AWS vs Fastly · 2026
What's the difference between AWS and Fastly?
Short answer
AWS and Fastly are both web hosting tools. Amazon's cloud computing platform with 200+ services for any scale. Fastly is a company that provides a content delivery network, or CDN, to help websites load faster and more securely. Pick based on team size, integration needs, and budget.
Vendors update features and pricing often. For the most accurate, up-to-date details, always check AWS's site and Fastly's site directly.
Services that store your website files and make them accessible on the internet.
AWS: Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. For businesses looking for web hosting, it offers an array of solutions ranging from simple static site hosting through Amazon S3 to scalable virtual private servers via Amazon EC2 and managed container orchestration. The platform functions as a virtualized infrastructure layer, allowing companies to rent computing power, database storage, and content delivery instead of maintaining physical hardware. It operates on a decentralized model, enabling users to deploy resources in specific geographic regions to minimize latency and ensure high availability. In a modern business stack, AWS serves as the foundational infrastructure that powers everything from customer-facing web applications to internal data processing pipelines. By moving to this platform, businesses eliminate the heavy lifting of managing server rooms, cooling systems, and physical security. It resolves common growth bottlenecks by providing auto-scaling capabilities that automatically adjust resource capacity to meet traffic spikes, ensuring that websites remain responsive during high-demand periods without manual intervention. This flexibility allows engineering teams to shift their focus from maintenance to product development and innovation. Adopting AWS enables a team to level up by providing access to the same robust technology used by the world's largest organizations, including advanced machine learning tools and global content delivery networks. However, the sheer breadth of the ecosystem requires a dedicated learning curve and sophisticated management to prevent architectural complexity. While the platform offers unmatched reliability and a pay-as-you-go model, teams must implement strict governance and monitoring to track resource utilization effectively. For enterprise teams, the trade-off for this complexity is a limitless ceiling for technical growth and the ability to deploy global infrastructure in minutes.
Fastly: Fastly is a company that provides a content delivery network, or CDN, to help websites load faster and more securely. Think of it like a big network of computers around the world that work together to make sure your favorite websites load quickly and don't crash. When you visit a website, your computer has to send a request to the website's server to get all the files it needs to display the page. This can take a lot of time, especially if the website has a lot of visitors at the same time. Fastly helps to speed up this process by storing copies of popular website files in different places around the world. When you visit the website, your computer can request these files from the Fastly servers closest to you, which is much faster than getting them directly from the website's server. For a business, Fastly can help to make sure their website loads quickly and smoothly, even during busy times like sales or holidays. This can improve the user experience for customers and make it more likely that they will buy something from the website. Fastly can also provide extra security measures to protect against cyber attacks, which is important for any business that handles sensitive information like credit card numbers. Overall, using Fastly can help a business to improve website performance and security, which can lead to more sales and happier customers.
AWS vs Fastly: at a glance
| AWS | Fastly | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Web Hosting | Web Hosting |
| Best suited for | Enterprise teams | Engineering & DevOps Teams, High Growth and Media Enterprises, eCommerce & Retail, and Streaming and Gaming. platform built for developers, large enterprises, and high-traffic websites that need real-time performance, custom programmability, and robust web security |
| Standout strength | Unlimited Scalability for Growing Apps | Reduced Website Downtime |
| In one line | Amazon's cloud computing platform with 200+ services for any scale. | Fastly is a company that provides a content delivery network, or CDN, to help websites load faster and more securely. |
| Current pricing | Published on AWS's site | Published on Fastly's site |
Why is AWS right for my business?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. For businesses looking for web hosting, it offers an array of solutions ranging from simple static site hosting through Amazon S3 to scalable virtual private servers via Amazon EC2 and managed container orchestration. The platform functions as a virtualized infrastructure layer, allowing companies to rent computing power, database storage, and content delivery instead of maintaining physical hardware. It operates on a decentralized model, enabling users to deploy resources in specific geographic regions to minimize latency and ensure high availability. In a modern business stack, AWS serves as the foundational infrastructure that powers everything from customer-facing web applications to internal data processing pipelines. By moving to this platform, businesses eliminate the heavy lifting of managing server rooms, cooling systems, and physical security. It resolves common growth bottlenecks by providing auto-scaling capabilities that automatically adjust resource capacity to meet traffic spikes, ensuring that websites remain responsive during high-demand periods without manual intervention. This flexibility allows engineering teams to shift their focus from maintenance to product development and innovation. Adopting AWS enables a team to level up by providing access to the same robust technology used by the world's largest organizations, including advanced machine learning tools and global content delivery networks. However, the sheer breadth of the ecosystem requires a dedicated learning curve and sophisticated management to prevent architectural complexity. While the platform offers unmatched reliability and a pay-as-you-go model, teams must implement strict governance and monitoring to track resource utilization effectively. For enterprise teams, the trade-off for this complexity is a limitless ceiling for technical growth and the ability to deploy global infrastructure in minutes. Built for Enterprise teams.
- Unlimited Scalability for Growing Apps
- Global Presence and Reduced Latency
- Enterprise Grade Security Standards
- Reduced Physical Infrastructure Overhead
Why is Fastly right for my business?
Fastly is a company that provides a content delivery network, or CDN, to help websites load faster and more securely. Think of it like a big network of computers around the world that work together to make sure your favorite websites load quickly and don't crash. When you visit a website, your computer has to send a request to the website's server to get all the files it needs to display the page. This can take a lot of time, especially if the website has a lot of visitors at the same time. Fastly helps to speed up this process by storing copies of popular website files in different places around the world. When you visit the website, your computer can request these files from the Fastly servers closest to you, which is much faster than getting them directly from the website's server. For a business, Fastly can help to make sure their website loads quickly and smoothly, even during busy times like sales or holidays. This can improve the user experience for customers and make it more likely that they will buy something from the website. Fastly can also provide extra security measures to protect against cyber attacks, which is important for any business that handles sensitive information like credit card numbers. Overall, using Fastly can help a business to improve website performance and security, which can lead to more sales and happier customers. Built for Engineering & DevOps Teams, High Growth and Media Enterprises, eCommerce & Retail, and Streaming and Gaming. platform built for developers, large enterprises, and high-traffic websites that need real-time performance, custom programmability, and robust web security.
- Reduced Website Downtime
- Better Website Scalability
- Improved Conversion Rates
- Customer Security
Which is better, AWS or Fastly?
Both AWS and Fastly are web hosting tools, so the decision comes down to fit rather than capability. Choose AWS if you are enterprise teams. Choose Fastly if you are engineering & DevOps Teams, High Growth and Media Enterprises, eCommerce & Retail, and Streaming and Gaming. platform built for developers, large enterprises, and high-traffic websites that need real-time performance, custom programmability, and robust web security. Confirm current pricing and integration coverage on each vendor's site before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS better than Fastly?
Neither is universally better—it depends on your use case. AWS is typically chosen for unlimited scalability for growing apps, while Fastly is often picked for reduced website downtime. Evaluate both against your team size, existing stack, and budget before deciding.
What's the main difference between AWS and Fastly?
Both are web hosting platforms, but they take different approaches. Amazon's cloud computing platform with 200+ services for any scale. Fastly is a company that provides a content delivery network, or CDN, to help websites load faster and more securely. Check each vendor's site for the latest feature breakdown.
Can I switch from AWS to Fastly?
Most teams can migrate between web hosting tools, but the effort depends on data volume, custom configurations, and integrations. Plan for an export/import cycle, a parallel-run period, and updates to any downstream systems. Both vendors publish migration documentation—check AWS's and Fastly's sites for current export options.
Which is more affordable, AWS or Fastly?
Pricing for both tools changes frequently and depends on seats, usage tiers, and contract length. Refer to AWS's and Fastly's pricing pages for the most accurate, up-to-date figures before committing.
Still deciding between AWS and Fastly?
Our consultants can evaluate both tools against your specific stack, budget, and go-to-market motion.