# SSH into an ephemeral service instance

- Date: 2026-06-02
- Change type: New
- URL: https://render.com/changelog/ssh-into-an-ephemeral-service-instance

You can now SSH into an *ephemeral instance* of your service, which Render spins up specifically for your SSH session. This enables you to inspect your service's runtime environment and execute one-off commands without affecting your production instances.

Previously, all SSH sessions connected to one of a service's running instances (except for cron jobs). This remains the default behavior.

Using version 2.20.0 or later of the [Render CLI](https://render.com/docs/cli), provide the `--ephemeral` option to the `render ssh` command:

```shell
render ssh srv-abc123 --ephemeral
```

Render creates an ephemeral instance using the same build artifact as your running instances. It does _not_ execute your service's start command after spinning up.

By default, the ephemeral instance uses the same instance type as the service's other instances. To use a different instance type, provide the `--plan` option to the `render ssh` command:

```shell
render ssh srv-abc123 --ephemeral --plan starter
```

As with all instances, ephemeral SSH instances are billed according to their instance type, prorated by the second. [See pricing.](https://render.com/pricing#services)

Learn more in the [documentation](https://render.com/docs/ssh#starting-an-ephemeral-shell-instance).