AWS Cost Explorer alternative: when to move beyond the built-in view
AWS Cost Explorer is built in and shows AWS spend only. CostGlass is worth adding when you also run other clouds, Kubernetes or AI services, or want savings carried out for you, not just charted.
CostGlass vs AWS Cost Explorer at a glance
| Feature | AWS Cost Explorer | CostGlass |
|---|---|---|
| How pricing works | Built into your AWS account | Flat monthly price by spend band; never a percentage of your spend |
| Clouds covered | AWS only | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode and Cloudflare |
| Hands-on help with fixes | Reporting and forecasting; anomaly alerts | Scale plan: CostGlass engineers carry out approved savings (8 engineer-hours a month) |
| Data location and access | Inside your AWS account | You choose London or N. Virginia; UK company under UK GDPR; read-only access by default |
| Data freshness | Updated at least once every 24 hours | Cost data refreshed every 6 hours |
Why teams choose CostGlass over AWS Cost Explorer
One view across every cloud
Cost Explorer shows AWS only. CostGlass puts AWS next to Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode and Cloudflare.
Fresher data
AWS updates Cost Explorer at least once every 24 hours. CostGlass refreshes your cost data every 6 hours, so anomalies surface sooner.
Kubernetes, AI and SaaS in the same place
Add Kubernetes allocation, OpenAI and Anthropic usage, Snowflake and Datadog to the same report, and share it with finance.
Savings that get carried out
Scale plan engineers carry out the savings you approve, instead of leaving them in a list.
When AWS Cost Explorer may be the better fit
- You run only on AWS and your needs are simple; Cost Explorer is already there.
- You want AWS’s own 12-month forecast.
- You prefer to keep all cost data inside your AWS account.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need Cost Explorer if I use CostGlass?
Not usually, but it stays available. Many teams keep it for quick AWS checks and use CostGlass for the wider picture.
How much history does Cost Explorer keep?
AWS documents the current month plus 13 months of history. CostGlass Starter also keeps 13 months.
Does AWS have anomaly detection?
Yes. Cost Anomaly Detection is set up automatically and alerts on anomalies above $100 and 40%. CostGlass adds anomaly alerts across all connected clouds.
Sources and verification
Statements about AWS Cost Explorer come from its own public pages, checked on 28 October 2026. AWS Cost Explorer and other product names are trademarks of their owners; CostGlass is not affiliated with or endorsed by AWS Cost Explorer. Corrections: [email protected].