EKS vs ECS
Both AWS EKS and AWS ECS are container orchestration services provided by AWS, but they differ in underlying architecture, flexibility, operational complexity, and use cases. Below is a detailed comparison.
Core Concepts
Feature | EKS | ECS |
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Definition | Managed Kubernetes service that allows you to run Kubernetes clusters on AWS. | AWS’s native container orchestration service that does not require Kubernetes. |
Underlying Technology | Kubernetes (open-source container orchestration system). | AWS-proprietary orchestration platform (no Kubernetes). |
Launch Types | Supports both Fargate and EC2-backed worker nodes. | Supports both Fargate and EC2-backed container instances. |
Similarities
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Container Management Both EKS and ECS are designed to run and manage containers at scale. They enable deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications.
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Support for AWS Compute Options Both support EC2 instances (traditional VM-backed workloads) and AWS Fargate (serverless compute for containers).
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Service Integration Both integrate well with other AWS services like IAM, CloudWatch, Secrets Manager, VPC, Load Balancers, and Auto Scaling.
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Use of Docker Both support containers built with Docker or any other OCI-compliant container runtime.
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High Availability Both offer managed, high-availability control planes with integrations to multi-AZ for resiliency.
Key Differences
Feature | EKS | ECS |
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Orchestration Platform | Uses Kubernetes (an open-source standard). | Proprietary to AWS, tightly integrated with AWS services. |
Complexity | Requires Kubernetes expertise and management. | Simpler to use, no Kubernetes knowledge needed. |
Customizability | Highly customizable (e.g., custom schedulers, custom networking). | Less customisable; AWS manages the orchestration. |
Ecosystem | Access to the Kubernetes ecosystem and community (e.g., Helm, Istio). | Limited to AWS-native ecosystem. |
Networking | Advanced networking features via Kubernetes, including CNI plugins and custom ingress. | Simpler networking options managed directly by AWS. |
Portability | Vendor-neutral (Kubernetes can run on any platform). | Vendor lock-in (AWS-only service). |
Use Case | Best for workloads requiring Kubernetes-specific features or multi-cloud/hybrid cloud setups. | Best for AWS-only deployments or teams that want simplicity. |
Pricing | Additional cost for EKS control plane ($0.10/ hour). | No extra cost for ECS (you pay for the resources used). |
Scaling | Kubernetes-native scaling (Horizontal Pod Autoscaler). | Simplified ECS-native auto-scaling or Fargate scaling. |
Community | Kubernetes has a large, active open-source community. | AWS maintains ECS; smaller user base compared to Kubernetes. |
When to Use AWS EKS
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Use Cases:
- You need Kubernetes-specific features like custom schedulers, CRDs (Custom Resource Definitions), or advanced networking.
- You are running Kubernetes in a multi-cloud or hybrid environment and want to use a consistent platform across clouds.
- Your team already has expertise in Kubernetes and wants access to the broader Kubernetes ecosystem (e.g., Helm charts, Istio, etc.).
- You have complex workloads that benefit from Kubernetes features like namespaces, custom controllers, and fine-grained resource management.
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Pros:
- Kubernetes is an industry standard, making workloads portable.
- Access to a large ecosystem of Kubernetes tools.
- Ideal for hybrid or multi-cloud architectures.
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Cons:
- Higher operational complexity (you need to manage Kubernetes concepts like Pods, Services, Deployments, etc.).
- Additional cost for the EKS control plane.
When to Use AWS ECS
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Use Cases:
- You want a simple, tightly integrated AWS-native solution for container orchestration.
- You are running workloads exclusively on AWS and do not need Kubernetes-specific features.
- You have a team without Kubernetes experience and need a straightforward container orchestration platform.
- You prefer a managed solution with minimal operational overhead.
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Pros:
- Simple setup and operation.
- No additional cost for the control plane.
- Seamless integration with other AWS services.
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Cons:
- Vendor lock-in (ECS is AWS-only).
- Limited flexibility and ecosystem compared to Kubernetes.