Deploying Containers on AWS: The One Guide You Need

#aws #containers #cloud #kubernetes

When I first started working with containers on AWS, I was overwhelmed. There were too many services—ECS, EKS, Lambda, App Runner, Lightsail—and each one came with its own pros and cons. The real struggle wasn’t running containers; it was deciding where to run them.

If you’ve ever felt the same, you’re not alone. That’s why I put together this guide. Think of it as a friendly map—helping you pick the right AWS service without drowning in documentation.

Step 1: Ask Yourself — Do You Need Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is powerful, but also complex. If you’re already using it or plan to, Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is the natural choice.

Pros: Fully managed, highly scalable.
Cons: Setup isn’t beginner-friendly, and pricing is resource-based.

If Kubernetes isn’t part of your journey, no worries. AWS has plenty of other roads to explore.

Step 2: Serverless or Provisioned?

This is the big fork in the road.

If you want AWS to handle servers for you → go Serverless.
If you want full control over compute resources → go Provisioned.

The Serverless Path 🚀

Not sure if serverless is the right direction?
I wrote a separate guide on When to Go Serverless. that might help you decide.

The Provisioned Path ⚙️

If you prefer setting things up yourself:

Lightsail: Simplest UI, great for small projects.

Catch: You’re locked into AWS’s ecosystem.

ECS (Elastic Container Service): Managed orchestration without Kubernetes.

Best for: Teams that need scaling + orchestration but don’t want Kubernetes overhead.
Downside: Steep learning curve.

EC2: Old-school way—install Docker and manage everything yourself.

Best for: Absolute control freaks.
Downside: Frustrating setup and heavy maintenance.

A Visual Shortcut

Here’s a handy flowchart to guide your decision:

This chart sums up everything we just walked through—so you can quickly see which AWS service matches your needs.

Final Thoughts

There isn’t a single “best” way to run containers on AWS. The right choice depends on your priorities:

Ease of use? → Lightsail or App Runner.
Serverless-first mindset? → Lambda or Fargate.
Already love Kubernetes? → EKS.
Want to tinker with everything? → EC2.

The good news is, no matter which road you take, AWS has you covered. Start small, experiment, and you’ll soon find the perfect fit for your workloads.