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Amazon EC2 Reviews

Vendor: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
4.3 out of 5
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What is Amazon EC2?

Amazon EC2 is highly valued for its scalability, flexibility, and pay-as-you-go pricing model. It excels in quick deployment and integration with AWS services, helping businesses efficiently manage virtual machines with ease of scaling and resource management.

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Amazon EC2 is the #2 ranked solution in top Compute Service solutions. PeerSpot users give Amazon EC2 an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Amazon EC2 is most commonly compared to Apache Spark: Amazon EC2 vs Apache Spark. Amazon EC2 is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 42% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a marketing services firm, accounting for 14% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Amazon EC2
April 2026
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Amazon EC2 mindshare

As of April 2026, the mindshare of Amazon EC2 in the Compute Service category stands at 13.0%, up from 5.7% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Compute Service Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Amazon EC213.0%
AWS Lambda13.4%
AWS Batch9.9%
Other63.7%
Compute Service

PeerResearch reports based on Amazon EC2 reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryCompute ServiceApr 26, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersApr 26, 2026Download
ComparisonAmazon EC2 vs AWS LambdaApr 26, 2026Download
ComparisonAmazon EC2 vs AWS FargateApr 26, 2026Download
ComparisonAmazon EC2 vs Amazon EC2 Auto ScalingApr 26, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Apache Spark4.29.7%90%69 interviewsAdd to research
AWS Lambda4.313.4%94%91 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Apr 5, 2026

Valuable Features

Amazon EC2's primary benefits include scalability and on-demand resource allocation. Users appreciate its compute capacity, easy integration with AWS tools, and a pay-as-you-go pricing model. Features like auto-scaling, flexible configuration management, and strong security are key advantages. Organizations value the cost savings, elasticity, and ability to quickly spin up virtual machines. EC2's versatility in deploying applications, high availability, elasticity, powerful encryption, and seamless integration with other AWS services enhance its appeal.
  • "The most useful function of Amazon EC2 for us is compute, as we find it easy to deploy our database onto it and to integrate it with other AWS solutions without complexities or issues, and it provides us with cost savings by being more OpEx rather than CapEx for us."
  • "EC2 provides a lot of flexibility; if you don't want to have a separate on-premise database, you can put it on the cloud with EC2, adjust the instance type according to your needs, select a size and get a certain amount of specific memory and CPUs, set the redirect limit, and from there install the software, database servers, application servers, and whatever you want."
  • "This is a great solution that's stable, scalable and simple to implement."

Room for Improvement

Users emphasize the need for Amazon EC2 to improve pricing and expand cost management options. Automated scaling, streamlined access, enhanced integration, and improved user interface could enhance user experience. Simplifying setup, offering better support, and providing more instance types would address scalability concerns. Users desire easier migration processes, better monitoring tools, and clear pricing details. Reducing downtime and providing interactive console views could improve efficiency. Enhancements to security and extending free-tier services are also important to users.
  • "The price for Amazon EC2 could be lower; it's not cheap, so when we want something cheaper, we do go serverless if we can."
  • "The monitoring part could be improved. When we're building and configuring things or doing database replication, EC2's monitoring could provide more information."
  • "We sometimes need to change the resource service levels, whether it's to expand or contract. Amazon doesn't offer that option so the way things work now, changes can't be made without scheduling downtime or preventing users from using the service for a period while changes are made."

ROI

Many users report significant financial and operational returns from Amazon EC2. They note infrastructure cost reduction by eliminating physical maintenance, power, and real estate. Reduced compute costs stem from Reserved and Spot Instances, contributing to cost savings. Users highlight increased efficiency, less server management time, rapid deployment capabilities, and avoiding downtime during peak loads, preserving revenue and customer satisfaction. Despite higher expense compared to on-premise, users consider it cost-effective due to decreased installation and maintenance expenses.

Pricing

Amazon EC2's pricing can vary based on workloads, making it expensive for high-demand applications but cost-effective for smaller projects. Users appreciate the pay-as-you-go model, promotional Free Tier, and flexible pricing structures like On-Demand, Reserved, and Spot Instances. However, the complexity of pricing choices and hidden costs in storage and data transfer can be confusing. Licensing options include AWS License Included or Bring Your Own License, depending on existing agreements. Despite competitive pricing, EC2 is often perceived as expensive compared to alternatives.
  • "We are paying about $1,500 a month for one of the services."
  • "It's competitive but can vary based on instance types and usage patterns."
  • "The price can be improved."

Popular Use Cases

Amazon EC2 is primarily used for deploying applications, databases, and web servers. Users configure servers with various operating systems such as Windows and Linux, often integrating with container services like Kubernetes and Docker. It supports tasks like automation, virtualization, and cloud migration. Organizations utilize EC2 for its scalability, elasticity, and global infrastructure, facilitating diverse activities such as testing, application hosting, data management, and backend operations.

Service and Support

Many users rate Amazon EC2 customer service highly, often noting responsive and helpful assistance, especially with premium support. Experts available on-site provide an advantage, and fast query resolutions are praised. However, some find free support less effective, with issues in integration support. Many do not need to rely on technical support due to sufficient documentation, but for those who do, satisfaction is generally noted, rating it often between eight to ten out of ten.

Deployment

Users generally find Amazon EC2's initial setup straightforward and quick, especially for those familiar with cloud computing. Experienced users create instances in minutes but recommend scripts like CloudFormation for optimal results. Some mention challenges due to complex setups involving advanced AWS configurations. While technical knowledge is beneficial, even those less familiar with AWS can complete the setup efficiently with guidance. Setup time varies, typically taking from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

Scalability

Amazon EC2's scalability is commendable, offering both horizontal and vertical scaling. Autoscaling efficiently manages resource demands during traffic spikes, creating new instances as needed. Organizations leveraging EC2 experience ease in adjusting resources based on demand, optimizing cost efficiency and performance. While some face instance-type limitations, many find EC2's scalability options robust, supporting growth without significant issues. Its dynamic resource provisioning during varying traffic loads further contributes to its high scalability ratings.

Stability

Amazon EC2 is consistently rated highly for stability. Users report minimal system disruptions, no major outages, and smooth operations, even for enterprise-grade workloads. While some users noted occasional performance degradations or AWS-initiated terminations, these are rare and often resolved with robust auto-recovery and load balancing features. Many emphasize the importance of using best practices, like auto-scaling, for maintaining stability. Issues are typically attributed to user misconfigurations rather than the platform itself.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Amazon EC2 Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business27
Midsize Enterprise14
Large Enterprise24
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business83
Midsize Enterprise44
Large Enterprise69
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Marketing Services Firm
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Computer Software Company
7%
Construction Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Transportation Company
6%
University
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Media Company
5%
Educational Organization
5%
Outsourcing Company
5%
Real Estate/Law Firm
5%
Performing Arts
4%
Renewables & Environment Company
3%
Healthcare Company
3%
Retailer
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Government
2%
Consumer Goods Company
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
1%
Insurance Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Engineering Company
1%
Newspaper
1%
Non Profit
1%
Venture Capital & Private Equity Firm
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Religious Institution
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%

Compare Amazon EC2 with alternative products

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Learn more about Amazon EC2

Designed for enterprises seeking efficient infrastructure management, Amazon EC2 provides diverse instance configurations and powerful security features like encryption and IAM roles. It allows dynamic resource adjustment and auto-scaling, ensuring stability and user-friendly control. While some users find pricing a concern, EC2 remains essential for deploying applications, server management, and migrating systems to the cloud. Enhancements in interfaces, pricing transparency, and integration are desired, yet it's widely used for automation, testing, and AI-driven projects.

What are the main features of Amazon EC2?
  • Scalability: Adjust resources as needed with auto-scaling capabilities.
  • Security: Offers encryption and IAM roles for secure operations.
  • Pay-as-you-go Model: Cost-effective pricing based on usage.
  • Quick Deployment: Fast provisioning of resources ensures rapid setup.
  • Integration with AWS: Seamless integration with AWS services enhances functionality.
What benefits should users look for in reviews?
  • Flexibility: EC2 adapts easily to changing business needs.
  • Stability: Reliable infrastructure for constant uptime.
  • Ease of Management: Simplified virtual machine oversight and handling.
  • Cost Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go leads to investment optimization.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and retail, Amazon EC2 enables scalable cloud infrastructure, supports ERP applications, and aids in data management with AWS integration. Companies use EC2 for deploying high-traffic web applications, leveraging containerization with Docker and Kubernetes, and enhancing automation in AI and big data projects.

Amazon EC2 was previously known as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, EC2.

Amazon EC2 customers

Netflix, Expedia, TimeInc., Novaris, airbnb, Lamborghini

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Compute Service

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Amazon EC2 Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
AWS Architect at Corvit Networks4.5I've used Amazon EC2 for two years across various projects and found it scalable, reliable, and feature-rich, though somewhat expensive. Its elasticity, instance variety, and integration with AWS services have been especially valuable for efficient cloud operations.
Senior Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees4.5I use Amazon EC2 for hosting and managing applications, appreciating its flexibility and control. While it's stable and effective, users should be warned that billing may continue after stopping instances if they aren't fully terminated.
Consultant at a consultancy with 1-10 employees5.0I use Amazon EC2 primarily for compute, deploying databases. It's stable, scalable, and easy to integrate, providing cost savings. Setup was simple, and support is excellent. My only improvement suggestion is for lower pricing, as it isn't cheap.
Architect at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees4.5I use Amazon EC2 mainly for development and testing due to its flexibility, quick deployment, and scalability, which has significantly saved time compared to on-premises setups. It’s reliable, though more memory and instance options would help.
senior Engineer manager at Poshmark Inc.4.0I find Amazon EC2 reliable, stable, and highly scalable for infrastructure. While its programmatic management and market leadership are strengths, I note concerns about its cost, especially EBS, and vendor lock-in.
Sr. Big data engineer at B-CITI Solutions Inc.5.0I find Amazon EC2 reliable for server management, security, and scalability, with smooth setup and good performance, though I hope for more AI/ML features in future. Overall, it’s cost-effective and I highly recommend it.
Chief Technology Officer at Prognosys Medical Systems4.5I find Amazon EC2 excellent for web applications, offering easy deployment, scalability, and good support. My main concern is its cost, but it saves resources and provides everything needed. I rate it nine out of ten.
Senior AWS Account Manager at Silicon Overdrive4.5I find AWS EC2 highly flexible, stable, and scalable, offering great customization for virtual servers. My organization's support is excellent. However, the pricing structure is quite complex, and initial setup requires technical expertise.