Introduction
AWS provides modern ways to run containerized applications without managing servers. Two popular options are AWS App Runner and Amazon ECS Express Mode. Both simplify container deployments, but they target different levels of control and use cases.
This blog compares these services and provides guidance on which to use for different workloads, based on AWS documentation.
Service Overview
AWS App Runner
App Runner is a fully managed service for running web apps and APIs:
- Git Integration: Connect GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket directly to deploy applications.
- Container Registry Support: Deploy pre-built container images from Amazon ECR (public or private) or Docker Hub.
- Auto-scaling: Concurrency-based scaling; configure min/max instances and max requests per instance.
- Security: Built-in HTTPS, AWS-managed TLS certificates, and WAF support.
- Logging & Monitoring: CloudWatch logs and metrics out-of-the-box.
- Public/Private Access: Default public endpoint; can connect to VPC for private resources.
- Use Case: Stateless web apps, public APIs, rapid deployment with minimal operational overhead.
Amazon ECS Express Mode
ECS Express Mode is a simplified ECS deployment option:
- ECS Power: Runs on ECS + Fargate without manual cluster management.
- Networking & Security: Full VPC, IAM roles, subnets, security groups.
- Scaling: CPU, memory, or custom metric-based auto scaling.
- Workloads: Supports sidecars, background jobs, and complex internal services.
- CI/CD: Requires building container images and pushing to ECR or another registry.
- Use Case: Enterprise workloads, private/internal services, and production applications needing full control.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | App Runner | ECS Express Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Git Integration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Container Registry | ✅ ECR | ✅ ECR |
| Auto Scaling | ✅ Concurrency-based | ✅ CPU/memory/custom metrics |
| WAF Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ via ALB |
| HTTPS | ✅ Built-in | ✅ ALB + ACM |
| Public Endpoint | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Private Networking | ⚠️ Limited (VPC connector) | ✅ Full |
| Logging & Metrics | ✅ CloudWatch | ✅ CloudWatch |
| Background Workers / Sidecars | ❌ | ✅ Yes |
Go-To Scenarios
-
App Runner:
- Fast prototyping
- Public-facing web apps or APIs
- Minimal infra management
- Deploy from Git or ECR
-
ECS Express Mode:
- Enterprise workloads
- Private/internal services
- Metric-driven auto scaling
- Complex container architectures
- Deploy from container registry only
Expert Tip: Start with App Runner for MVPs or demos. Move to ECS Express for production workloads requiring security, VPC, and custom scaling.
Conclusion
AWS App Runner provides application-level, concurrency-based auto scaling with built-in Git/ECR integration, WAF, HTTPS, and logging, ideal for quick deployments.
ECS Express Mode provides infrastructure-level control, advanced networking, and flexible scaling, making it suitable for enterprise-grade workloads.
Decision: Use App Runner for speed and simplicity, ECS Express Mode for control and production readiness.
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