# Product Types

Before you build a listing, decide what type of product you're selling on AWS Marketplace and whether you can create it directly in Fours.

---

## Overview

Your product type determines how buyers deploy your software, what AWS requires from you technically, and how long it takes to go live. This page explains each AWS Marketplace product type, how they differ, and which ones you can create directly in Fours.

## Product Types at a Glance

AWS Marketplace supports several product types. The right one depends on how your software is delivered to buyers.

| Product type | How it's delivered | Can be created in Fours? | AWS reference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **SaaS** | Hosted by you; buyers access it through your environment | ✅ Yes | [SaaS-based products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/saas-products.html) |
| **Professional services** | Human-delivered engagements (consulting, training, implementation, etc.) | ✅ Yes | [Professional services products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/proserv-products.html) |
| **AMI** | Pre-installed software image buyers launch in their own AWS account | ⚠️ Create in AWS first, then it syncs to Fours | [AMI-based products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/ami-products.html) |
| **Container** | Packaged container images buyers deploy in their own AWS environment | ⚠️ Create in AWS first, then it syncs to Fours | [Container-based products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/container-based-products.html) |
| **Machine learning** | Algorithms or model packages deployed via Amazon SageMaker | ❌ Not supported in Fours | [Machine learning products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/machine-learning-products.html) |
| **AI agent** | Conversational agents deployed as SaaS or containers | ⚠️ Depends on the deployment type | [AI agent products](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/ai-agents-tools.html) |

:::info

The "How it's delivered" descriptions are summarized from the [AWS Marketplace product delivery guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/marketplace/latest/userguide/product-preparation.html#product-delivery). Refer to that page for the full AWS definitions.

:::

## Reporting usage through Fours

Product type also decides whether you can report metered usage to AWS through Fours.

**Container and AMI listings cannot.** AWS meters those products from the buyer's own AWS environment, so there is no external usage to send. On a container or AMI entitlement, the **Report Usage** and **Report Usage in Batch** buttons on the Metering page are greyed out, and their tooltip reads *"Reporting usage externally is not supported for container and AMI product listings."*

SaaS, professional services, and machine learning entitlements are unaffected — report usage for those in Fours as normal.

:::note If the buttons are greyed out on a listing that is not container or AMI
Fours fails closed. When it cannot yet tell what kind of listing an entitlement belongs to — most often a channel partner (CPPO) entitlement whose product has not finished syncing — the buttons stay disabled and the tooltip reads *"Unable to verify whether external usage reporting is supported for this AWS listing."* Give the product sync a moment and reload; if it persists, contact [support@suger.io](mailto:support@suger.io).
:::

## What's Next

Once you've decided on your product type, your next step is choosing your pricing model. See [Choose the right AWS Marketplace pricing model](/aws-marketplace/pricing-model/).