the cheapest compute
Compute unit price measures the unit cost of CPU/RAM resources, useful for compute-intensive scenarios. Selected plans:
| PID | Plan | Location | Monthly | vCore | RAM | Per vCore·GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 253 | LAX.AS3.Pro.TINY | LAX | $10.90 | 1 | 2GB | $5.45 |
| 254 | LAX.AS3.Pro.Pocket | LAX | $16.90 | 2 | 2GB | $4.23 |
| 169 | LAX.AN5.T1.V2C2G | LAX | $14.90 | 2 | 2GB | $3.73 |
| 170 | LAX.AN5.T1.V2C4G | LAX | $23.90 | 2 | 4GB | $2.99 |
Lower compute unit price means more CPU/RAM per dollar. For web apps, API services or databases, prioritise the compute unit price.
Using both metrics together
No single metric covers all scenarios. Recommended decision flow:
- Identify your scenario: high traffic? compute-heavy? or both?
- High traffic: focus on per-GB price; pick the lowest in Tier 1.
- Compute-heavy: focus on compute unit price; pick sufficient RAM at a low unit price.
- Both: check both columns in the comparison table and find a balance.
The comparison table automatically flags "Best value" (lowest per-GB) and "Best compute" (lowest compute unit price) columns.
Value characteristics by location
LAX (Los Angeles)
LAX Tier 1 plans (PID 169/170) offer 10Gbps ports and massive traffic allowances, with the lowest per-GB prices of all plans. LAX Premium plans (PID 253/254) have lower compute unit prices, suited for users needing optimised routes on a budget.
HKG (Hong Kong)
HKG Tier 1 plans (PID 198/199) are priced the same as TYO Tier 1 with the same traffic allowance. HKG Eyeball plans (PID 210/211) have higher per-GB prices but provide the only Eyeball line — the only choice if you need it.
TYO (Tokyo)
TYO Tier 1 plans (PID 131/132) match HKG Tier 1 in price and traffic. TYO Premium plans (PID 138/139) are mid-range in the Premium series.
Budget band × scenario recommendations
The budget guide on the plans page gives recommendations across four budget bands × four scenarios, weighing price, traffic and RAM. Summary:
| Budget | Toy/personal | Light website | Production API | High traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <$10 | PID 131/198 | — | — | — |
| $10-20 | PID 253 | PID 253/254 | — | — |
| $20-50 | — | PID 255 | PID 170/255 | PID 169 |
| $50+ | — | — | PID 211 | PID 170 |
These are guide picks only — combine with your specific needs. Full comparison on the plans page.
Don't look at price alone
Value metrics are quantitative references, not the only criteria. Before buying, also consider:
- Location: a closer datacenter means better experience. See Location Comparison.
- Network series: Tier 1 is cost-first, Premium is experience-first, Eyeball suits return-to-origin scenarios.
- Refund window: 3-day full refund (≤30GB) gives you room to test. See Refund Policy Explained.
- Port speed: 10Gbps vs 1Gbps significantly affects peak bandwidth.
Data checked 2026-08-18. Prices and stock follow the live official site.