AWS Elastic Beanstalk
App deployment platform (PaaS)
PaaS: you upload code (Java, .NET, Node.js, Python, PHP, Go, Ruby, Docker…), and Beanstalk sets up EC2, Auto Scaling, a load balancer, monitoring and platform updates for you; you can still view and adjust the underlying resources.
- Cost$$ Medium
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?Yes
- Managed by AWS
- In examsCLF · SAA · DVA · SOA
Think of it asLike renting a restaurant that already has a kitchen, tables, chairs and staff: you just bring the recipes.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
A traditional web app needs to get onto AWS quickly, and the team doesn't specialize in operating infrastructure.
✗ Avoid it when
Modern container or serverless architecture → ECS / App Runner / Lambda; highly customized infrastructure → CloudFormation + EC2.
Common uses
- Getting a Java/PHP web app onto AWS quickly
- Identical dev/staging/prod environments
- Blue/green deployment by swapping environment URLs
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: No separate charge; you pay for the EC2, ELB, EBS, RDS… that the environment creates.
⚠️ Cost traps
If you create RDS inside the environment, deleting the environment also deletes the database; keep RDS separate.
Related services
SAA-C03 study guide
Elastic Beanstalk is covered in these study modules: