Does AWS Backup charge premium on tag-based resource selection for backups?

AWS Backup does not charge a premium for using tag-based resource selection in backup plans. The pricing for AWS Backup is based on the actual resources being backed up, restored, or managed, rather than the method used to select those resources.

When you create a backup plan, you have the flexibility to assign resources either by explicitly specifying resource types or by using tags. This tag-based approach allows for more dynamic and automated resource selection, but it does not incur any additional charges compared to directly specifying resources.

The costs associated with AWS Backup are primarily based on:

1. The amount of backup storage used
2. The number and size of restores performed
3. Data transfer costs (if applicable)
4. API calls made to services like S3 during the backup process
5. Any additional features used, such as backup search or cross-region data transfer

Whether you choose to use tag-based selection or direct resource assignment, the pricing remains the same for the actual backup operations and storage. The tag-based approach is simply a method of resource selection and does not affect the underlying backup processes or costs.

It's worth noting that while tag-based selection itself doesn't incur extra charges, you may want to consider using cost allocation tags to track and optimize your AWS Backup costs. This can help you better understand and manage your backup expenses across different resources or projects, but it's an optional feature for cost management rather than an additional charge for using tags in resource selection.
Sources
Metering, costs, and billing for AWS Backup - AWS Backup
AWS Backup Pricing | Centralized Cloud Backup | Amazon Web Services
Assign resources to a backup plan - AWS Backup