Key Features

• Market Leader: AWS holds the largest market share in cloud computing.
• Global Reach: Operates data centers in over 30 regions worldwide.
• Scalability & Flexibility: Seamlessly scale from MVP to enterprise-grade applications.
• Security & Compliance: Industry-leading security standards with built-in compliance.
• Startup Support: AWS Activate provides credits, mentorship, and tools for startups.

Key Services

Pricing

AWS operates on a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only pay for the resources you use. Instead of paying for AWS as a whole, you’ll be picking the specific service that you want to use, and paying for the usage of that service. (This also means you can mix and match with other cloud providers for different components of your product!) 

There are also pricing options for cost optimization:

• On-Demand Pricing: Pay for compute power as needed.
• Reserved Instances: Commit to long-term usage for discounted pricing.
• AWS Free Tier: Includes 12 months of free access to select services, plus always-free services.
  • Some of the free tier products include: 
    • 5 GB of standard storage (12 months) on Amazon S3, for secure object storage infrastructure
    • 750 hours per month (12 months) on Amazon EC2, for resizable compute capacity in the Cloud
    • 1 million free requests per month (always) on AWS Lambda, for running code without thinking about servers or clusters 

For specific prices by AWS product, please refer to the AWS pricing page.

Credit Program: AWS Activate

AWS Activate is a program designed to provide startups with resources and credits to help them build and scale their businesses using Amazon Web Services (AWS). The program offers two main packages:​

1. AWS Activate Founders: This package is tailored for self-funded or bootstrapped startups that are not associated with an AWS Activate Provider. Eligible startups can receive up to $1,000 in AWS credits, valid for two years, and $350 in AWS Developer Support credits.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be new to AWS Activate and have not previously received AWS Activate credits.
• Self-funded or bootstrapped.
• Founded within the past 10 years.​
• Have a fully functioning company website or public profile.​
• Must have an AWS account in good standing.

2. AWS Activate Portfolio: This package is intended for startups associated with an AWS Activate Provider, such as accelerators, incubators, or venture capital firms. Eligible startups can receive up to $100,000 in AWS credits over their lifetime, with credits valid for one or two years, depending on the specific offer.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be associated with an AWS Activate Provider and have their Organization ID.​
• Self-funded or funded (up to and including Series A).
• Founded within the past 10 years.​
• Have a fully functioning company website or public profile.​
• Must have an AWS account in good standing.

To apply for AWS Activate, startups need to create an AWS Builder ID and complete the application process through the AWS Activate website. The application typically takes 7–10 business days to process. ​

In addition to credits, AWS Activate members gain access to a range of benefits, including technical support, training resources, and exclusive offers from third-party providers, all aimed at accelerating their growth and success on the AWS platform.

Product Review

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s leading cloud computing platform, providing a vast suite of services that help businesses scale efficiently, reduce operational costs, and accelerate product development. For startup founders building a product, AWS offers a highly flexible and powerful ecosystem with compute power, storage, networking, databases, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and security solutions—all available on a pay-as-you-go model.

Users say that setting up an AWS server is straightforward and intuitive, and there’s plenty of clear documentation to support you through each step of the way if you need it. The extensive catalog of services offered by AWS means that you’ll almost definitely find what you need, but you’ll need to go through it carefully to make sure you’ve got the right one. 

AWS is a great choice if your business falls into one of these categories:

1. Startups Looking to Scale: If you’re building a high-growth startup, AWS offers scalability, flexibility, and access to the AWS Activate program, which provides up to $100,000 in cloud credits. Startups needing fast product iterations and global reach can also benefit from AWS’s automation tools and diverse cloud services. Plus, companies planning to integrate AI, machine learning, or IoT into their products will find AWS’s extensive ecosystem highly advantageous.
2. Enterprises Needing a Robust Cloud Infrastructure: Large businesses requiring compliance, security, and multi-region availability will benefit from AWS’s enterprise-grade solutions. Enterprises with large-scale applications that require high availability and redundancy can take advantage of AWS’s global infrastructure. If you’re looking to optimize performance with hybrid and multi-cloud strategies you may find AWS’s networking and hybrid cloud solutions well-suited to your needs.
3. Media, Streaming, & Gaming Companies: AWS provides low-latency content delivery with Amazon CloudFront and supports real-time gaming with AWS GameLift.
4. AI & Data-Driven Startups: If AI/ML is central to your business, AWS SageMaker, Rekognition, and Textract can provide advanced AI services without the need for in-house infrastructure.
5. Financial & Healthcare Sectors: AWS has industry-leading security and compliance certifications like HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, making it a preferred choice for regulated industries.

While AWS is powerful, other cloud providers may be a better fit depending on your needs:

• Small businesses with simple IT needs may find AWS too complex and costly. For straightforward cloud hosting, DigitalOcean offers simple, flat-rate pricing with a more beginner-friendly experience.
• Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft products may prefer Azure, which provides seamless integration with Windows, Office365, and Active Directory.
• AI research-heavy companies might favor Google Cloud, as it leads in machine learning capabilities with TensorFlow, Vertex AI, and TPU-based compute resources.
• Businesses seeking hybrid cloud or strong on-premise integration should consider IBM Cloud, which provides tailored solutions for legacy systems and hybrid deployments.

Overall, AWS is a top-tier cloud provider with unmatched services, global infrastructure, and scalability. It is ideal for startups, enterprises, AI-driven businesses, and companies requiring high security. However, its complexity, pricing, and potential vendor lock-in may be drawbacks for some businesses. Remember, as you search for your cloud provider, start with your product requirements first. Find a cloud provider that aligns with your product’s requirements, rather than shaping your product to fit the cloud.