Today, we’re making CloudZero even better with the launch of Dimension Studio, a major evolution in how CloudZero customers create and manage Dimensions — customizable “lenses” that allocate cloud and AI spend to relevant categories like products, features, teams, or customers, without relying on resource tags.
At CloudZero, our mission has always been to help organizations make sense of their cloud and AI spend. Our platform allows companies to minimize waste and build smarter, more profitable businesses.
According to the FinOps Foundation, full allocation of cloud spend is the second-highest priority for FinOps practitioners, only behind waste reduction. Even more telling, when asked what FinOps capabilities teams are applying to their AI spend, allocation was the top response.
That’s why we built the most flexible and accurate cost allocation engine on the market, designed for enterprise-scale complexity and trusted by engineering, finance, and FinOps teams.
With Dimension Studio, users now have an interactive in-app graphical user interface (GUI) that makes creating and editing cost allocation rules point-and-click simple. Built on the strength of CostFormation®, this delivers a faster, simpler way to build cost allocation rules, while still maintaining the accuracy and enterprise-grade governance CloudZero is valued for.
The Most Accurate Allocation Engine Just Became The Easiest
Until now, cost allocations in CloudZero were created with CostFormation® — our domain-specific language that gives users unmatched precision, auditability, and version control. It’s a key differentiator and one of the reasons enterprise teams trust CloudZero. But CostFormation’s power has come with complexity, making it challenging for some teams to get started.
Dimension Studio changes that. Build dimensions visually with an intuitive GUI, or work directly in CostFormation for full control. Power users can seamlessly toggle between both views, with every change reflected instantly. Now everyone gets the full capabilities of CostFormation — with almost no learning curve.
Allocation Shouldn’t Slow You Down
Dimensions are the backbone of CloudZero. They’re how our customers map, or allocate, spend to customers, products, features, and teams. They are the foundation of true unit economics. Getting allocation right means companies can ask and answer key questions like:
- What’s the cost to serve this customer?
- Which product feature is the most expensive to run?
- Is this engineering team building in ways that maximize margin?
Traditionally, setting up these rules required some technical configuration skills, which could slow smaller teams or those without a dedicated FinOps function.
Meanwhile, AI adoption has made consumption far more unpredictable. A recent survey showed that four out of five enterprises miss their AI infrastructure forecasts by more than 25%, and 84% say AI workloads are eroding gross margins.
Allocation needs to keep up with that pace.
The Best Of Both Worlds: CloudZero Dimension Studio
With Dimension Studio, any user can spin up allocation rules in minutes with a point-and-click, wizard-like interface. Finance and product leaders can quickly test new cost breakdowns. Engineers still benefit from technical precision when they need it.
Behind the scenes, Dimension Studio generates fully compliant CostFormation® YAML, so governance and accuracy are never compromised.
4 Key Benefits Of Dimension Studio
1. Simpler dimension creation
Dimension Studio removes the friction when it comes to creating and testing allocation rules. Engineers can pivot to using the GUI interface, and finance and product leaders are empowered to create dimensions if and when they need to.
2. Power in options
Every organization works differently. Some prefer the rigor and control of rules-as-code; others need the speed of a visual workflow. With Dimension Studio, CloudZero gives customers both.
- Code-first for enterprise precision and governance
- GUI-based creation for ease and agility
- A unified system that guarantees accuracy and consistency no matter which method you use
Options ensure CloudZero meets organizations where they are today and scales with them as they grow.
3. Faster time to value
In the past, for some orgs creating a new dimension might take longer than they wanted. Now, it’s instant. Teams can experiment with new allocation methods, iterate in real time, and decide quickly what to keep or discard. With Dimension Studio, you can do it immediately, without dependencies or multi-hour delays waiting for the new dimension to take effect, as seen in other FinOps platforms.
Want to track costs for a new AI product launch? Need a new customer-level view after a board meeting? The GUI makes things move faster.
For many companies, this removes a burden. For enterprises, it adds agility in managing billions of dollars in cloud and AI spend.
4. Enterprise-grade at the core
Many cost tools start with simplicity and remain “good enough” for small and mid-market companies. To create dimensions, CloudZero took the opposite path: we built initially for the enterprise, with technical set-up as our foundation.
That decision reflects our position as a platform designed to handle the most complex allocation challenges, satisfy compliance and audit requirements, and deliver accurate, trusted data at scale. This approach led CloudZero to be the first SOC 1 compliant FinOps platform, years ahead of any other vendor.
Dimension Studio enhances that. The enterprise-grade foundation remains, but now every organization gets the benefit of speed, simplicity, and accessibility layered on top.
Part Of A Larger CloudZero Experience
Dimension Studio is just one of many innovations driving CloudZero forward. Alongside our new Optimize workflows to help engineers act on cost-savings opportunities and easily report on realized savings, a new series of out-of-the-box dashboards, and deeper AI vendor integrations, Dimension Studio reflects our commitment to setting the standard for user experience in FinOps
Why This Matters
At the end of the day, allocation is about more than categorizing spend. It’s about understanding the cost of delivering value to a customer, a product, or a business unit.
With Dimension Studio, CloudZero customers can move faster, align engineering and finance more easily, and unlock the insights that drive smarter roadmaps, better pricing, and stronger margins.
Take The Next Step
Dimension Studio is available now in the CloudZero platform — sign up here for a live demo or, if you’re a customer, contact your FAM.
Also, register for our webinar on October 30, 2025 where we’ll cover the allocation mistakes that most FinOps teams make. See you there!
Dimension Studio FAQ
1. What is Dimension Studio?
Dimension Studio is CloudZero’s new in-app interface that lets customers create and manage Cloud and AI cost allocation rules with simple point-and-click steps — no YAML expertise required.
2. Why did CloudZero build Dimension Studio?
Customers love the accuracy and power of our allocation engine, but some wanted a faster, more accessible, visual way to build dimensions. Dimension Studio adds that ease without sacrificing enterprise-grade governance and precision.
3. Who can use Dimension Studio?
Engineering teams, finance leaders, FinOps practitioners, and product managers can all use Dimension Studio. It’s designed for anyone who needs to create or edit allocation rules.
4. Does Dimension Studio replace YAML?
No. YAML remains available for code-first users. Dimension Studio generates compliant YAML behind the scenes, so users can toggle between GUI and YAML anytime.
5. What’s the benefit of being able to toggle between GUI and YAML?
It gives teams the best of both worlds: users get simplicity, engineers keep precision, and every change is instantly reflected in both views.
7. Can Dimension Studio handle enterprise-scale complexity?
Yes. The GUI is built on top of CloudZero’s existing enterprise-grade allocation engine, trusted by global leaders like Coinbase and Grammarly. Governance, compliance, and auditability remain intact.
8. How is Dimension Studio different from other FinOps tools?
Other tools start with simplicity and stop at “good enough” for mid-market companies. CloudZero built for enterprise precision first, then added Dimension Studio to layer in speed and accessibility.
9. What are dimensions, exactly?
Dimensions are customizable “lenses” that allocate cloud and AI spend to meaningful categories like products, features, teams, or customers. They are the foundation of true unit economics.
10. How does Dimension Studio help with AI cost management specifically?
As AI spend becomes more unpredictable, Dimension Studio lets teams build new cost breakdowns quickly (e.g., cost per model, per API call, or per customer) to stay in control of fast-changing workloads.
11. Does Dimension Studio require training?
No. It’s designed to be intuitive and wizard-like. If you can use drop-down menus, you can create dimensions. That said, our FinOps advisors can help guide each customer’s strategy and best practices when it comes to dimensions.
12. When will Dimension Studio be available?
It’s live in the CloudZero platform now. As of announcement date (October 7), customers can reach out to their FinOps Account Manager (FAM) to get started.
13. Will Dimension Studio cost extra?
No. Dimension Studio is included as part of the CloudZero platform for all customers.
14. How does Dimension Studio help align engineering and finance?
Finance can create board-ready reports, and engineering can see cost impact of design choices in real time, all from the same set of dimensions.
The Cloud Cost Playbook
The step-by-step guide to cost maturity
