AWS vs AWS Amplify
AWS vs AWS Amplify compared for European indie developers and small startups. Pricing, EU jurisdiction, GDPR posture — and why Runsite (an EU-registered PaaS in Frankfurt) is worth a look.
// aws problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every AWS frustration, solved.
AWS problem
"I need DevOps just to deploy a simple app"
EC2 requires VPC config, security groups, IAM roles, and manual deployment pipelines. Even ECS/Fargate has a steep learning curve.
Runsite solution
Git push and done
Connect your GitHub repo, choose a region, deploy. No cloud certifications required.
AWS problem
"My AWS bill had 47 line items"
EC2, EBS, data transfer, NAT gateway, CloudWatch, Route53, ACM — every service adds charges.
Runsite solution
One line on your invoice
Web service: €5/mo. PostgreSQL: €5/mo. That's it. No data transfer fees, no hidden charges.
AWS problem
"Budget alerts don't actually stop spending"
AWS sends you an email when you hit 80% budget. But charges keep accruing. There's no hard cap.
Runsite solution
Hard spending cap + Telegram alerts
Set a monthly limit. Get Telegram notifications at 80%. We physically stop charges at your cap.
// comparison
Runsite vs AWS
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | AWS |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | ✓ Git push deploy | EC2 + VPC + IAM + Security Groups |
| Billing Clarity | ✓ One plan, one price | ✗ 20+ line items per invoice |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap — cannot overspend | ✗ Budget alerts only, charges continue |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity, not subject to CLOUD Act | ✗ US company, CLOUD Act applies |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | 12-month trial only |
| Data Egress | ✓ Included in plan | $0.09/GB after 100GB |
| Service Catalog | Focused PaaS | ✓ 200+ services |
| Global Regions | Frankfurt (eu-central) only | ✓ 30+ regions worldwide |
// the other side
What about AWS Amplify?
AWS Amplify is powerful but complex and US-centric. Runsite gives you simple EU deploys without the AWS learning curve.
// aws amplify problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every AWS Amplify frustration, solved.
AWS Amplify problem
"AWS is too complex"
IAM roles, VPCs, CloudFormation, Amplify CLI — deploying a simple app requires DevOps knowledge.
Runsite solution
Git push and done
No AWS Console. No IAM. Connect your repo, pick EU, deploy. Two minutes.
AWS Amplify problem
"I can't understand my AWS bill"
Lambda invocations, API Gateway requests, S3 operations, data transfer — 20+ line items.
Runsite solution
Simple, fixed pricing
One plan. One monthly price. With a hard spending cap so you never overpay.
AWS Amplify problem
"Free tier expires after 12 months"
AWS free tier is a 12-month trial. After that, everything is billed.
Runsite solution
Free forever, no expiry
Runsite's free tier doesn't expire. Build side projects without watching a countdown.
// comparison
Runsite vs AWS Amplify
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | AWS Amplify |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | ✓ Simple — git push deploy | AWS Console + IAM + CloudFormation |
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | ✓ eu-west, eu-central |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | Complex — requires AWS DPA |
| Backend Hosting | ✓ Full containers | Lambda functions |
| Pricing Clarity | ✓ Fixed plans | ✗ 20+ line items per invoice |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | ✓ 12 months then paid |
// why consider runsite
Beyond AWS and AWS Amplify
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While AWS and AWS Amplify default to US markets, Runsite is built exclusively for European developers. Frankfurt (eu-central) region, EU entity, EU jurisdiction — no transatlantic transfers.
Real GDPR Compliance
EU-registered entity. Your data is governed by European law. No US jurisdiction, no CLOUD Act.
Predictable Pricing
No per-invocation charges, no surprise bills. Fixed plans with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts.
Common Questions
FAQ
Which is better for EU hosting, AWS or AWS Amplify?
Neither AWS nor AWS Amplify is EU-native. Both are US-headquartered and route the majority of traffic through US data centers. For genuine EU data residency, an EU-registered platform like Runsite is the safer choice — a Frankfurt (eu-central) region under EU jurisdiction, no transatlantic transfers, no CLOUD Act exposure.
Which has the better free tier, AWS or AWS Amplify?
Free tiers on both AWS and AWS Amplify change frequently and often include compute or bandwidth caps that expire after a trial period. If a permanent free tier matters, evaluate the current terms on each provider before committing.
Is AWS or AWS Amplify GDPR-compliant?
Both can be configured to support GDPR-compliant workloads via Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), but as US entities they remain subject to the CLOUD Act. For workloads where US jurisdiction is a hard blocker, an EU-headquartered provider is required.
What is the cheapest way to deploy a side project — AWS or AWS Amplify?
Pricing on both AWS and AWS Amplify can scale unpredictably with traffic or build minutes. Hard spending caps are not available on either platform. Predictable monthly pricing with usage caps is a differentiator to look for elsewhere.
// explore alternatives
Try the European Alternative
Skip the AWS vs AWS Amplify debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →