Comparing AWS ECS and EKS: Which is Right for Your Application?

There are two primary solutions for executing and administering containerized applications on Amazon Web Services (AWS): Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) and Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (EKS). They were created in response to the increasing popularity of containers as a method of deploying and managing apps.

Both of these services are container orchestration platforms that are completely managed and make it simple to run and scale containerized apps on AWS. But which one is right for your application? In this article, we will contrast ECS with EKS and offer advice on which service is most suited for specific use cases.

The fundamental difference between ECS and EKS

1. The underlying orchestration platform is one of the primary distinctions between ECS and EKS. ECS is built on the AWS container orchestration platform, whereas EKS is built on the open-source Kubernetes platform.
   
   This means that EKS is more adaptable and extendable, as you may utilize any of the Kubernetes-specific tools and plugins. However, because you must be familiar with Kubernetes principles and terminology, EKS needs more knowledge and skill to set up and manage.
   
2. There are some significant differences between ECS and EKS in terms of features and capabilities. ECS provides networking for containers using Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs), whereas EKS provides networking for pods using Amazon VPC and the Kubernetes network model.
   
   ECS features a more opinionated and simplified networking strategy, whereas EKS provides greater control and flexibility.
   
3. ECS has built-in autoscaling and resource management functionalities, whereas EKS relies on Kubernetes’ native autoscaling and resource management. This means that ECS is likely to be more user-friendly for scaling and resource management, but EKS provides more complex options and customization.
   
4. The deployment model is another key contrast between ECS and EKS. ECS enables users to deploy containers as independent tasks or as part of a service, whereas EKS delivers containers as cluster pods.
   
   This means that ECS provides a more flexible deployment mechanism, whereas EKS adheres to the standard Kubernetes deployment model.
   
5. In most ways, ECS and EKS are similarly secure as AWS cloud platform components, but there is one significant distinction. Administrators and developers can benefit from greater security controls and tools when using EKS vs ECS because EKS has access to Kubernetes’ native security tooling.
   
6. Pricing models for ECS and EKS differ, with ECS charging for the underlying infrastructure and EKS charging for the control plane and worker nodes. This means that the cost of employing ECS or EKS will be determined by the specific resources and settings required, as well as the size and complexity of your applications.

So which service is right for your application? It ultimately depends on your specific needs and requirements. 

1. If you are looking for a simple and easy-to-use container orchestration platform, and you don’t need the advanced features and capabilities of Kubernetes, ECS may be the better choice. If you want to work completely on AWS, ECS is the better option because it provides more in-depth AWS integration than Amazon EKS. When you don’t have time to build, deploy, or move your containerized applications to Kubernetes, ECS is the best option.
2. If, on the other hand, you need more flexibility and extensibility, or you are already familiar with Kubernetes and want to use it for your containerized applications, EKS may be the better option. EKS is an excellent alternative for a more future-proof and diverse approach. If you want to deploy containers across several infrastructures and take advantage of Kubernetes’ flexibility, you should use EKS.
   

EKS and ECS, on the other hand, now support hybrid clouds without the use of Outposts. You can administer EKS- or ECS-based clusters hosted on private infrastructure using EKS Anywhere or ECS Anywhere.

To help illustrate the differences between ECS and EKS, let’s walk through an example of how to set up and deploy a simple containerized application using both services.

First, let’s look at how to set up and deploy the application using ECS.

1. To get started, you will need to create an ECS cluster and choose a launch type (either Fargate or EC2).
   
   

2. Next, you will need to create a task definition, which defines the containers that make up your application and the resources that they require.
   
   
   
   
   
3. You can then create a service, which manages the tasks that are running on your cluster.
   
   
   
4. Finally, you can use AWS CodePipeline and AWS CodeBuild to automate the build and deployment process for your application.
5. To set up the CI/CD pipeline, you will need to create a CodePipeline stage that triggers a build whenever code changes are pushed to your repository.
   
   
6. You can then create a CodeBuild stage that builds your Docker image and pushes it to Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR).
   
   
7. In this stage, you will need to specify the build instructions, which can include commands to install dependencies, run tests, and build the Docker image. You can also specify the environment variables and environment images to use for the build.
8. Finally, you can create a deploy stage that updates the service in your ECS cluster with the new image. In this stage, you will need to specify the service and cluster to deploy to, as well as any other deployment options such as the minimum healthy percent and maximum percentage.
   
   

Now let’s look at how to set up and deploy the same application using EKS. 

1. To get started, you will need to create an EKS cluster and launch worker nodes.
   
   
   
   
2. Next, you will need to create a Kubernetes deployment, which defines the containers that make up your application and the resources that they require. 
3. You can then create a service, which exposes the deployment to the outside world and load balances traffic to the pods.
4. To automate the build and deployment process, you can use GitHub Actions and AWS CodePipeline.
   
5. To set up the CI/CD pipeline, you will need to create a Pipeline in Code Pipeline that triggers a build whenever code changes are pushed to your Code Commit repository. 
6. You can then create a CodePipeline stage that builds your Docker image and pushes it to ECR.
   
7. Finally, you can create a deploy stage that updates the deployment in your EKS cluster with the new image.
   

Conclusion:

Finally, ECS and EKS are both fully managed container orchestration services that make running and scaling containerized applications on AWS simple. ECS is simpler and easier to use than EKS, although it has fewer features and capabilities. EKS is built on the open-source Kubernetes platform, which makes it more flexible and extendable, but also more difficult to set up and operate. 

Finally, the best service for your application is determined by your demands and requirements. You can make an informed decision about which service is best suited for your use case by considering the differences between ECS and EKS.

Meta keywords: AWS, ECS, EKS, container orchestration, cloud computing, Docker, Kubernetes, cluster management, deployment model, autoscaling, resource management, container runtime, AWS ECS, AWS EKS, ECS vs EKS

Meta description: AWS ECS and EKS are two well-known container orchestration platforms, but which is ideal for your application? We compare the key differences between ECS and EKS in this post, covering container runtime, cluster management, deployment model, scaling, and resource management. Whether you’re new to container orchestration or a seasoned developer, this article will help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of ECS and EKS and select the best solution for your needs.