On november 2016, Amazon launched Lightsail, a new product that is based on his previous and already known services, but with one big feature: simplicity, at fixed prices.
Lightsail offers several instance images with applications pre-installed and ready to be run, for a fixed monthly price, and without the need of understand anything about EC2 configurations, VPCs, security groups, storage, etc. This service is similar to (and is going to compete with) Digital Ocean apps.
If you want to launch a CMS on Lightsail, you have (at the time this post was written) the most popular choices: WordPress, Joomla, Magento and Drupal.
For example, our blog was launched in less than an hour using a WordPress instance, that was ready to be customized and published.
A LAMP (or LEMP) stack is also a nice option to have, but for this one you have plenty of hosting sites that offer the same, and if you are short of budget, you will definitely find lower prices elsewhere.
But the two instance types that most called my attention are Redmine and GitLab. This is an excellent start to have your own company’s set of tools on the cloud, in this case for Project Management (Redmine), and a code repository (GitLab). Of course this are just two, but wouldn’t be nice to have issue trackers, CI tools, wikis, monitoring tools, etc. under one hood? (actually that is what Digital Ocean offers).
Of course Lightsail also offers “OS Only” instances, but I think that if you want to setup your own software there, you have better and more flexible choices from the EC2/EBS/ECS consoles.
Benefits of using Lightsail
Technical Perspective
From a technical standpoint, Amazon Lightsail is designed to simplify the experience of running workloads on AWS without requiring deep infrastructure knowledge. It abstracts away many of the complex components of EC2 and VPC management, making it ideal for developers, startups, or teams who want a secure and reliable cloud foundation but don’t need the full flexibility of EC2.
Here are the key technical advantages:
- Simplified Infrastructure Management
Lightsail bundles compute, storage, and networking into an easy-to-manage package. You don’t need to configure VPCs, security groups, or load balancers manually: Lightsail automatically handles the underlying AWS infrastructure, reducing setup time and minimizing errors. - Preconfigured Application Stacks
Lightsail offers pre-built images for WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, GitLab, Redmine, and even LAMP/LEMP stacks. These blueprints come optimized and ready to use, drastically reducing provisioning time and avoiding configuration drift. - Integrated Networking and DNS Management
Built-in DNS management, static IP assignment, and firewall rules are all part of the Lightsail console. You can deploy a complete application environment without leaving a single dashboard, simplifying operations and troubleshooting. - Predictable and Fixed Pricing
Unlike EC2, where costs depend on instance size, storage, and data transfer, Lightsail’s monthly flat-rate pricing includes a predefined amount of compute, SSD storage, and outbound data. This makes budgeting straightforward and avoids unexpected billing spikes. - Easy Backup and Scaling
Lightsail includes automated snapshots and instance cloning features. While it doesn’t offer automatic horizontal scaling like EC2 Auto Scaling, vertical scaling (upgrading to a larger plan) is simple and downtime-minimal. - Integration with AWS Ecosystem
Lightsail can connect to other AWS services (such as S3, CloudFront, or Route 53) providing a path to grow into more complex architectures when needed. You can even export Lightsail instances to EC2 for full control once your workload evolves. - Security by Default
Lightsail applies pre-hardened security settings: only essential ports are open, SSH access is key-based, and data is encrypted at rest. These opinionated defaults provide a secure starting point without requiring manual network hardening.
Business Perspective
From a business standpoint, Lightsail offers a lower barrier to entry into AWS, enabling faster go-to-market, reduced operational overhead, and clear financial predictability. It’s particularly appealing for small and medium businesses, startups, and development teams.
Key business benefits include:
- Speed to Market
Launching a web application, CMS, or proof of concept can take minutes, not days. This rapid deployment cycle supports agile experimentation and allows teams to validate ideas faster. - Predictable Budgeting
The fixed monthly pricing model provides cost certainty, making it easier for finance and management teams to plan expenses. This is especially valuable for SMBs that lack dedicated cloud cost optimization expertise. - Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Because Lightsail abstracts infrastructure management, teams spend less time on DevOps tasks (like patching, scaling, or monitoring EC2 resources) and more time delivering value. This translates to real savings in engineering hours. - Simplified Maintenance and Support
There’s no need to manage complex EC2 configurations or networking dependencies. Lightsail’s simplified console is accessible to generalist developers or IT staff without advanced cloud training, reducing reliance on specialized roles. - Seamless Growth Path
Businesses can start small (perhaps running a single WordPress site or internal tool) and later migrate to EC2 or ECS as the business scales. This eliminates the need to switch providers or re-architect from scratch. - Built on AWS Reliability
Even though it’s a simplified product, Lightsail runs on AWS’s global infrastructure, inheriting the same availability, security, and resilience standards trusted by enterprise clients.
Comparing with other options
The following table summarizes the main differences between deploying workloads on EC2, Marketplace AMIs, and Lightsail.
| Feature / Use Case | Amazon EC2 | AWS Marketplace AMI | Amazon Lightsail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level of Control | Full control over networking, storage, and instance configuration | Same control as EC2 once deployed, but software comes preconfigured | Simplified interface; limited configuration options |
| Complexity | High – requires knowledge of VPCs, subnets, IAM, and security groups | Medium – infrastructure handled manually, but software stack is preinstalled | Low – preconfigured networking, DNS, and firewall rules |
| Pricing Model | Pay-as-you-go by the second or use Savings Plans / Reserved Instances | Same as EC2 + potential software licensing cost | Fixed monthly pricing (bundled compute, storage, data transfer) |
| Scalability | Virtually unlimited; integrates with Auto Scaling, Load Balancing, etc. | Same as EC2 | Limited scaling (manual snapshot and instance creation) |
| Use Cases | Production workloads, scalable web apps, backend services | Specialized software deployments (security tools, monitoring, CMS, BI, etc.) | Small business sites, test environments, blogs, quick POCs |
| Management Tools | Managed through EC2 Console, CLI, SDKs, IaC tools (CloudFormation, Terraform) | Managed like any EC2 instance | Managed through a simplified Lightsail Console and API |
| Networking | Custom VPC and subnet control | Custom VPC and subnet control | Predefined networking (simplified, limited VPC integration) |
| Examples | Custom backend APIs, microservices, data processing, high-performance apps | Deploying Splunk, OpenVPN, Jenkins, or security appliances | WordPress, small e-commerce, gitlab, dev/test apps, portfolios |
| Best For | Architects and DevOps teams | Teams needing prebuilt solutions | Developers, freelancers, startups seeking simplicity |
From the security point of view, how each approach works?
Security Comparison Table
| Aspect / Capability | Amazon EC2 | AWS Marketplace AMI | Amazon Lightsail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Model | Full control; user manages everything | Shared: vendor maintains AMI security | Simplified: AWS-managed network & firewall |
| Network Control | Full VPC, subnet, SG, and NACL control | Same as EC2 | Predefined networking, basic firewall rules |
| OS & Patch Management | Manual; user responsibility | Managed by vendor (varies) | Limited visibility; AWS maintains base image |
| IAM Integration | Full IAM roles and instance profiles | Same as EC2 | Basic SSH key control; limited IAM options |
| Encryption (EBS, snapshots) | Full control, supports KMS | Same as EC2 | Default encryption, limited KMS options |
| Monitoring & Audit | CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Config, Security Hub | Same as EC2 | Basic metrics and alerts in Lightsail console |
| Compliance & Governance | Fully customizable (PCI, HIPAA, ISO, etc.) | Depends on vendor’s certification | Not suitable for regulated workloads |
| Default Hardening | Depends on base AMI | Depends on vendor image | Pre-hardened with minimal ports open |
| Best Use Case (Security) | Enterprise or regulated workloads | Trusted third-party software | Small projects or simple websites |
So, in terms of security:
- Choose EC2 when you need maximum control, compliance, and advanced security tooling.
- Choose Marketplace AMIs when you need pre-built, vendor-maintained software with reasonable security out of the box.
- Choose Lightsail for simplicity and fast deployment, where ease of use is more important than deep configurability.
Summary
Anyway, for us that we have been using AWS for most of our customer’s platforms for a while now, it is nice to have the chance to quickly add pre-installed apps to power-up existing services, for a fixed price.
If you plan to start simple but expect to scale later, a good approach is:
- Launch on Lightsail for speed and simplicity.
- Migrate to EC2 or an ECS/Fargate setup when your workload requires more flexibility or integration with other AWS services.
- Use Marketplace AMIs when you want prepackaged enterprise tools (e.g., security scanners, analytics platforms, or CI/CD solutions) that are ready to deploy on EC2.
We are BigCheese, an engineering in-house team.
