(Spoiler: it’s ECS.)

If you’re an AWS developer, you probably know that the cloud giant offers two different ways to run your applications: EC2 instances and ECS containers. Both are powerful and flexible options that give you access to various computing resources and services. But how do they compare? And which option is best for your application?

Infrastructure vs. Containers

The most basic difference between EC2 and ECS is that the former is an infrastructure-as-a-service option while the latter is a platform-as-a-service offering. This means that with EC2, you can create your own virtual machines (VMs) and configure them with whatever resources you need. You have full control over how these VMs are set up and run in the cloud.

ECS, on the other hand, allows you to create and run containers without worrying about configuring and managing infrastructure. You specify the resources you need for each container, and Amazon handles everything else. This is a big advantage if you’re not familiar with AWS or don’t have much time to spend setting up servers yourself.

ECS is a more manageable solution

ECS is a great option for deploying containers without having to learn all of the AWS tools. It can also be a good solution if you’re already familiar with AWS and just want to deploy containers quickly. You don’t have to worry about configuring servers or setting up infrastructure for your containerized services, which makes it easier to get started than other options.

ECS can be easier to scale

ECS can also be easier to scale than other options since you only have to worry about scaling the tasks that run on your cluster. You don’t have to worry about managing server instances individually.

Faster container spin

ECS containers are faster to launch than EC2 instances. Deploying to EC2 can be time-consuming and difficult, especially when scripts are involved. Using ECS can be more straightforward because you don’t have to worry about configuring servers or setting up infrastructure for your containerized services. You just need to focus on deploying the containers themselves, which makes it easier to get started than other options.

ECS costs less than EC2

ECS especially Fargate can save you cost if resources are configured appropriately. EC2 Fargate is cheaper than EC2 because it charges you based on how much your containers are used, not on their hourly rate. If the containers are idle, they don’t cost anything; if they’re busy and running, then you pay for them.

Takeaway

ECS is a great option for developers who need to get up and running quickly, but it doesn’t have the same level of flexibility as other options. If you want more control over your services or want to set up infrastructure for your containerized applications, then EC2 or AWS Fargate may be better options.