AWS Container Deployment Decision Tree

This flowchart helps you decide which AWS service to use for deploying containers based on your specific requirements and preferences.

flowchart TD
    Start([Deploy containers on AWS?]) --> K{Using Kubernetes?}

    K -->|"✓ Yes"| EKS["EKS - Elastic Kubernetes Service<br/>✅ Fully managed<br/>✅ Highly scalable<br/>✅ Highly available<br/>❌ Steep learning curve<br/>❌ Resource-based pricing<br/>❌ $72/month minimum"]

    K -->|"✗ No"| SL{Serverless or Provisioned?}

    SL -->|"☁️ Serverless"| Time{"Invocations < 15 minutes?"}

    Time -->|"✓ Yes"| Lambda["AWS Lambda<br/>✅ Low maintenance<br/>✅ Pay for what you use<br/>✅ Great for events<br/>✅ Scales to $0 when idle<br/>❌ Cold starts<br/>❌ 15-minute limit"]

    Time -->|"✗ No"| Control{Want to control all knobs?}

    Control -->|"✓ Yes"| Fargate["ECS Fargate<br/>✅ Long-running tasks<br/>✅ Serverless<br/>✅ No cold starts<br/>❌ Premium pricing<br/>❌ No scale to $0"]

    Control -->|"✗ No"| AppRunner["AWS App Runner<br/>✅ Simple setup<br/>✅ Load balancing<br/>❌ More expensive<br/>❌ Less control<br/>❌ No scale to $0"]

    SL -->|"🖥️ Provisioned"| UI{Want easy setup with modern UI?}

    UI -->|"✓ Yes"| Lightsail["AWS Lightsail<br/>✅ Simplest UI<br/>✅ Great for prototypes<br/>❌ Limited ecosystem<br/>❌ Migration complexity<br/>❌ Fixed monthly cost"]

    UI -->|"✗ No"| Orchestration{Want container orchestration?}

    Orchestration -->|"✓ Yes"| ECS["ECS on EC2<br/>✅ Full control<br/>✅ Manage infrastructure<br/>❌ Steep learning curve<br/>❌ Complex setup<br/>❌ Always-on EC2 costs"]

    Orchestration -->|"✗ No"| EC2["EC2<br/>✅ Full control<br/>❌ Very complex setup<br/>❌ No orchestration<br/>❌ Always-on costs<br/>⚠️ NOT RECOMMENDED"]

    classDef recommended fill:#2d5a2d,stroke:#4ade80,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef avoid fill:#5a2d2d,stroke:#f87171,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff
    classDef decision fill:#2d4a5a,stroke:#60a5fa,stroke-width:2px,color:#ffffff

    class EKS,Lambda,Fargate,AppRunner,Lightsail,ECS recommended
    class EC2 avoid
    class K,SL,Time,Control,UI,Orchestration decision

Scale-to-Zero Cost Capability

🎯 Key Finding: Only AWS Lambda can scale to $0 when not in use.

Service	Scales to $0?	Why/Why Not
Lambda	✅ Yes	Only pays during code execution, zero cost when no invocations
ECS Fargate	❌ No	Pay while containers run, even if idle
App Runner	❌ No	Minimum provisioned containers (~$2.52/month)
EKS	❌ No	$72/month control plane minimum
Lightsail	❌ No	Fixed monthly pricing starting at $3.50-5.00/month
ECS on EC2	❌ No	Always-on EC2 instance costs
EC2	❌ No	Always-on virtual machine costs

💡 Implication: If your workload has periods of complete inactivity and you want zero costs during those times, Lambda is your only option among AWS container services.

Service Summary

Recommended Services

Service	Best For	Key Benefits	Key Limitations
EKS	Kubernetes users	Fully managed K8s, highly scalable	Learning curve, resource-based pricing
Lambda	Short tasks (<15 min), event processing	Pay-per-use, low maintenance, scales to $0	Cold starts, 15-minute limit
ECS Fargate	Long-running tasks, APIs with steady traffic	Serverless, no cold starts	Premium pricing, no scale to $0
App Runner	Simple deployments, beginners	Easy setup, load balancing	Higher cost, less control, no scale to $0
Lightsail	Prototypes, simple websites	Intuitive UI, great for beginners	Limited ecosystem, fixed monthly cost
ECS on EC2	Full control requirements	Complete customization	Complex setup, always-on EC2 costs

Services to Avoid

EC2 for containers: Too complex when better alternatives exist
Elastic Beanstalk: Outdated, App Runner is a better choice

Decision Guidelines

Start with the simplest option that meets your requirements
Consider your team's expertise - don't choose complex solutions if simpler ones work
Think about long-term maintenance - serverless options reduce operational overhead
Evaluate cost vs. convenience - more managed services cost more but save time
Plan for scaling - consider future growth when making your choice