# ODK 1 on GCP App Engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [April 11, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189 "2019-04-11T14:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rkchak](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/rkchak/32/6602_2.png) [@rkchak](https://forum.getodk.org/u/rkchak)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189/1 "2019-04-11T14:40:42Z")
Hi We have an ODK aggregate server setup on the GCP app engine. We have around 15 forms and the system has around 60 unique users everyday collecting data that is stored in Fusion tables. Monthly cost averages around $900. That that expected? How can we reduce the cost? Thanks Ram ---
**Author:** ![esurface](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/977dab/32.png) [@esurface](https://forum.getodk.org/u/esurface)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189/2 "2019-04-11T16:05:11Z")
Hi all, @rkchak and I are working on this project together. In addition, I set up a new ODK Aggregate server to test the difference verse our production system. Without pushing any forms to it, we are charged exactly $13.95 per day. Does it make sense that we are being charged that much for running the instance 24/7? Thanks, Erik ---
**Author:** ![esurface](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/977dab/32.png) [@esurface](https://forum.getodk.org/u/esurface)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189/3 "2019-04-12T19:29:33Z")
I found this in a 3-year old post on this forum. Is it true that GAE will shut down the instance automatically if it is unused? Does that need to be configured? > [@How to deploy ODK Aggregate on Google's App Engine](https://forum.getodk.org/t/how-to-deploy-odk-aggregate-on-googles-app-engine/3939/7): > > Google AppEngine is unique in how it manages system resources. If you are > not actively using your application (i.e., ODK Aggregate), Google will shut > it down. Then, upon the next request to access the application, it will > allocate a server, install the application, and send the request to that > application (for ODK Aggregate, this start-up time takes about 27 seconds > to complete). You pay only for the amount of time your application is > active (and for many users, these costs are minimal and less than the costs > to hire staff and maintain their own servers on their own premises). ---
**Author:** ![yanokwa](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/yanokwa/32/1695_2.png) [@yanokwa](https://forum.getodk.org/u/yanokwa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189/4 "2019-04-17T22:01:47Z")
App Engine automatically manages the instance life cycle. [https://cloud.google.com/appengine/docs/standard/java/how-instances-are-managed#startup](https://cloud.google.com/appengine/docs/standard/java/how-instances-are-managed#startup) has more. The major driver of cost on App Engine is Datastore Reads. If you have any traffic, you can absolutely incur costs without pushing any forms to it. See [https://docs.opendatakit.org/aggregate-app-engine-legacy/#minimizing-fees](https://docs.opendatakit.org/aggregate-app-engine-legacy/#minimizing-fees) for more information. $900/month seems unusually high, but if you used the biggest machines, large forms, and use Briefcase hourly, then I suppose it's possible. This opaque pricing is one of the reasons why are [removing Google App Engine support](https://forum.getodk.org/t/upcoming-changes-to-aggregate/17582). If you are setting up a new project, it might be easier to go with a [Digital Ocean](https://docs.opendatakit.org/aggregate-do/) or [Google Cloud](https://docs.opendatakit.org/aggregate-google-cloud) where performance and pricing is predictable. Oh, and you probably know this, but [Fusion Tables will shutdown in December](https://forum.getodk.org/t/google-fusion-tables-to-be-shut-down-on-december-3-2019/16741). ---
**Author:** ![esurface](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/977dab/32.png) [@esurface](https://forum.getodk.org/u/esurface)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-1-on-gcp-app-engine/19189/5 "2019-04-22T22:14:37Z")
@yanokwa Thank you for the information! It seems our problem is due to this [issue](https://forum.getodk.org/t/google-sheet-publisher-issue-somehow-db-entities-for-publisher-got-into-problem-state/11862/19).