Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a wide array of compute options for businesses. Two of the most commonly used compute services in AWS are AWS Lambda and Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud). Each service offers a unique approach to running applications in the cloud. But which one is the right fit for your use case?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare AWS Lambda vs EC2 based on performance, scalability, cost, and use cases to help you choose the best service for your business.
What is AWS Lambda?
AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that enables you to run code without provisioning or managing servers. It automatically handles the scaling and infrastructure management for you. You only need to focus on the code, and Lambda takes care of the rest. Lambda functions execute in response to specific events like changes in Amazon S3 buckets or API Gateway calls.
For more details, check out the AWS Lambda documentation.
Key Features of AWS Lambda:
- Serverless: No need to manage or provision servers.
- Event-driven: Automatically triggered by AWS services or HTTP requests.
- Automatic scaling: Lambda functions scale seamlessly based on demand.
- Pay-per-use: You only pay for the execution time of your function, measured in milliseconds.
- Short-lived execution: Each Lambda function can run for a maximum of 15 minutes.
What is Amazon EC2?
Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) provides virtual servers in the cloud, also known as instances. EC2 gives you complete control over the OS, networking, and applications. You can choose the instance type that best matches your workload and scale manually or with auto-scaling.
Key Features of Amazon EC2:
- Full control: You manage the OS and software configurations.
- Customizable: Choose from a variety of instance types optimized for different workloads.
- Persistent compute: EC2 instances can run as long as needed.
- Flexible pricing: EC2 offers different pricing models, including On-Demand, Reserved, and Spot instances.
AWS Lambda vs EC2: Key Differences
| Feature | AWS Lambda | Amazon EC2 |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | Serverless (no server management) | Requires server management |
| Execution Model | Event-driven, stateless functions | Persistent, stateful applications |
| Scalability | Auto-scales instantly | Manual scaling or auto-scaling |
| Pricing Model | Pay-per-use (per execution time) | Pay for uptime (hourly/monthly) |
| Performance | Quick start, but may experience cold starts | Predictable, stable performance |
| Use Case | Short-running, event-driven tasks | Long-running, persistent workloads |
| Max Execution Time | 15 minutes per function | No limit |
| OS Control | No OS access (runs on AWS managed infra) | Full control (choose OS and software) |
| Networking | Limited VPC access | Full VPC access with custom networking |
| Statefulness | Stateless by design | Can maintain state with storage or databases |
When to Use AWS Lambda?
AWS Lambda is ideal for event-driven workloads that don’t require a persistent server. It is great for tasks that involve short-running functions or microservices.
Use cases for AWS Lambda:
- API requests (via API Gateway)
- Image and video processing
- Scheduled jobs (cron replacements)
- Real-time data streaming (Kinesis, DynamoDB)
When to Use Amazon EC2?
Amazon EC2 is perfect for persistent applications that require complete control over the operating system, networking, and software configurations. If your application needs to run continuously, EC2 is the ideal choice.
Use cases for Amazon EC2:
- Web hosting for dynamic websites
- Running databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
- Custom applications that need full control over the OS and environment
- High-performance computing (HPC) for intensive workloads
Cost Comparison: AWS Lambda vs EC2
| Pricing Factor | AWS Lambda | Amazon EC2 |
|---|---|---|
| Billing Model | Serverless (no server management) | Requires server management |
| Example Cost | Event-driven, stateless functions | Persistent, stateful applications |
| Ideal for | Auto-scales instantly | Manual scaling or auto-scaling |
AWS Lambda vs EC2: Which One Should You Choose?
When choosing between AWS Lambda and Amazon EC2, consider the following factors:
Choose AWS Lambda if you need:
- Event-driven, serverless execution
- Automatic scaling without manual management
- A pay-per-use pricing model for unpredictable workloads
- Short-lived functions (under 15 minutes)
Choose EC2 if you need:
- Full control over OS and software
- Persistent, long-running applications
- Custom networking and security configurations
- Predictable performance with high availability
Hybrid Approach: Lambda + EC2
In many cases, combining AWS Lambda and EC2 can yield the best results. A hybrid cloud architecture can take advantage of the strengths of both services.
Example Hybrid Architecture:
- Frontend API → AWS Lambda (stateless, auto-scaling)
- Backend processing → Amazon EC2 (persistent workloads)
- Database hosting → EC2 or RDS for full control
Conclusion
Both AWS Lambda and Amazon EC2 are powerful cloud compute services, but they cater to different use cases.
- If you need serverless, event-driven functions with auto-scaling and pay-per-use pricing, AWS Lambda is the way to go.
- For full control, persistent workloads, and long-running applications, EC2 is the better choice.
Still unsure which service to choose? Contact Adglob Infosystem Pvt Ltd for expert cloud computing solutions and AWS server management services.