Virtual Private Server (VPS) and web hosting on AWS are two different concepts.
A Virtual Private Server (Amazon hosting server) is a virtual machine that runs its own copy of an operating system, allowing users to have root access to the server and configure it as desired. It provides dedicated resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage for the user, giving more control and flexibility compared to shared hosting.
On the other hand, web hosting on Amazon Web Services (AWS) refers to hosting websites or applications on AWS infrastructure using their various services like EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), S3 (Simple Storage Service), RDS (Relational Database Service), etc. AWS offers scalable infrastructure with high availability and reliability.
When it comes to using VPS on AWS, you can launch an EC2 instance with your preferred operating system image and get full control over the server. You can also choose from various instance types based on your resource requirements.
Web hosting on AWS involves deploying your website/application using different services provided by AWS. For example:
1. EC2: Deploying a web application by launching one or multiple instances.
2. S3: Storing static files like HTML pages, images, CSS files.
3. Elastic Beanstalk: Simplified platform-as-a-service for deploying web applications without worrying about underlying infrastructure setup.
4. Lightsail: Provides pre-configured virtual private servers along with simplified management options for easy deployment of websites or blogs.
Both VPS and web hosting solutions offered by AWS provide scalability and flexibility; however, they serve different purposes depending upon individual requirements and preferences.
Amazon Lightsail vs Amazon EC2
Amazon Lightsail and Amazon EC2 are both services provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting applications and websites, but they differ in terms of their intended use cases.
1. Amazon Lightsail: It is designed for developers or businesses who need a simple way to launch small-scale virtual private servers (VPS) with pre-configured specifications. It provides an easy-to-use interface and offers packages with fixed compute power, storage, and data transfer limits. This makes it suitable for beginners or those who require predictable pricing without worrying about the underlying infrastructure management.
2. Amazon EC2: It is a more advanced service that allows users to have complete control over the configuration of their virtual servers. With EC2, users can choose from a wide range of instance types based on their specific requirements such as CPU, memory, storage capacity, etc. Additionally, it gives more flexibility in terms of networking options and supports auto-scaling for handling varying workload demands.
In summary, if you prefer simplicity with predefined packages at a fixed cost without much manual configuration complexity, then Amazon Lightsail would be a good choice. However, if you desire more fine-grained control over your infrastructure specifications along with scalability options and extensive customization capabilities then Amazon EC2 would be the recommended option.
Try Amazon Lightsail for free »
For a limited time, try Lightsail free for 3 months on the following plans:
$3.50/mo, $5/mo, or $10/mo plans when using Linux/Unix
$8 USD, $12, or $20 plans when using Windows
$10 USD per node when using Containers
$15 USD database plans when using Databases
The offer applies to new or existing AWS accounts who started Lightsail usage on or after 7/8/2021. Offer only applies to one bundle per account. Standard charges apply after first 750 hours of usage of the selected bundle each month.
Try Amazon EC2 for free »
Try EC2 for free for 12 months.
750 hours per month of Linux, RHEL, or SLES t2.micro or t3.micro instance dependent on region.
750 hours per month of Windows t2.micro or t3.micro instance dependent on region.
AWS EC2 Pricing Vs LightSail Pricing
The pricing for AWS EC2 and LightSail differs based on several factors including instance type, operating system, region, and usage.
AWS EC2 offers a wide range of instance types with different performance characteristics and pricing options. The pricing is generally higher compared to LightSail as it provides more flexibility in terms of scalability, customization, and integration with other AWS services.
On the other hand, LightSail offers simplified flat-rate pricing where you pay a fixed monthly fee that includes the cost for compute resources (instance), storage (SSD-based), data transfer, DNS management, static IP address allocation, and monitoring. This makes it easier to predict costs without worrying about variable charges associated with instances or data transfer.
In general, if you require advanced features like auto-scaling or need close integration with other AWS services then EC2 would be a better choice despite its higher pricing. However, if simplicity and predictable costs are your main priorities then LightSail could be a suitable option.
Compare your options
| Overview | Amazon Lightsail | Amazon EC2 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple pricing models and discount options that match your use case | ✓ | |
| Low, predictable, and bundled monthly pricing | ✓ | |
| Easily connects to other AWS services | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offers an all-in-one experience, including load balancers and databases | ✓ | |
| Allows you full control and flexibility so that you can configure exactly what you need | ✓ | |
| Makes server management easier by automatically configuring key resources like networking and security | ✓ | |
| Instance types that are optimized for specific workloads including enterprise applications, machine learning, high-performance computing and/or graphics-intensive applications | ✓ | |
| Offers you a simplified and efficient way to launch, deploy and manage your compute, networking, storage, and database resources on AWS | ✓ |