Who we are?

• Back4app is a backend as a service provider.
• We are heavy a user of AWS - Amazon Web Services since 2016.

Why are we doing this?

• We have extensively compared AWS services with other clouds like Azure and Alibaba.
• In our view, AWS has a much broader and better range of products and services.
• So, we decided to have AWS as our long-term cloud provider.
• We invested a lot of effort in reducing AWS costs and understanding instance pricing.
• That was a tough process and we learned a lot.
• Comparing EC2 computing prices is a complicated and time consuming procedure using AWS tools like the Simple Monthly Calculator or AWS Pricing Calculator.
• Understanding the AWS Price List API it’s even more complex!
• So, we decided to create this database to help developers and other AWS users to better compare EC2 instances prices and specifications.
• We hope you find it useful and that saves you time comparing EC2 instances prices.

How was this database created?

• This database was created using the AWS Price List API.
• We extracted the instance data and price directly from the pricing API.

Important Note

• Data accuracy is not guaranteed.
• AWS updates instance prices and types periodically.
• There is no guarantee we are showing the last update available.
• Please report issues here.

Last update

May 1st, 2020

EC2 Instance Price Comparison

This is a very detailed database with data about the EC2 instances price information, and technical specifications. We gathered data from the AWS Price List API, structured and organized it in a spreadsheet like format. Here are the datasets available: The database has the following datasets:

• AWS Regions
• AWS Instance Types
• AWS Instance Sizes
• Operating Systems
• Product
• Term
• Price Dimension

Each dataset has relations and pointers to other datasets so you can better compare instance pricing and technical specifications.

Here are some easy to understand examples of how you can use pointers and relations:

What are the instance families available on the EU Milan Region?

• Go the dataset regions
• Find the region EU Milan
• Find the column Families
• Click on the relation
• A new page will open with the instance families filtered for EU Milan
• The following families will be available c5, c5d, d2, i3, m5, m5d, r5, r5d, and t3.

What regions have the old generation family c3 available?

• Go the dataset families
• Find the instance c3
• Find the column Regions
• Click on the relation
• A new page will open with the instance Regions filtered for c3
• The Regions US East (N Virginia), US West (Oregon), US West (N California), EU Frankfurt, and EU (Ireland) will have the family type c3 available

What family types have the size Nano available?

• Go the dataset sizes
• Find the size Nano
• Find the column Families
• Click on the relation
• A new page will open with the Family size filtered for Nano
• The families t2, t3, and t3a will have the size Nano available

Made by developers, for developers

The EC2 instances price database is particularly intended to convene developer’s needs. A developer is able to conduct the following actions with the database:

• Fetch data using multiple programming languages
• Collaborate and add information to the database
• Connect applications to the database
• Download the database in JSON format

What are the benefits of using the EC2 instance price list database?

• You can easily compare EC2 instances prices and specifications.
• You access the data in a more structured and organized way.
• You can fetch data using different programming languages.

Fetch Data from the amazon EC2 price comparison database

• NodeJS - Fetch Data with Node JS Code
• JavaScript - Fetch Data with Java Script Code
• Swift - Fetch Data with Apple Swift Code
• Objective-C - Fetch Data with Apple Objective-C Code
• Kotlin on Android - Fetch Data with Kotlin on Android
• Kotlin - Fetch Data with Kotlin
• Java on Android - Fetch Data with Java on Android
• PHP - Fetch Data with PHP
• Python - Fetch Data with Python
• Java - Fetch Data with Java
• Flutter - Fetch Data with Flutter
• Dart - Fetch Data with Flutter

Variables and attributes considered on this database

AWS Region

Is as separate geographic area that AWS hosts its services. The list include:

• US West (Oregon)
• US East (Ohio)
• US East (N. Virginia)
• US West (N. California)
• Africa (Cape Town)
• Asia Pacific (Hong Kong)
• Asia Pacific (Mumbai)
• Asia Pacific (Osaka-Local)
• Asia Pacific (Seoul)
• Asia Pacific (Singapore)
• Asia Pacific (Sydney)
• Asia Pacific (Tokyo)
• Canada (Central)
• Europe (Frankfurt)
• Europe (Ireland)
• Europe (London)
• Europe (Milan)
• Europe (Paris)
• Europe (Stockholm)
• Middle East (Bahrain)
• South America (São Paulo)
• AWS GovCloud (US-East)
• AWS GovCloud (US)

Instance Family

Types of instances provided by AWS. Each type will have specific combinations of processing power (CPU), memory, storage, network, processor, etc. AWS has around 50 instance families across all regions. Please note that not necessarily all regions have all instances families available. Here is the instance family list:

• a1 – General Purpose
• c1 – Compute Optimized
• c3 – Compute Optimized
• c4 – Compute Optimized
• c5 – Compute Optimized
• c5d – Compute Optimized
• c5n – Compute Optimized
• cc2 – Compute Optimized
• cr1 – Memory Optimized
• d2 - – Storage Optimized
• f1 – Accelerated Computing
• g2 – GPU Optimized
• g3 – Accelerated Computing
• g3s - Accelerated Computing
• g4dn – Accelerated Computing
• h1 – Storage Optimized
• hs1 – Storage Optimized
• i2 – Storage Optimized
• i3 – Storage Optimized
• i3en – Storage Optimized
• inf1– Accelerated Computing
• m1 – General Purpose
• m2 – General Purpose
• m3 – General Purpose
• m4 – General purpose
• m5 – General purpose
• m5a – General purpose
• m5ad – General purpose
• m5d – General purpose
• m5dn – General purpose
• m5n – General purpose
• m6g – General purpose
• p2 – Accelerated Computing
• p3 – Accelerated Computing
• p3dn - Accelerated Computing
• r3 – Memory Optimized
• r4 – Memory Optimized
• r5 – Memory Optimized
• r5a – Memory Optimized
• r5ad – Memory Optimized
• r5d – Memory Optimized
• r5dn – Memory Optimized
• r5n – Memory Optimized
• t1 - Micro
• t2 – General purpose
• t3 – General purpose
• t3a – General purpose
• x1 – Memory Optimized
• x1e – Memory Optimized
• z1d – Memory Optimized

Instance Sizes

It determines the sizes available for each instance family. For example, the t3 family will have the nano, micro, small, medium, large, xlarge, 2xlarge sizes. Each size is twice as large as the previous one and costs twice as more. The sizes available will vary depending on the instance family and not all sizes are available for all families. There is a total of 18 family sizes available and here is the list:

• nano
• micro
• small
• medium
• large
• xlarge
• 2xlarge
• 3xlarge
• 4xlarge
• 6xlarge
• 8xlarge
• 9xlarge
• 10xlarge
• 12xlarge
• 16xlarge
• 18xlarge
• 24xlarge
• 32xlarge

Operating Systems

Is software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run. Easy to understand examples are Linux and Windows. The instance prices will vary depending on the operating system. Linux instances will be cheaper in comparison to Windows instances. Here is the list:

• Linux
• Linux with SQL Standard
• Linux with SQL Web
• Linux with SQL Enterprise
• Windows
• Windows and Standard SQL Server
• Windows and Web SQL Server
• Windows and Enterprise SQL Server
• RHEL
• SUSE

Reserved Instance Offering Class

There are two types of Reserved Instances. The Standard Reserved instance and the Convertible Reserved instance. The differences are detailed as follows:

Standard Reserved Instance

• 1 year and 3 years commitment available
• You cannot exchange the instance for another instance with new attributes. For example, you can’t change a t3.medium instance for a m5.large instance.
• You can sell the reservation on the AWS Marketplace
• Are cheaper in comparison to the convertible instances

Convertible Reserved Instance

• 1 year and 3 years commitment available
• You can exchange the instance for another instance with new attributes. For example, you can change a t3.medium instance for a m5.large instance.
• You cannot sell the reservation on the AWS Marketplace
• Are more expensive in comparison to the Standard instances

On-Demand Instance Prices

Price of an instance without any long-term commitment to AWS. You simply pay for the resources you use and can stop using it at any given time. For example, the t3.large instance will have a cost of $0.0832 per hour of usage.

Reserved Instances Prices

Discounted price of an instance if you make a long-term commitment with AWS. The commitment terms are either 1 year or 3 years. Prices go down considerably using reserved instances. For example, it’s possible to save up to 62% acquiring a 3 years reserved t3.large instance.

Instance Generation

• Current Generation
• Old Generation

Tenancy

• Shared (Default) - Several EC2 instances from diverse customers may reside on the same piece of physical hardware.
• Dedicated - Dedicated tenancy ensures that the EC2 instances are run on hardware specific to one account.

Instance Specifications

• vCPU
• Memory
• Enhanced Network
• Processor Architecture
• Processor features
• Processor Manufacturer
• Clock Speed
• Storage Type (EBS only or Ephemeral)
• eCU

Other Relevant References about EC2 Pricing

• https://calculator.aws - Official AWS Page to calculate instance prices
• https://www.ec2instances.info - User friendly, spreadsheet like EC2 instances comparison tool
• https://github.com/powdahound/ec2instances.info - Open Source Project at Github with EC2 Data