AWS Fargate vs Docker for AWS: What are the differences?

Key Differences between AWS Fargate and Docker for AWS

AWS Fargate and Docker for AWS are two popular options for deploying and managing applications using Docker containers in the cloud. While they both use Docker containers, there are several key differences between the two platforms.

1. Managed Service vs. DIY: AWS Fargate is a managed service that takes care of the underlying infrastructure and the deployment and scaling of containers. On the other hand, Docker for AWS requires manual setup and configuration of the infrastructure, making it a do-it-yourself (DIY) solution.

2. Granularity of Control: With AWS Fargate, you have less control over the infrastructure and container platform, as it abstracts away many low-level details. In contrast, Docker for AWS provides more control and flexibility, allowing you to customize and fine-tune the infrastructure and container environment to your specific requirements.

3. Scaling: AWS Fargate offers automatic scaling of containers based on CPU and memory utilization, ensuring optimal resource allocation. Docker for AWS requires manual scaling and infrastructure setup to handle increased demand, making it less suitable for dynamic workloads.

4. Pricing Model: AWS Fargate follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you only pay for the resources consumed by your containers. Docker for AWS, on the other hand, requires you to provision and manage your own infrastructure, potentially leading to higher costs if not properly optimized.

5. Availability: AWS Fargate ensures high availability and fault tolerance by running containers across multiple availability zones, automatically handling container failures. Docker for AWS requires manual setup of a highly available infrastructure to achieve the same level of availability.

6. Integration with Other AWS Services: AWS Fargate seamlessly integrates with other AWS services, such as Elastic Load Balancing, Amazon RDS, and AWS CloudFormation, making it easier to build and deploy complete applications. Docker for AWS, being more customizable, requires additional configuration and integration efforts to work with other AWS services.

In summary, AWS Fargate provides a managed and easy-to-use platform for deploying and scaling Docker containers, while Docker for AWS offers more control and customization options but requires manual setup and management of the infrastructure.