Is AWS Fargate or EKS the Best Option for Your App?
When you’re running a containerized app on AWS, the choice between AWS Fargate and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) can impact cost, performance, and ease of use.
AWS Fargate and EKS represent two distinct approaches to running containerized apps. Fargate removes the need to manage infrastructure, offering simplicity and scalability. EKS, while more complex, provides unmatched flexibility and control. Choosing the right solution depends on your app's requirements, including cost, performance, and integration needs. This article will compare these options to help you decide which is best for your needs.
What does serverless or Kubernetes mean for your app?
If you've dockerized your app and are ready to run it on AWS, you face a choice: AWS Fargate or EKS. Fargate simplifies deployment by hiding infrastructure. EKS gives you full control but requires more effort to manage. While both options run on AWS, the right choice depends on your specific needs.
How AWS Fargate works
Serverless platforms handle infrastructure for you. AWS Fargate lets you write a task definition for your container, create a service, and let AWS manage scaling and provisioning automatically. This option focuses on simplicity, allowing developers to concentrate on building and deploying apps.
How EKS compares to Fargate
Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) takes a more hands-on approach, offering greater control at the expense of complexity. EKS lets you manage your app's deployments and scaling through custom manifests, including deployment and service manifests. However, you're responsible for managing clusters and nodes unless you enable additional automation.
Comparing AWS Fargate and EKS
AWS Fargate Pricing
Fargate’s pricing is straightforward. You’re charged based on the vCPU and memory your app uses. At $0.04048 per vCPU per second, you pay for the processing power your containers consume. Memory costs $0.004445 per GB per second. The more resources your app needs, the more it costs. If your app isn't running, you don't pay for resources. This makes Fargate ideal for apps with unpredictable or fluctuating traffic, as you only pay for what you use.
The simplicity of Fargate lies in its flexibility. You don’t need to worry about managing infrastructure; AWS handles that for you. This pay-as-you-go model is perfect for apps with varying usage patterns. Whether your app runs constantly or only at certain times, Fargate scales with your needs, keeping costs efficient.
Amazon EKS Pricing
EKS has a more complex pricing model. You pay $0.10 per hour for the EKS control plane, which totals about $72 per month. However, EKS doesn’t run your containers by itself. To do that, you need EC2 instances or Fargate. EC2 instances, like a t3.medium, cost about $0.0376 per hour. If you need multiple instances to run your app, the cost can quickly add up, especially if they run 24/7.
EKS gives you more control over your infrastructure, which is great for complex applications. However, this control comes with added complexity and can be more expensive, especially when using EC2 instances. It’s best for businesses that need full customization and can manage their infrastructure effectively.
Serverless or Kubernetes: Is AWS Fargate or EKS Best for Your Containerized App?
Deciding between serverless (Fargate) and Kubernetes (EKS) often comes down to your app's needs. If you value speed, simplicity, and reduced operational burden, the serverless approach with Fargate could be the perfect match. However, if you need full control, customization, and the flexibility to manage complex workloads, the Kubernetes approach with EKS might be your better choice.
Why serverless matters
The serverless approach eliminates the hassle of managing infrastructure, letting teams focus on building features and shipping faster. For example, startups with limited resources can use Fargate to launch apps without worrying about cluster configuration. This saves time and reduces operational costs, freeing developers to work on what matters most.
The case for Kubernetes
While more complex to manage, Kubernetes through EKS provides the control and flexibility many organizations need. It excels in scenarios requiring fine-grained control over networking, complex deployment patterns, or specific compliance requirements. EKS gives you full control over your container orchestration while still managing the Kubernetes control plane.
Your choice between these approaches isn't just technical—it's strategic. Whether you're scaling a new app or optimizing an existing one, both Fargate and EKS provide paths to success, each with their own tradeoffs between simplicity and control.
How to set up Fargate or EKS for your app
You've dockerized your app. Great! Now it's time to decide: Fargate or EKS? Fargate handles the infrastructure for you, while EKS offers full control but requires more configuration. This guide breaks down the setup and costs for both options.
Step 1. Dockerize your app
Start by ensuring your app is containerized. Use a Dockerfile to define your app's environment, dependencies, and runtime settings. Build and test the Docker image locally to make sure it works as expected. This step costs nothing but developer time if you already have Docker installed.
Step 2. Choose between Fargate and EKS
- Fargate: Automates scaling and infrastructure. This is ideal for apps that need simplicity and quick deployment.
- EKS: Gives you full control over cluster configuration and scaling. This works best for apps requiring customization or handling complex workloads.
Fargate starts at $0.04048 per vCPU per second. EKS pricing includes node costs, which can vary based on your cluster size.
Step 3. Write the deployment configuration
- For AWS Fargate: Write a task definition specifying your container, memory, CPU, and networking settings.
- For EKS: Write Kubernetes manifests, including deployment and service files. These define how your app scales, routes traffic, and runs.
This step is crucial for both options, as it determines how your app operates and scales in production.
Step 4. Deploy your app
- On Fargate: Use the ECS Console or CLI to deploy your service. Define scaling policies, such as running more tasks during high traffic.
-
On EKS: Apply your manifests using tools like
kubectl. Monitor the cluster to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Costs at this stage depend on resource allocation. A small app can run for a few dollars a day on either platform, while high-traffic apps will scale costs accordingly.
Step 5. Monitor and adjust
- For Fargate: Use AWS CloudWatch to track performance and costs.
- For EKS: Use tools like CloudWatch or open-source solutions like Prometheus.
Optimize by tweaking resource allocations, scaling policies, or removing unused resources to reduce waste.
Deploying Your App to EKS vs Fargate
When running a Dockerized app, businesses need to choose between EKS and Fargate. Both technologies offer powerful ways to deploy and scale containerized apps, but they differ in complexity and control. This section explains how each technology defines key components such as services and tasks/deployments, and how businesses can use them to manage their applications.
EKS: Defining a Service and Deployment Manifest
In EKS, you have full control over your containers and infrastructure, but you need to configure two key components: the service and the deployment manifest. These components are essential for managing scaling, traffic routing, and container configurations.
Defining the Service in EKS
In EKS, a service is used to expose your app to the network and manage how traffic is routed to your containers. The service ensures that traffic is distributed across multiple instances of your app (pods) and makes your app accessible both inside and outside the cluster.
For example, when deploying to EKS, you define a service manifest to route traffic to your containers. Here's an example:
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
name: my-app-service
spec:
selector:
app: my-app
ports:
- protocol: TCP
port: 80
targetPort: 8080
type: LoadBalancer
This configuration ensures that external traffic is routed from port 80 to port 8080 on your containers. The LoadBalancer type provisions a load balancer to distribute traffic efficiently.
Defining the Deployment Manifest in EKS
The deployment manifest defines how your containers run. It specifies the container image, the number of replicas (instances) to run, and the resources (CPU, memory) allocated to each pod. This manifest helps EKS maintain the desired state for your app, ensuring the correct number of containers are running and automatically scaling when necessary.
Here's an example of a deployment manifest for EKS:
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: my-app-deployment
spec:
replicas: 3
selector:
matchLabels:
app: my-app
template:
metadata:
labels:
app: my-app
spec:
containers:
- name: my-container
image: my-app:latest
ports:
- containerPort: 8080
This deployment ensures that three replicas of your app are running at all times. EKS automatically scales the app and replaces any failed containers to maintain the desired state.
AWS Fargate: Defining a Service and Task Definition
AWS Fargate simplifies deployment by abstracting away infrastructure management. With Fargate, you don't need to manage nodes or clusters. Instead, you define a service and a task definition to control how your containers run.
Defining the Service in AWS Fargate
In AWS Fargate, the service is responsible for managing the scaling and traffic routing of your containers. You simply define how many tasks (containers) should be running, and Fargate automatically handles the scaling, load balancing, and networking. Fargate abstracts away the need for cluster management, allowing you to focus on defining the behavior of your containers.
Here's how you define a service in Amazon ECS with AWS Fargate:
{
"cluster": "my-cluster",
"serviceName": "my-app-service",
"taskDefinition": "my-task-definition",
"desiredCount": 3,
"launchType": "FARGATE",
"networkConfiguration": {
"awsvpcConfiguration": {
"subnets": ["subnet-xxxxxxxx"],
"assignPublicIp": "ENABLED"
}
}
}
In this service definition, Fargate ensures that three tasks (containers) are running and automatically manages traffic distribution using a load balancer.
Defining the Task Definition in AWS Fargate
A task definition in AWS Fargate specifies how the container should run, including its resource requirements and configuration. It's similar to EKS's deployment manifest, but Fargate handles much of the infrastructure for you.
Here's an example of a task definition for AWS Fargate:
{
"family": "my-task",
"containerDefinitions": [
{
"name": "my-container",
"image": "my-app:latest",
"memory": 512,
"cpu": 256,
"essential": true,
"portMappings": [
{
"containerPort": 8080,
"hostPort": 8080
}
]
}
]
}
This task definition tells Fargate how to run your container, including what image to use, how much memory and CPU are needed, and which ports should be exposed.
ECS or Fargate?
EKS and AWS Fargate allow you to deploy and scale containerized apps, but the key difference lies in the level of control and management required. EKS gives you complete flexibility over scaling, networking, and container management, while AWS Fargate abstracts these details away, simplifying the process so you can focus on your app.
Next Steps for Your App
Now that you understand how to deploy your Dockerized app to both EKS and AWS Fargate, you're ready to make a decision on which path to take based on your business needs. You've learned the core concepts—defining services, task definitions, and deployment manifests—on both platforms. The next steps are about refining your choice, optimizing your deployment, and scaling for future growth.
Choosing the Right Platform
Start by evaluating the complexity of your app and how much control you need. If your business requires fine-grained control and you have the expertise to manage clusters, EKS might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer an easy-to-manage, scalable solution with minimal overhead, AWS Fargate is a great fit. Make your decision based on your team's capabilities and long-term goals.
Optimizing Your Deployment
Once you've deployed your app, ensure that you're monitoring and optimizing its performance. In EKS, monitor your service and deployment to ensure proper scaling and resource allocation. In AWS Fargate, track the health of your tasks and adjust the number of desired tasks based on traffic patterns. Tools like AWS CloudWatch, Prometheus, and Grafana can help you monitor resource usage and identify bottlenecks.
Scaling for Growth
As your business grows, scaling becomes critical. In EKS, you can increase the number of replicas or modify your deployment manifests to handle higher loads. In AWS Fargate, adjust the desired count in your service definition to scale the number of containers running. Both platforms offer auto-scaling features, but you'll need to configure them based on your specific needs.
Expanding Your App's Capabilities
As your app evolves, you may need to add new features or expand to more regions. For EKS, explore multi-cluster deployments to spread your app across different regions for higher availability. For AWS Fargate, consider integrating other AWS services like Amazon RDS, AWS Lambda, or Amazon S3 to extend your app's functionality.
Planning for Cost Optimization
Cost management is a key factor in scaling your app. With AWS Fargate, since you pay per task, ensure that you're only running the number of containers you need. For EKS, monitor your resource usage to avoid over-provisioning, which can lead to unnecessary costs. Both platforms have tools to help you manage costs effectively, so review them regularly to stay within budget.
Keeping Up with Updates and Best Practices
Finally, both EKS and AWS Fargate are constantly evolving. Stay up to date with the latest features and best practices to get the most out of your deployment. Join community forums, attend webinars, and read relevant documentation to keep your deployment practices sharp.
By following these next steps, you'll ensure that your Dockerized app is not only deployed successfully but also optimized and scalable for future growth. Whether you're managing everything through EKS or simplifying with AWS Fargate, these strategies will help you maintain control, minimize costs, and expand as your business demands.
What's your advice for choosing between EKS and AWS Fargate? What do you like about each? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Mike Vincent is an American software engineer and writer based in Los Angeles. Mike writes about technology leadership and holds degrees in Linguistics and Industrial Automation. More about Mike Vincent
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