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Reviews from AWS customer

38 AWS reviews

    reviewer2817555

Flexible cloud workloads have unified development, testing, and database workflows

  • April 16, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My use case for Amazon Linux includes web and application hosting, microservices, container, database management, and virtual desktop services.

I use Amazon Linux as a lightweight base image for Docker containers and power nodes for Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Services and Amazon Elastic Container Services. For database management, I use PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and MySQL for Jupyter Notebook and R services.

I use Amazon Linux for LQs with our IT data center. I deploy different flavors of Amazon Linux so that all applications can be deployed on that particular Amazon Linux environment. My team members use it for services use cases during the development and testing process.

I use MySQL and MariaDB services with Amazon Linux, which makes the workflow smoother for my testing and developer team.

I use Amazon Linux for testing, development, and staging environments. Different teams work in those particular fields. For the Java environment, the database environment, and the staging environment, my team is organized in a positive way.

What is most valuable?

Amazon Linux is freeware. The key benefits include integration, pre-installed tools for the AWS System Manager, EC2 instance connection directly via PuTTY, and it is lightweight and scalable. There is no additional licensing cost for Amazon Linux, so my organization sees 20% to 40% better performance when migrating from a paid distribution such as RHEL. This enhances performance and contributes to cost-cutting.

It is very reliable for me and my organization, and the licensing is beneficial for us.

Amazon Linux provides both money and time savings.

It provides native AWS integration, optimized performance, enhanced security, and is cost-effective. My advice to others is that Amazon Linux is the best way to develop business and solutions.

What needs improvement?

I believe there is no need to improve Amazon Linux. It is definitely working in a very progressive and highly scalable way.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Amazon Linux for the last three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability as eight out of ten and ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux has long-time support provided. For security, Amazon Linux is most scalable.

What other advice do I have?

I will provide a rating of eight for Amazon Linux.

I am using a long-term support version of Amazon Linux, so there is no need for any other features.

Amazon Linux provides different types of services that can be installed for DevOps automation, high-performance computing, virtual desktops, database management, microservices, containerization, and web services hosting. For all of these capabilities, I have provided a rating of eight out of ten. My overall review rating for Amazon Linux is eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)


    D Cs

Cloud platform has boosted secure web hosting, automation, and rapid backend deployment

  • April 15, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

Amazon Linux has been used multiple times in my organization, and it is very popular because it is easy to use.

Amazon Linux, as a distribution provided by Amazon Web Services, is optimized for the cloud environment, especially for running applications in AWS infrastructure. The main purpose of Amazon Linux is web hosting servers, cloud application hosting, database servers, and DevOps and CI/CD. My organization primarily uses it for cloud application hosting, such as backend APIs because my company utilizes MERN and other technology tools such as Python and Java. These technologies are better for my company in cloud application hosting and scaling cloud applications, especially for hosting the backend of MERN projects. Additionally, I utilize it for development and testing environments, providing a safe space for trying new tools without affecting local systems and allowing remote development via SSH.

Amazon Linux helps with development and testing environments by allowing my company to utilize WordPress, enabling deployment of clients' WordPress sites and WooCommerce hosted on the Node.js backend in Amazon Linux. It is easy to use for web development, including WordPress, PHP, Laravel, Node.js, and React application hosting using Apache and NGINX. On the backend, my organization builds APIs and performs REST API and GraphQL using Node.js, Python, and Java to handle server-side logic and microservices development. My organization additionally integrates DevOps and automation tools such as CI/CD, automation scripts, Docker, and Jenkins. Docker containers, Kubernetes, and other Microsoft development tools are also employed. My organization utilizes it for testing and staging environments, where applications can be tested before going into production in QA environments while also debugging server issues. In summary, Amazon Linux is used primarily for web development, backend development, and basic DevOps tasks.

Regarding the main use cases for Amazon Linux, my organization creates servers to deploy sites and applications while running backend code. I use it to host WordPress websites, along with PHP Laravel projects, static and dynamic sites, backend applications such as Node APIs, Python, Java, and MERN stack applications within the infrastructure of cloud services such as EC2. Automation tools for CI/CD pipelines and scripts are also utilized.

What is most valuable?

The best features of Amazon Linux include better services and security, scalability optimized for AWS, enhanced performance on EC2, smooth integration with AWS tools, robust security, regular security updates, and pre-configuration security features. Amazon Linux is secure by default and free to use on AWS, incurring no operating system cost aside from EC2 usage, which is beneficial for freelancers and novice users. It supports package managers such as yum and DNF for easily installing Node.js, PHP, MySQL, and allows for quick setup of the development environment. Amazon Linux is also excellent for Docker and DevOps support, making it perfect for CI/CD pipelines with long-term support, stability, and reliability while being lightweight and efficient for users, requiring fewer resources and offering fast boot times, which are ideal for cloud service applications.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization through outcomes such as cost reductions, high performance and efficiency, strong security, stability, reliability, automation productivity, and cloud scalability. It enables flexibility and customization, resulting in cheaper and faster website performance and providing stable production servers. This directly leads to client satisfaction and contributes to my business goals.

What needs improvement?

To improve Amazon Linux, optimizing performance by choosing the right instance type for Amazon EC2, utilizing load balancers such as ELB, and monitoring with CloudWatch can lead to faster applications and better user experiences while reducing costs. Stopping unused EC2 instances and employing reservation spots as needed for storage on S3 saves money for clients and companies. It is also crucial to improve security through IAM roles without root access and properly configuring security settings. Implementing backups and encryption results in enhanced data safety and trust. Automation is key; using CI/CD pipelines allows for quicker deployments and reduced errors. Moreover, employing scalable architectures with auto-scaling and using microservices to distribute traffic effectively can effortlessly manage high traffic scenarios. By leveraging managed services such as RDS, S3 for storage, and Lambda for serverless computing, maintenance requirements are reduced and my organization can focus more on development. The ultimate goal of improving AWS usage must center around optimizing performance, minimizing costs, enhancing security, and automating deployments to build efficient cloud architecture.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have worked in this field for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is considered a stable operating system for cloud and production use because of its long-term support and regular updates from Amazon Linux, which provides long support lifecycles for safe and long-running applications. It is optimized for AWS infrastructure and operates smoothly in Amazon EC2 without compatibility issues. Its strong security, frequent security patches, and the fact that it is secure by default minimize the risk of crashes from attacks. It runs efficiently for extended periods without needing restarts in production environments, and updates are controlled to prevent breaking changes, making Amazon Linux a highly stable option that offers long-term support, robust security, and AWS optimization, which is ideal for production workloads.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux supports scalability; however, it is essential to understand that it does not scale automatically by itself. It operates in cloud services such as Amazon EC2, which provides the scalability that Amazon Linux supports. Scalability can be achieved through vertical scaling, allowing an increase in CPU and RAM on one server by changing the EC2 instance type for low traffic, or horizontal scaling where multiple servers are added for handling high traffic with load balancers. Automatic scaling adds or removes servers based on CPU traffic, which is optimal for production applications, while load balancing helps distribute traffic across servers, preventing overloads and delivering stable performance. For example, a WordPress site might use a single server for normal traffic, but when traffic spikes, three to five servers can be created automatically, ensuring the site remains functional. Ultimately, Amazon Linux enables scalability through AWS services such as EC2, auto-scaling, and load balancing, allowing applications to scale vertically and horizontally based on demand.

How are customer service and support?

My experience with customer support for Amazon Linux has been great. My organization faced a web server down issue, and customer support quickly investigated the situation and provided excellent assistance, resolving the issue and getting the setup back to working order fast.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have not previously used other solutions because I have heard positive feedback about AWS and focused on using their services.

How was the initial setup?

My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing has been positive. The basic setup for learning and small projects falls under the free tier for the first 12 months, providing limited use of Amazon EC2 and S3 storage, which is beneficial for practice. After the free tier, the cost is manageable at around 300 to 800 dollars per month for a small license. During practical setup, I go step by step to launch the server, create an EC2 instance, choose Amazon Linux, connect via SSH, install the necessary software, including Apache and NGINX for PHP and Laravel projects, and Node.js. After that, I set up the database, deploy the project, upload it to AWS, configure the domain, and make the website live while adhering to security protocols such as enabling HTTPS and SSL, ensuring secure SSH access along with monitoring, backup, and optimization with CloudWatch. My hands-on experience involves setting up cloud infrastructure with Amazon Linux while creating EC2 instances, deploying applications such as WordPress and MERN stack projects, and performing essential security configurations and optimizations.

What was our ROI?

I have seen a return on investment with Amazon Linux, which has resulted in lower infrastructure costs as there is no need to purchase physical servers. Since Linux is free and incurs no licensing costs, my organization only pays for AWS usage. The faster development of applications allows my organization to launch them in minutes and deliver projects quickly, which reduces maintenance and operational costs. Additionally, automation decreases manual work, saving on salaries and maintenance expenses. Scalability is achieved without extra costs, scaling only as needed without any upfront investment when the business grows, mitigating risks of data loss and downtime with robust backup and recovery options. There is considerably high uptime that prevents financial losses. As a result, using AWS with Amazon Linux improves ROI by reducing infrastructure and maintenance costs while enabling rapid development and scalability, minimizing business risks that ultimately saves money and increases profitability for my company and employees.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated other options that provide similar functionality features, but I ultimately chose Amazon Linux due to its advantages over the alternatives.

What other advice do I have?

Amazon Linux is stable with long-term support and regular updates for cloud use. It is optimized for AWS, secure by default, and does not require regular restarts.

I have not used other solutions before as AWS received positive feedback and I focused on their services.

For initial setup, Amazon Linux basics fall under AWS's free tier for 12 months. After the free period, the costs become manageable, and a step-by-step approach covers launching instances, software installations, database setups, and live deployment with adherence to security protocols.

My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing has been positive. The infrastructure costs are lower since I do not need physical servers, and Linux incurs no licensing fees. Automated processes reduce manual labor costs, and AWS's scalability features mean scaling happens only when necessary. This all leads to a high return on investment, enabling faster project delivery without upfront scaling investments.

Amazon Linux has higher ROI due to its lower costs, high uptime, and scalability. It allows scaling without upfront investment, minimizes business risks, and results in increased profitability.

In building and hosting on Amazon Linux through AWS, my clients benefit from enhanced online presence, faster website performance, better security, less downtime, and the ability to handle high traffic, resulting in smooth operations and business growth. I would rate this product a 9 out of 10.


    Hussain Gagan

Security-first platform has improved compliance and saves costs with faster, consistent deployments

  • April 14, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

Amazon Linux has been our go-to distribution for about two years in our organization for hosting our web application and managing our EC2 instances.

Day-to-day, we primarily use Amazon Linux for our application deployments. We mainly use Amazon Linux to manage our Nginx web servers and handle our routine security patching via the DNF package manager. We spend considerable time writing Bash scripts to automate log rotation and monitor resource utilization, ensuring our EC2 instances stay within performance thresholds.

Amazon Linux helps tremendously in this scenario. The routine tasks we perform really stand out because of its tight integration with AWS services such as SSM and IAM, which makes managing permissions and remote access much smoother than on standard distributions such as Ubuntu. I have found that the kernel is specifically tuned for EC2, leading to faster boot times and better resource efficiency during automated deployments.

What is most valuable?

I would highlight the ease of automatic patching through the curated repositories, which ensures our instances stay compliant with minimal manual intervention.

The best features that Amazon Linux offers are, first, its Security-First design, which is a standout feature, as it comes with a minimal package set that significantly reduces our attack surface from the start. I also really value the version locking and predictable release cycles in AL2023, which gives us the stability we need for long-term production support.

The Security-First design helps us maintain confidence that our instances are not easily compromised because of its security-first approach. The minimal package set significantly reduces our maintenance overhead. During a recent vulnerability scan, we had nearly 40% fewer findings compared to our previous standard images. Regarding version locking, it was invaluable during a major scaling event where we needed to ensure every new instance was bit-for-bit identical, preventing a mid-rollout update from breaking our custom monitoring agents.

We have significantly improved our operational efficiencies by reducing the instance boot time. This directly impacts our organization's efficiency, making our auto-scaling much more responsive during traffic spikes. This streamlined our deployments and helped us maintain high availability with lower compute overhead.

What needs improvement?

Any technology can be improved. One minor frustration has been the lack of EPEL support, which forced us to manually compile a few niche packages that were previously easy to install. I would also like to see more streamlined documentation for migrating legacy scripts that rely on deprecated packages from older versions. Other than those transition hurdles, the performance gains have mostly outweighed the initial setup frictions.

I would like more comprehensive recipes in the documentation for hardening the operating system according to specific compliance standards such as CIS or FedRAMP. On the package side, a more centralized way to request or track the addition of popular community packages would bridge the gap left by the lack of EPEL.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is quite stable. It is extremely stable and deeply integrated with the rest of the AWS ecosystem, and its boot times are quite good.

Compared to other Linux distributions, Amazon Linux is significantly more stable for AWS workloads because it is pre-optimized for EC2 hypervisor and includes integrated AWS tools out of the box, compared to general-purpose distributions such as Ubuntu.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is absolutely highly scalable. Since it is stable and efficient, we do not have any problems regarding scalability. Whenever there are traffic spikes, Amazon Linux handles it quite well.

How are customer service and support?

The customer support is excellent. We do not have any specific problems that we have had to reach out to customer support for. The support is good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously were using other images of Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu. In our findings, we found that Amazon Linux images or instances boot up quite well and fast. That is why we decided to switch over to Amazon Linux.

How was the initial setup?

Regarding the setup, pricing, and licensing cost, I would say it is quite easy and streamlined to manage because we only have to select the Amazon Linux base image while deploying our machine or creating an EC2 instance. Clear pricing is mentioned for whatever duration we are using the machine, and the setup cost and licensing information are properly mentioned on the AWS page while we are initiating our EC2 instance. The experience is good with respect to this regard.

What about the implementation team?

We are a partner. We are not a reseller; we simply have a customer relationship with AWS, so we do not have any business relationship with the vendor beyond being a customer.

What was our ROI?

We have surely seen a return on investment. As mentioned, money saved is the number one metric that we have encountered. We have reduced our boot time and saved approximately $2,000 on a month-to-month basis.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Regarding the setup, pricing, and licensing cost, I would say it is quite easy and streamlined to manage because we only have to select the Amazon Linux base image while deploying our machine or creating an EC2 instance. Clear pricing is mentioned for whatever duration we are using the machine, and the setup cost and licensing information are properly mentioned on the AWS page while we are initiating our EC2 instance. The experience is good with respect to this regard.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We were considering using some other Windows images, but based on Amazon Linux documentation, we determined we should go with Amazon Linux compared to Windows distributions because we thought this would be much better, and that is why we selected it.

What other advice do I have?

Amazon Linux is quite customizable and highly flexible, especially when using cloud-init for automated, repeatable configuration during boot. For specialized workloads, I leverage Amazon Linux Extras library or specific repositories to pull in optimized runtimes such as Docker or Python without bloating the base image.

The documentation and community support are top-notch. It is deeply integrated with the rest of the AWS ecosystem, making it easy to find specific configuration steps for services such as IAM or EC2.

It handles security and compliance requirements quite well, as the documentation is excellent. The security of Amazon Linux is also excellent, so we do not have to worry about that. The compliance for Amazon Linux is top-notch for our organization.

I would recommend using Amazon Linux without hesitation. In my experience, the customer support is quite reliable. Amazon Linux is quite stable, the documentation is great, and it is tightly integrated with the AWS service, so most of the support comes through the AWS support channel rather than a separate Linux support channel. I would recommend others who are going to use it feel confident using Amazon Linux without hesitation. The overall rating for this product is 9 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)


    reviewer2816721

Web services deployment has become flexible while security updates still need improvement

  • April 13, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is making the virtual machine and deploying the web application and different types of network services.

I am using the video analytics application for analytics for the ATCS and ITMS camera. I deploy all web applications on these Amazon Linux virtual machines and use it for microservices such as NGINX and Apache2.

Amazon Linux is used by my team for the testing environment and staging environment for the UAT and for the production environment. I can use different types of this Linux environment for my team.

What is most valuable?

The best features Amazon Linux offers are that it is a freeware RHEL and I can access it from anywhere in any location.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization by providing the best security features and low space for the integration of web applications and microservices.

I can use the integrated firewall system as well as bind the port with different types of network, including different types of ports.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux can be improved by providing day-to-day patching updates.

The security features can be improved for another application such as NGINX and Apache2.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working in my current field for approximately 8+ years.

I have been using Amazon Linux for more than five years.

What other advice do I have?

The advice I would give to others looking into using Amazon Linux is that it is highly scalable and provides different types of microservices, so I kindly recommend these services for a reliable cost. My review rating for Amazon Linux is 7 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?


    AnilKumar13

Using a free, lightweight platform has enabled cost‑effective load generation at scale

  • April 11, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is that it serves as a replacement and a free version for a Red Hat-based OS for Amazon users. I use it in environments where a RHEL-based environment is required because a number of applications are pre-installed on Amazon Linux.

My main use case for Amazon Linux involves using these Linux machines as load generators. With Amazon Linux, you are not required to install a number of applications which are helpful for other applications. We have a CR controller and generators setup, where the generators are virtual machines on Amazon on an auto-scaling basis. For this, we use Amazon Linux as a base.

What is most valuable?

The best features Amazon Linux offers include that it is designed for Amazon users. The first one is that it is freeware. Red Hat has a subscription model. Another one is that a number of applications are pre-installed on Amazon Linux, which are helpful. It is easy to use Amazon services, and it integrates easily with Amazon services.

For example, the Amazon services I find it integrates best with are those requiring connection to Session Manager on any Ubuntu or RHEL machine, where you have to install it first, but on Amazon Linux, it is pre-installed.

In terms of features, it is freeware for Amazon. It is more similar to CentOS and OEL, Oracle Linux, but it is a lighter version for RHEL.

Amazon Linux has impacted my organization positively because in any organization, the first priority is cost. For Amazon Linux, it is not required to have any subscription, unlike a RHEL-based OS. If you are going for RHEL, it is a subscription model, and we have to purchase a subscription as per our requirements. We use it as a load generation tool, so we require a number of generators, sometimes more than 100. For 100 generators, the subscription costs too much. Amazon Linux is freeware, so it is very helpful for us.

What needs improvement?

I do not think Amazon Linux can be improved. It already has a lightweight freeware and is easily integrated with all the AWS services. I am not finding any room for improvement.

Specifically on Amazon Linux, I do not think there are any needed improvements.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Amazon Linux for around five plus years.

What other advice do I have?

I did not purchase Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

If anyone is using the AWS platform and they require a RHEL-based OS, they must use Amazon Linux. It easily integrates with any services in AWS, and it is pre-installed with a few required tools, so it is very helpful.

I have no additional thoughts about Amazon Linux before we wrap up.

I found this interview fine, and I do not think there is anything I should change for the future.

I give this product a review rating of 8.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)


    Vibin Thomas

Optimized cloud workloads have improved security, monitoring, and automated maintenance

  • April 01, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is to host and manage applications in AWS environments. I primarily use it for deploying web servers like NGINX and Apache, running application workloads, and integrating security layers such as WAF. I also use it for configuring back-end services that are protected behind platforms like Cloudflare. In addition, I use Amazon Linux for system tasks such as patch management, log analysis, performance tuning, and ensuring secure configurations align with enterprise standards.

In one of my recent projects, I used Amazon Linux on an EC2 instance to host a web application that was protected by Cloudflare. I was responsible for configuring the server by setting up NGINX, managing SSL/TLS certificates, and ensuring secure communication between Cloudflare and the application. I also work on optimizing the server performance and monitoring the logs to identify and troubleshoot issues. During one incident, we observed high traffic causing performance degradation, so I analyzed system and application logs on the Amazon Linux instance. We tuned the configurations and implemented rate-limiting security controls, which helped stabilize the application.

What is most valuable?

Some of the best features of Amazon Linux are strong integration with AWS, high performance, and built-in security. It is especially optimized for AWS environments, which ensures better performance and stability in EC2 instances. It also integrates seamlessly with services like CloudWatch and Systems Manager, making monitoring and automation much easier. Another key feature is security. Amazon Linux provides regular updates, supports SELinux, and allows easy patch management, which is very important for enterprise environments. Overall, it offers a reliable, secure, and efficient platform for running production workloads in the cloud.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted our organization by improving performance, security, and operational efficiency in our AWS environments. Since it is optimized, we have seen better stability and performance for our application workloads running on EC2 instances. It also simplifies integration with AWS services like CloudWatch, which helps us with monitoring, automation, and patch management. From a security perspective, regular updates and built-in features like SELinux have helped us maintain a strong security posture, especially for enterprise and banking clients. Overall, it has reduced operational overhead, improved system reliability, and enabled us to manage our infrastructure more efficiently at scale.

We have seen several positive outcomes after using Amazon Linux in our environment. From a performance perspective, we observe improved system stability and uptime with fewer incidents related to OS-level issues. This helps us maintain high availability for our applications. In terms of operational efficiency, the integration with AWS services like Systems Manager has reduced manual effort in patching and maintenance, saving a significant amount of time for our team. Additionally, since Amazon Linux optimized for AWS comes at no additional licensing cost, it has helped us reduce the overall infrastructure cost compared to other operating systems. We also reduced the manual effort for patching and maintenance by around 35 to 45 percent using AWS Systems Manager automation.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux is a strong platform, but there are a few areas where it can be improved. One key improvement would be expanding the package repository. Compared to other distributions like Ubuntu, sometimes fewer packages are readily available, which can require manual installation. Another area is documentation and community support, which could be enhanced to make troubleshooting and learning easier, especially for new users. Additionally, improving flexibility for non-AWS environments would make it more versatile for hybrid or multi-cloud use cases.

Improving the package availability and expanding the repository would make Amazon Linux more flexible for different use cases. Enhancing the documentation and community support would help users troubleshoot issues more efficiently, especially for new adopters. Overall, these improvements can make Amazon Linux even more user-friendly and adaptable while maintaining its strong performance and security.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Amazon Linux for around two to three years as part of my work with AWS-based environments.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux scales very well, especially within AWS environments. Since it is tightly integrated with AWS services, I can easily scale instances up or down based on demand using EC2 auto-scaling and load balancing. In our experience, it handles increasing traffic efficiently without performance degradation, making it suitable for production and high-traffic applications. Overall, it provides a reliable and seamless scaling experience as part of the AWS ecosystem.

How are customer service and support?

I have interacted with the AWS support team for issues related to Amazon Linux, and the experience has been generally positive. The support team is knowledgeable and responsive, especially for critical issues. They provide detailed guidance and help in troubleshooting complex problems efficiently. In most of our cases, we are able to resolve issues quickly with their assistance. The documentation they share is also very helpful. Overall, the support experience has been reliable and professional.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Compared to other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or CentOS, Amazon Linux is more optimized for AWS environments, which gives better performance and seamless integration with AWS services. For example, it works very well with services like Systems Manager, making monitoring, automation, and patching much easier compared to other distributions. However, distributions like Ubuntu have a larger package repository and stronger community support, which makes them more flexible for general-purpose or non-cloud environments. Overall, I would say Amazon Linux is the best for AWS-native workloads, while Ubuntu or CentOS may be better for broader or multi-cloud use cases.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, Amazon Linux has been a reliable and efficient operating system for our cloud environments. Its tight integration with AWS services, strong security posture, and consistent performance make it a solid choice for enterprise workloads. With some improvements in the depth of documentation and package flexibility, it can become even better.

Maintaining and updating Amazon Linux is relatively easy in our environment, mainly due to the integration with AWS services. We use tools like AWS Systems Manager to automate the patch management and updates across multiple instances, which significantly reduces the manual effort. Additionally, the package management using YUM or DNF is straightforward and efficient. Overall, the combination of automation and simple package management makes it easy to maintain and secure an up-to-date environment.

Amazon Linux provides strong security and compliance support, which makes it suitable for regulated environments. It offers regular security updates and integrates well with AWS security services like IAM and CloudWatch. This helps with monitoring, access control, and patch management. Additionally, features like SELinux and secure default configurations help strengthen the overall security posture. In our experience, this has helped us align with enterprise security standards and compliance requirements, especially when working with banking and financial sector clients.

The documentation and learning resources for Amazon Linux are generally good, especially when combined with AWS documentation. There are detailed guides for installation, configuration, and integration with AWS services, which make it easier for new team members to get started. However, compared to distributions like Ubuntu, the community support sometimes requires additional effort during troubleshooting. Overall, the documentation is helpful for onboarding, particularly for teams already familiar with AWS environments.

Amazon Linux provides very good performance and efficient resource usage, especially in an AWS environment. It is lightweight and optimized for EC2 instances, consuming fewer system resources compared to some other operating systems, which helps in improving performance. In our experience, applications run more efficiently, ensuring better stability and lower overhead, particularly for production workloads. Compared to others, the difference may not always be significant, but Amazon Linux performs better when tightly integrated with AWS services.

My advice would be to choose Amazon Linux if you are primarily working in AWS environments, as it is highly optimized for performance, security, and seamless integration with AWS services. I would also recommend leveraging AWS tools like Systems Manager for automation and patching and CloudWatch for monitoring to get the full benefit of the platform. At the same time, it is important to evaluate your use case. If you need a broader package ecosystem or multi-cloud capabilities, you may want to compare it with other distributions like Ubuntu. Overall, for AWS-native workloads, Amazon Linux is a very reliable and efficient choice.

The reason I would not give a full ten out of ten is mainly due to areas like package availability and community support, which can still be improved. I gave this review a rating of eight because overall, it is a very solid and dependable platform.


    reviewer2813271

Migration to secure, cost-optimized servers has improved monitoring and Kubernetes deployments

  • April 01, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is setting up Linux servers, monitoring servers, Kubernetes servers, testing, and setting up customer servers. I have used Amazon Linux for setting up customer monitoring solutions, such as Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK stack. I also used it for setting up a Kubernetes cluster.

What is most valuable?

Amazon Linux offers excellent support, which is better than other Linux distributions. The platform provides stable versions, quality packages, and reliable commands. The stability is a key attribute I appreciate about Amazon Linux.

What stands out to me is the regular updates, patches, and package support that Amazon Linux provides.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization significantly. We were using Windows, but after switching to Amazon Linux, it is cost-optimized and very secure.

I do not measure cost optimization or security improvements in a formal way, but we compare our current Windows server costs with the projected costs if we switched to Amazon Linux. Windows is not very secure to use, whereas Amazon Linux is very secure.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux can be improved by providing more session time. When connecting using EC2 Connect, the session time is limited. If you are away from the window for more than five or ten minutes, you must restart your entire session. This is an area that could be enhanced.

Although Amazon Linux is stable, there is room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Amazon Linux for more than four years through both my professional experience and learning experience.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate Amazon Linux eight out of ten because it provides everything we need, but it still requires improvements in stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux has good scalability.

How are customer service and support?

Amazon Linux provides good customer support.

I rate the customer support for Amazon Linux as an eight out of ten.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I was using Windows servers before transitioning to Amazon Linux.

How was the initial setup?

I purchased Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

I had a good experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I had a good experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We were confident we wanted to use Amazon Linux and did not evaluate other options.

What other advice do I have?

Amazon Linux is better than other Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and other standard Linux options. I recommend using Amazon Linux because it is managed by Amazon and has excellent support and stability. I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?


    Janindra Janekumaradi

Automation has improved proactive monitoring and currently supports efficient cloud operations

  • March 30, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

In my day-to-day work, the main use cases for Amazon Linux involve a wide variety of tasks with a common theme of optimization for Amazon Cloud. Since recently updating my project, I have been using it for automation to monitor CPU utilizations and hosting backend services including REST APIs and web applications on EC2 instances, running production microservices that integrate with services including Amazon ECS and AWS Lambda, and as the defaulting operating system for EC2 instances in a SaaS platform. Additionally, I use Amazon Linux as base images for Dockerfile, node groups for Amazon EKS Kubernetes clusters, and powering CI/CD pipelines acting as Jenkins agents or building servers, using it with infrastructure as code to spin up consistent environments for development, staging, and production.

The most valuable use case involving my work is the scripting that runs automatically via cron, which is a time-based scheduler on Amazon Linux EC2 instances. The script accomplishes mainly two groups: resource dashboarding and proactive monitoring. In resource dashboarding, I utilize the command line interface, specifically AWS CLI, to list all running resources including EC2 instances, S3 buckets, Lambda functions, and configurations to implement in the daily dashboard sent to management. Additionally, I check logs and help prevent unexpected storage issues, and these are the activities I have been using in my daily work.

In my organization, Amazon Linux is deployed using a multi-cloud hybrid approach, supporting all four environments we have mentioned. Public cloud is the most common deployment, where I use Amazon Linux directly on Amazon EC2 to scale from small web servers to massive machine learning clusters. I also deploy it on private premises for added security.

I primarily use AWS for my Amazon Linux deployments.

What is most valuable?

In my experience, the best features Amazon Linux offers are the resource dashboarding and proactive monitoring systems that I have been utilizing in day-to-day work. Most cases are centered around using a Linux base image for containerizing applications, particularly in production on ECS or by deploying on ECS, and I am deploying my servers in EKS. Currently, I also manage automation scripting and container-based images to find EC2 instances and what servers are running in the background as part of my day-to-day activities using Amazon Linux.

Since using Amazon Linux, I have noticed a positive impact on my organization as it has become an industry standard for AWS native development. The benefits include much better resource isolation and more accurate monitoring for memory, CPU, and input-output. It makes running Docker or Kubernetes yield more predictable container performance with fewer out-of-memory kills that are hard to diagnose. Using Amazon Linux smooths the application running on Docker and Kubernetes, making it very efficient for deploying applications on cloud platforms including Amazon, Azure, and GCP.

What needs improvement?

I see definite areas where Amazon Linux could improve because it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The single biggest pain point for long-time users is the lack of direct in-place upgrades from Amazon Linux to AL2, as moving to a new version requires launching new instances and manually migrating applications instead of simply running a command similar to some DNF system update. A migration tool that could handle the heavy lifting and configurations would save thousands of engineering hours. I have noticed that since 2023 does not support EPEL directly, AWS has introduced supplementary packages for Amazon Linux, which has been an adjustment.

I chose eight out of ten because, while there are many positives, some issues arise at the end of the line for Amazon Linux. I have faced some challenges when deploying clusters in AWS, particularly with some recent updates that have changed since version twenty-three, leading me to believe there is room for improvement.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is stable and more flexible, allowing easy scalability at no cost. It is designed by the same engineers who created the underlying hardware, EC2, as well as the orchestration services, ECS and EKS, effectively removing many traditional bottlenecks associated with scaling large fleets.

In terms of container scalability, I find it to have deterministic reliability, no broken scale-outs, and it boosts speed and safety in container orchestrations with dynamic scaling. It provides resource control and consistency, contributing to Amazon Linux's reputation for stability.

How are customer service and support?

The customer support for Amazon Linux is good, as they quickly guide me through issues whenever I contact them, resolving problems within a short time.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before switching to Amazon Linux two thousand twenty-three, I typically used Amazon Linux two, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Red Hat. The end of life for those older distributions was a primary reason for switching, as security updates for Amazon Linux are ending in June two thousand twenty-six. Amazon Linux two thousand twenty-three provides modern features such as cgroup v2 and systemd-timers that older versions lack, and while Ubuntu is good for development, it is not tuned for AWS hardware out of the box. Amazon Linux two thousand twenty-three offers better performance under Graviton chips and significantly faster operations.

How was the initial setup?

My experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing for Amazon Linux is very straightforward and completely free. I simply select it from the quick start tab when launching an EC2 instance with no additional cost or complex licensing terms to manage. The operating system is free, and I only pay for infrastructure, such as approximately zero cost for a T3 small instance, where the EC2 instances charge about zero point zero two one per hour.

What was our ROI?

I see that return on investment is usually measured in efficiency gains rather than in a simple monetary form. Since the operating system itself is free and by using Amazon Linux two thousand twenty-three, many organizations have been qualifying this transaction through a mix of cloud-based operations.

Since switching to Amazon Linux, I have seen improvements clearly shown in infrastructure metrics. Some wins commonly seen after switching, particularly when moving from general-purpose distributions such as Ubuntu, include approximately twenty to forty percent better price-performance ratio. The outcomes combine massive savings of over one million in under a year by migrating workloads to Graviton-based instances running Amazon Linux, as AL two thousand twenty-three is optimized for ARM at the compiler level, allowing applications to run more effectively and function on smaller instances. I have also noted faster deployments, including a forty to sixty percent reduction in AMI size, significantly faster boot times, and a boost in faster auto-scaling to reduce cold start latencies, with zero downtime regarding patching for critical vulnerabilities.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated several options, including Ubuntu and CentOS. As previously mentioned, Ubuntu is great for development but not optimized for AWS, and CentOS's move to a streamed model is less stable for production. Many organizations moved to Amazon Linux for a more flexible long-term support cycle.

What other advice do I have?

The biggest advantage I find in using Amazon Linux is the ability to determine updates throughout the version repositories. In older versions, I ran a yum update, but now I can pin different packages based on commands I run. This advantage allows me to test updates in a staging environment and be one hundred percent certain that the exact same packages will be applied in production, eliminating issues where something worked on one machine or worked yesterday. It is also beneficial as it boosts faster boot times, supports Amazon Graviton ARM processors, and optimizes the operating system for those processors. Moreover, it efficiently uses fewer resources including CPU and RAM, allowing my applications to run on smaller, cheaper instance types with secure by default configurations.

I recommend Amazon Linux for its free use, stable performance, faster control, and scalability, making it suitable for everyone.

To clarify, I did not purchase Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace because it is directly provided by AWS at no additional cost, so a purchase or subscription is not required. Unlike many other enterprise Linux distributions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux that require a paid subscription, Amazon Linux is offered by AWS as a free operating system for use on EC2 instances. There is no need to visit the marketplace to buy it.

Overall, I would rate Amazon Linux at an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)


    reviewer2805456

Learning cloud commands has transformed how I host class projects and share them anywhere

  • March 29, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

I am using Amazon Linux as part of my practical study in my seventh semester. In my cloud computing subject, there are chapters that include Amazon Linux where I can learn about it. Amazon Linux is a tool where I can work with it as part of my college learning and practical work, helping me understand how Linux commands and systems work with actual cloud environments.

As part of my college activities, I created a small application with Amazon Linux. I developed a to-do list application where users can perform basic tasks including edit, delete, and save functions. I also made this application with React, focusing on the front-end and including a small part of the database to learn about Amazon Linux. When I initially created the to-do list website, it worked only on my local desktop. Without Amazon Linux, I could not access it elsewhere. I then learned to use Amazon with AWS to host my website on Amazon Cloud Service. After hosting it, I can access it through the link of the live server from anyone's laptop anywhere, and users do not need to install any packages or other tools.

If you want to host your website, you can use Amazon Linux where you can learn about Linux commands. Amazon Linux provides good hosting services with the AWS community. Therefore, I encourage you to try it out.

What is most valuable?

Amazon Linux is lightweight, easy to handle, easy to understand, and optimized for performance. It runs smoothly even with big data or on low resources, which makes it suitable for students who are learning and experimenting in this field. I use it for my practical basic commands and practical uses, including installing packages and managing services, which helps me build confidence in Linux where I can learn.

Another advantage is the strong integration with AWS. It provides AWS service where I can host my websites in Amazon. It is particularly useful for performing cloud-based projects or learning for deployment, where I can deploy my college website in the cloud so that many people can reach my website. Otherwise, it would only work on a local machine if I were not hosting it. As it is designed to work well with AWS service, I also face some challenges as a beginner because I do not know much about Linux commands. As part of my journey with Amazon Linux, I continue to learn more.

Amazon Linux is lightweight and is a beginner-friendly tool that provides a good, smooth experience at a beginner level. It is also fast and good for learning Linux commands because when I do not know about them, I can use Amazon Linux to learn both Linux commands and its strong AWS integrations. It is stable for practical knowledge and small projects and is best for beginner-level learning projects. Additionally, command-line arguments are easy to understand.

What needs improvement?

Sometimes, command arguments are difficult to remember and challenging for beginners because at a beginner level, I may not understand the proper meaning or the necessary Linux commands. So sometimes it is challenging to grasp Linux commands. I find there is less community support compared to Ubuntu and other options, and it requires some prior knowledge about Linux. This is not a disadvantage; rather, it is an advantage when I use it positively, enabling me to learn more about Amazon and Amazon Linux. Everything has its negative side, but I must choose between the positive and the negative.

It would be helpful if Amazon Linux could provide some tutorials for beginners on how to learn Linux commands and how it works, but nothing else stands out to me.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is scalable because at a single time, many users can use it without issues.

How are customer service and support?

I have never used customer support for Amazon Linux.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not use a different solution before Amazon Linux, but I learned about other options including Ubuntu, Google App Engine, and some other tools during my college journey in cloud computing. I learned about those approximately 7 to 10 months ago.

How was the initial setup?

I went with the free command, free tool, and free-trial experience for Amazon Linux, so I did not focus on the technical setup cost or licensing. However, I understand that Amazon Linux provides options for students, where I may need to pay just one rupee to receive 10,000 points or credits for one year. After that, I pay based on usage. It is a good service AWS provides, as it is easier and smoother.

What was our ROI?

I have seen a return on investment from using Amazon Linux because it saves time and money. I only pay for the amount I am using, with no other costs involved.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The reason Amazon Linux saves me time and energy is that if I am on my local PC and I need to work on the same project on my friend's laptop, I have to install every package and provide them my code and everything. By using Amazon, I can host my website, and with just one link, I can access it from my friend's laptop without needing to install all the necessary tools. One example that comes to mind is I have encountered various such instances, but I will go with this example.

What other advice do I have?

Many conflicts happened during my learning process, where I speak and you speak, then we both stop at the same moment, but it is acceptable. Before using Amazon Linux, I did not know about Linux commands. After using Amazon Linux, I became familiar with Amazon or Linux commands. I now know about hosting websites, and it saves my time and energy. I have learned many valuable lessons from Amazon Linux as I progress. I gave this review a rating of eight out of ten.


    BasilJiji

Cloud platform has transformed security and cut operating costs for high-traffic workloads

  • March 28, 2026
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

My main use case for Amazon Linux is cloud-optimized application hosting. I use it as a standard OS for Amazon EC2 instances to run web servers, container hosts, and microservices. Because it is tuned for AWS infrastructure, it is provided at low latency and best performance. During peak traffic, our system automatically launches new EC2 instances running Amazon Linux. These instances come pre-baked with AWS CLI and security tools, which allows them to integrate with our S3 buckets and RDS database immediately.

What is most valuable?

The best features Amazon Linux offers include remote sharing features such as AWS Systems Manager Session Manager. This allows our remote DevOps team to share secure terminal access to an instance via the browser, which eliminates the need for us to manage SSH keys or open port 22. This makes it much easier and safer for remote collaboration and troubleshooting.

Amazon Linux has significantly improved our security and deployment speed. By using an OS that is secure by default and pre-integrated with AWS tools, our team spends less time on basic configuration and more time on high-value application development. Around 75% of our time has been reduced since the basic hardening concepts are reduced. We do not need to apply all the hardenings to the new VMs that we are creating. By default, the image provided by Amazon has hardening applied, so our 75% of time has been reduced and has been allocated to application development purposes.

What needs improvement?

Amazon Linux could be improved by providing more third-party software packages. They could expand the repositories for many cutting-edge development tools that are not included in the core release yet. I feel Amazon Linux offers the best balance of modern features and security. Making sure about the kernel live patching is a great game changer that it is already offering. So there is still room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Amazon Linux for about three years as our primary operating system for hosting production workloads and cloud-native applications on AWS.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is extremely stable. AWS provides long-term support for versions such as Amazon Linux 2, and the newer Amazon Linux 2023 is designed with a predictable release cycle. Since it is purpose-built for the cloud, it lacks the bloat of traditional desktop-focused distributions, which leads to fewer crashes and higher uptime.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Amazon Linux is built for hyperscale because it is highly optimized for the AWS Nitro System and lightweight in nature. We can launch hundreds of instances in an auto-scaling group. It scales effortlessly from the smallest nano instance to high-performance computing clusters.

How are customer service and support?

The customer support for Amazon Linux is providing great help. All the requirements that we give to them are met immediately with their assistance, and they are doing a great job.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously used CentOS. We switched to Amazon Linux because we wanted an OS with a more predictable lifecycle and tighter integration with AWS support. Moving to a distribution that is officially maintained by Amazon gave us better peace of mind regarding long-term security patches and performance tuning.

How was the initial setup?

The experience with Amazon Linux pricing, setup cost, and licensing was seamless. The standard Amazon Linux image is provided for free by AWS. We have used the AWS Marketplace to deploy the CIS hardened versions of Amazon Linux. The licensing is straightforward and billing is consolidated directly into our AWS account, which makes the procurement very easy.

What about the implementation team?

I purchased Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace.

What was our ROI?

The ROI with Amazon Linux is high because there are zero licensing fees. By switching the compute fleet from a paid distribution to Amazon Linux, we have reduced our OS-related overhead cost by 100%. Additionally, optimized performance has allowed us to run the same workloads on slightly smaller instance types, saving us roughly 10% on monthly compute spend.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Before choosing Amazon Linux, CentOS was the major solution we considered, but we finally ended up choosing Amazon Linux.

What other advice do I have?

My advice for others looking into using Amazon Linux is to embrace Amazon Linux 2023 for all new projects. It offers the best balance of modern features and security. The live kernel patching is a great feature that Amazon Linux offers for people who are going to use the system securely without having a scheduled maintenance window for reboots.

Amazon Linux is truly a performance-first choice for anyone operating in the cloud. It turns the operating system from a management burden into a strategic advantage, providing a high-security environment without the premium price tag of other enterprise Linux distributions. I would rate this product a 9 out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)