On January 1, 2026, IBM will implement a global price adjustment across its product and service portfolio starting. This annual harmonization aligns pricing with inflation and other macroeconomic factors. It aims to maintain consistency and predictability for customers worldwide.
Most IBM offerings will see a price increase of approximately 6%. Some categories will increase more, while a few are excluded from this adjustment.
Summary of Price Changes
| IBM Offering Category | Price Change | Notes |
| IBM Software (Distributed, Software-as-a-Service, IBM Z Monthly License Charge) | +6% | Applies to software sold via Passport Advantage, SaaS subscriptions, and IBM Z software (MLC, OTC, Subscription & Support) |
| IBM Power Systems Hardware | +6% | General increase across IBM Power server models |
| IBM Software Maintenance (SWMA for IBM i) | +10% | Higher support cost adjustment specifically for IBM i operating system maintenance |
| IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) | +2% | Minimal increase for cloud-based Power workloads on IBM Cloud |
| IBM Storage Systems Hardware and Software | +6% | Applies broadly; excludes IBM FlashSystem, Storage Area Network (SAN) Ready Nodes, Linear Tape-Open (LTO) tape, and media |
| Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS) | +6% average | Maintenance increases vary: older Power hardware up to +10%, storage support averages +7% |
| IBM Cloud (Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, VMware, etc.) | +1% to +10% | Varies by service; Classic Virtual Server Instances (VSI) increase by 10%, regional premiums apply |
| IBM Cloud App ID | Tier change | Free “Lite” tier retired; paid “Graduated” tier becomes the new standard pricing model |
Price Increase Exclusions
The following products will not be affected:
- IBM FlashSystem
- Storage Area Network (SAN)
- Ready Nodes
- Linear Tape-Open (LTO) Tape Products
- Storage Media
Timeline
- Now–December 31, 2025: Current pricing remains. Customers can purchase or renew at 2025 rates.
- January 1, 2026: New prices take effect globally.
- January 5, 2026: IBM Cloud Basic Support transitions to self-service only.
Key Impacts
- Customers using IBM software, hardware, or cloud services should expect moderate cost increases.
- Quotes issued before January 1, 2025, will be honored until expiration.
- Existing contracts remain valid until renewal.
- IBM Cloud users should review service tiers and regional pricing changes.
- Organizations relying on free tiers (e.g., App ID Lite) must prepare for paid usage.
Secure prices before January 1, 2026
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