Amazon Lightsail vs IBM Cloud Private comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM are both solutions in the PaaS Clouds category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.5, while IBM is ranked #20 with an average rating of 6.3. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 2.0% mindshare in PSP, compared to IBM’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 60% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Amazon Lightsail

Read 9 Amazon Lightsail reviews

1,086 Views
228 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Cloud Private

Read 5 IBM Cloud Private reviews

500 Views
94 Comparison Views

60% willing to recommend

Amazon Lightsail

IBM Cloud Private

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 15, 2024

IBM Cloud Private and Amazon Lightsail are competing products in cloud computing. Amazon Lightsail seems to have the upper hand due to its simplicity and cost efficiency.

Features: IBM Cloud Private offers advanced security, scalability, and integration with IBM's broader suite, making it suitable for complex enterprise needs. Amazon Lightsail provides an intuitive, all-in-one service with pre-configured environments and simplified setup, fitting for startups or small-scale projects.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Cloud Private requires substantial initial configuration and technical know-how, potentially making its setup time-intensive, yet comes with robust customer support for personalized assistance. Amazon Lightsail enables rapid deployment with user-friendly interfaces, reducing setup times and technical barriers, though its efficient support may lack the tailored assistance of IBM.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Cloud Private has a higher setup cost reflecting its enterprise-targeted features, which may delay ROI until fully leveraged. Amazon Lightsail's pricing is more competitive, offering quicker ROI, particularly for smaller businesses seeking budget-friendly solutions without sacrificing essential cloud functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed Amazon Lightsail vs. IBM Cloud Private Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Amazon Lightsail vs. IBM Cloud Private

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Amazon Lightsail

Ranking in PaaS Clouds

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Cloud Private

Ranking in PaaS Clouds

20th

Average Rating

6.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the PaaS Clouds category, the mindshare of Amazon Lightsail is 2.0%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Cloud Private is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

PaaS Clouds

Featured Reviews

Vitor Gabriel Reis Lux Barboza

IT Specialist Architecture at Nidec Global Appliance

Provides preconfigured templates for common setups and allows for easy configuration of firewall settings directly from the console

There were templates for Ubuntu, for instance, that I used. I used it if I remember, going to 20.04, I guess. It was ready, and I just used the template and it worked well. There is a template for Windows Server, but I didn't test them. Also, the configurations over the firewall in the console work very good for the purpose that we need to isolate it from the internet but allow the connection from specific IP addresses in specific ports. So the filtering in the Lightsail Firewall works good. And I am able to isolate the virtual machine well from the internet in order to avoid DDoS attacks and stuff like that.

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CristianIriazabal

Architect of solutions at Gire S.A.

A solution that ranks in the top five and integrates well with API Connect

One issue with the solution is latency because there is lag time when we connect from Argentina to IBM's data centers in Washington and Dallas. It would be a benefit to have a data center in Latin America. The solution does not offer many routes over the cloud that are available with other solutions such as AWS which is a leader in the industry.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Implementations are completed with a few clicks, allowing efficient transitions to other development stages, and setup is easy whether for online support or basic business requirements."

"In Lightsail, they simplified to do it in as few clicks as possible. So, around ten clicks, I have a virtual machine deployed."

"We use Amazon Lightsail for hosting security components in-house and AI modules."

"EC2 instances are pre-configured and upgraded, so you can simply select and instantly pay for an EC2 instance to set up WordPress, Node.js, or a server container using Docker."

"One of the product's most valuable features is its fixed pricing, which makes it ideal for small projects and websites that do not require scaling."

"The initial setup is pretty easy."

"The most valuable features are the usability and customer service."

"I find Lightsail particularly valuable for hosting WordPress as it is easier to set up than a bare metal server, which requires extensive configuration and package installations."

More Amazon Lightsail pros

"We have control of the ESXi."

"The product's framework is good, it integrates well with API Connect, and the private cloud allows for use in any location."

"Our core banking process was monolithic. To address this, we transitioned to a microservices-based architecture. Leveraging Microsoft technologies, including Terminals version 23, we’ve revamped our banking operations. Not all services are microservices; some remain monolithic for simplicity. Containerization is pivotal, with OpenShift (based on Kubernetes and Docker) managing our microservices."

"The most valuable attribute is the platform's ability to consistently deliver high reliability."

"Excellent technical support."

Cons

"I don't see this solution as enterprise-ready, for bigger companies like banks."

"To improve, I feel the disk management is too basic. I can't easily partition the disk for the operating system. I have to follow the main configuration that is already set up in the template. To partition the disk, I would need to deploy the operating system first and then make changes, but it's not an ideal method. I would recommend improving the disk management."

"Backward compatibility and the flexibility to choose software versions while installing would be improvements."

"It would be beneficial if Lightsail allowed easier upgrade and change processes, similar to EC2 instances, without needing to fully back up and reinstall configurations."

"Currently, there is limited support available while installing or configuring it, and resources are primarily available through community-contributed articles."

"The solution could be smoother than it is."

"The main area for improvement in Lightsail is the difficulty in scaling down resources."

"The product's network features need enhancement."

More Amazon Lightsail cons

"The support and pricing need to improve."

"Auto-scaling and managing pod scaling in the microservices architecture, a core feature of IBM Cloud Private, can pose challenges, especially when dealing with larger volumes of traffic."

"One issue with the solution is latency because there is lag time when we connect."

"lacking in multi-cloud management."

"I've noticed that the satellite services layer requires some improvement compared to platforms like Azure or Microsoft. While it's in development, I believe the satellite layer has room for enhancement. Additionally, the DevOps layer could benefit from closer integrations, especially for using external applications like Jenkins."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Lightsail is available at an affordable cost starting from five dollars per month."

"It's very cheap."

"The prices are better than EC2 machines, for instance, because they are simplified management, but it works well, and I am able to run everything that I need on it."

"The services that it provides are good for the price."

"The affordability of starting at five dollars makes it an attractive option for startups and medium-sized companies, aligning with budget considerations while offering essential cloud services."

"A few months ago, Lightsail's pricing increased, likely due to the addition of the new VPC feature."

"Amazon Lightsail is a bit cheaper than Amazon EC2."

"In general, the cost is on the higher side."

"The solution is expensive."

"I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten."

"We pay annual licensing fees."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Financial Services Firm

University

Manufacturing Company

Recruiting/Hr Firm

17%

Real Estate/Law Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

11%

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Amazon Lightsail?

In Lightsail, they simplified to do it in as few clicks as possible. So, around ten clicks, I have a virtual machine deployed.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Amazon Lightsail?

Lightsail is available at an affordable cost starting from five dollars per month. This cost may increase with additional features like a static IP.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Amazon Lightsail?

The main area for improvement in Lightsail is the difficulty in scaling down resources. While it is easy to scale up, scaling down is not straightforward and involves additional complexities.

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Cloud Private?

Our core banking process was monolithic. To address this, we transitioned to a microservices-based architecture. Leveraging Microsoft technologies, including Terminals version 23, we’ve revamped ou...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Cloud Private?

I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Cloud Private?

I've noticed that the satellite services layer requires some improvement compared to platforms like Azure or Microsoft. While it's in development, I believe the satellite layer has room for enhance...

See all answers

Comparisons

Google Cloud vs Amazon Lightsail

Compared 35% of the time

Microsoft Azure vs Amazon Lightsail

Compared 33% of the time

Heroku vs Amazon Lightsail

Compared 10% of the time

Google App Engine vs Amazon Lightsail

Compared 5% of the time

AWS Elastic Beanstalk vs Amazon Lightsail

Compared 5% of the time

More Amazon Lightsail Competitors

Red Hat OpenShift vs IBM Cloud Private

Compared 82% of the time

Microsoft Azure vs IBM Cloud Private

Compared 18% of the time

More IBM Cloud Private Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

PaaS Clouds

June 2025

Download Amazon Lightsail product report

Buyer's Guide

PaaS Clouds

June 2025

Download IBM Cloud Private product report

Also Known As

No data available

ICP

Overview

Lightsail is ideal for simpler workloads, quick deployments, and getting started on AWS. It’s designed to help you start small, and then scale as you grow.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

IBM Cloud Private is a private cloud platform for developing and running workloads locally. It is an integrated environment that enables you to design, develop, deploy and manage on-premises, containerized cloud applications behind your firewall. It includes the container orchestrator Kubernetes, a private image repository, a management console and monitoring frameworks.

IBM

Sample Customers

Expedia, Intuit, Royal Dutch Shell, Brooks Brothers

Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company

Buyer's Guide

Amazon Lightsail vs. IBM Cloud Private

June 2025

Free Report: Amazon Lightsail vs. IBM Cloud Private

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