Amazon Lightsail
All-in-one fixed-price virtual servers
A simplified version of AWS: create VPSs, databases, load balancers, CDN and containers from preconfigured bundles at a fixed monthly price that includes data transfer.
- Cost$ Low
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?Yes
- Managed by AWS
- In examsCLF · SAA
Think of it asLike renting an all-inclusive serviced apartment: electricity, water and internet in one price, and you can move in right away.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
Small websites, WordPress, test environments, beginners who want predictable costs.
✗ Avoid it when
You need auto scaling, complex networking or flexible configuration → EC2 / Elastic Beanstalk.
Common uses
- WordPress blog or small business website
- Low-cost dev/test environment
- Small app needing a static IP and simple DNS
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: Fixed monthly bundles (charged by hours used) including CPU, RAM, SSD and a data transfer allowance.
⚠️ Cost traps
Stopped instances are still charged; exceeding the data transfer allowance costs extra.
