# Can you stack the free tier resources in one instance?

**URL:** <https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517>\
**Category:** Questions / Help\
**Tags:** machines, billing, login-only\
**Created:** [April 27, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517 "2024-04-27T14:49:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![raenorath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@raenorath](https://community.fly.io/u/raenorath)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517/1 "2024-04-27T14:49:40Z")

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Hi,

I see that 3x 1vCPU/256MB RAM machines are included for free, plus \<$5/mo spend I believe.

Putting aside the $5 waiver, is it free to stack the resources? E.g. can I run one 2vCPU instance with 512MB RAM for free?

Sorry if this has been asked - I reviewed some related posts but did not see the question posed in this way.

Thanks,  
-R

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**Author:** ![mayailurus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/fly1/user_avatar/community.fly.io/mayailurus/32/17593_2.png) [@mayailurus](https://community.fly.io/u/mayailurus)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 6:55am UTC](https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517/2 "2024-04-28T06:55:32Z")

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Hi… “Stacking” is an interesting way of thinking about it… You can do so with the volumes, but not with RAM or CPUs. Even experienced users have scratched their heads over the exact interpretation, though; I believe the following is the most directly worded clarification so far:

> [@I don't understand free-tier!??](https://community.fly.io/t/i-dont-understand-free-tier/5145/5):
>
> > [@I don't understand free-tier!??](https://community.fly.io/t/i-dont-understand-free-tier/5145/3):
> >
> > 1. one 512MB RAM and one 256MB RAM full time?
> 
> This is not quite right. The 512MB RAM VM would create costs as you’d have an extra 256MB (256MB base + 256MB extra) and we’d bill for the extra.

It would be nice if the [docs](https://fly.io/docs/about/pricing/) had more “this is free” / “this is not free” examples, 🦋…

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**Author:** ![mayailurus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/fly1/user_avatar/community.fly.io/mayailurus/32/17593_2.png) [@mayailurus](https://community.fly.io/u/mayailurus)\
**Post date:** [April 28, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517/3 "2024-04-28T06:56:09Z")

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Added #billing, #machines

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/fly1/original/3X/6/e/6e8955d00cb218e186ebbe3a6ab06fefdce15290.svg) [@system](https://community.fly.io/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 5, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://community.fly.io/t/can-you-stack-the-free-tier-resources-in-one-instance/19517/4 "2024-05-05T06:56:36Z")

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