Netlify is a developer-focused platform specializing in frontend deployment with built-in CI/CD and edge functions, while AWS Amplify is a comprehensive full-stack framework integrated with AWS services for end-to-end application development. Netlify excels in simplicity and speed for static/JAMstack sites, whereas Amplify offers deeper AWS ecosystem integration for complex applications.
Netlify vs AWS Amplify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Git-connected platform for hosting static sites, JAMstack apps, and serverless functions with instant deployments.
Full-stack development framework and hosting platform tightly integrated with AWS services.
Primary Focus. Learning Curve. Pricing Model. Backend Capabilities. Ecosystem Integration. Vendor Lock-in Risk. Global CDN Performance. Development Experience
Netlify is ideal for frontend developers, JAMstack projects, and teams seeking rapid deployment with minimal DevOps overhead. AWS Amplify suits organizations building complex, scalable full-stack applications that benefit from comprehensive AWS integration and advanced backend capabilities. The choice depends on project scope, team expertise, and whether you need full-stack AWS services or just frontend hosting.
Netlify: San Francisco, California, USA | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Budget & SMB challenger | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Not natively supported | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 100 GB | AWS Amplify: Pay-as-you-go (no guaranteed free bandwidth)
Netlify: ~100-200ms | AWS Amplify: ~50-100ms (Lambda optimized)
Netlify: React, Vue, Next.js, Gatsby, Hugo, Jekyll, etc. | AWS Amplify: React, Vue, Next.js, Nuxt, Angular, custom backends
Netlify: No native database (third-party integrations) | AWS Amplify: DynamoDB, RDS, Aurora natively integrated
Netlify: OAuth providers, third-party integrations | AWS Amplify: AWS Cognito with advanced MFA, social login, custom flows
Netlify: 150+ | AWS Amplify: 600+ (CloudFront)
Netlify: Unlimited with automatic git integration | AWS Amplify: Unlimited with custom CI/CD pipelines
Netlify: 5-10 minutes | AWS Amplify: 30-60 minutes
Netlify: 50+ locations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Netlify Functions (native, 125k/month free) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Automatic for every pull request | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Deployment & hosting platform | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Not applicable (not a repo host) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Deployment, traffic, and performance analytics | AWS Amplify: N/A
Serverless Function Cost (per 1M invocations)
Netlify: $0.20 | AWS Amplify: $0.20 (Lambda)
Netlify: Yes, with notifications and spam filtering | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 300+ official integrations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Basic protection | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 100 GB/month | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: None (requires external integration) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Pro plan ($19/month) and above | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Limited (Functions only) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: N/A (static-first) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 125,000 invocations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 220+ points of presence | AWS Amplify: 200+
Netlify: Role-based access control, audit logs, team management | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Built-in with traffic, performance metrics | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 2-5 minutes (Git setup required) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes, with serverless functions | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: $0 (free tier) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Serverless Function Invocations (Free Tier)
Netlify: 2-3 minutes (UI-based) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 300 minutes/month | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: React, Vue, Angular, Next.js, Gatsby, Hugo, Jekyll, 11ty | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 50-100ms average | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 100 GB/month | AWS Amplify: 15GB
Netlify: $19/month (covers unlimited sites) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Not supported natively | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 10 seconds (most tiers) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 60-120 seconds (with build) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (Netlify Functions, AWS Lambda, Deno) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (real-time dashboard, Lighthouse) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Moderate (6/10) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 5-10 minutes | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 30-60 seconds (with build) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (automated Git-connected builds) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (traffic, performance, errors, uptime) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Setup Complexity (1=simplest, 5=complex)
Netlify: 3 (requires Git repo setup) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes (primary use case) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Yes, included | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 50+ global regions | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Static + dynamic/serverless | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 30-60 seconds | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Moderate (configure build settings) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Included (Netlify Forms) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Included in Pro | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Edge Functions available | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Unlimited bandwidth | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: 0 (external required) | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: Via external integrations | AWS Amplify: N/A
Netlify: N/A | AWS Amplify: DynamoDB, RDS, MongoDB Atlas
Netlify: N/A | AWS Amplify: Cognito, OAuth, custom rules
Netlify: N/A | AWS Amplify: Supported with Community SDK
Netlify: N/A | AWS Amplify: Intermediate (requires AWS knowledge)
How to choose between Netlify and AWS Amplify
Netlify vs AWS Amplify — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Netlify vs AWS Amplify. Contains 108 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Netlify vs AWS Amplify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Netlify vs AWS Amplify.
Can I use Netlify for backend development?
Netlify supports serverless functions (AWS Lambda under the hood) but with limitations on execution time (10 seconds on free tier), memory (1024 MB), and no persistent storage. For complex backend logic, databases, or microservices, AWS Amplify or traditional backend solutions are better suited.
Is AWS Amplify more expensive than Netlify?
Not necessarily for simple projects, but costs scale unpredictably. Netlify's pricing is straightforward (bandwidth and build minutes). Amplify charges per AWS service used (Lambda invocations, DynamoDB reads/writes, data transfer). For complex applications, Amplify can become expensive; for static/JAMstack sites, Netlify is usually cheaper.
Can I migrate from Netlify to AWS Amplify or vice versa?
Yes, but with effort. Netlify sites are more portable since they're primarily static files. Amplify applications tightly integrate with AWS services, making migration more complex. Your codebase can often move, but you'll need to refactor backend logic and redeploy infrastructure.
Which platform has better global performance?
AWS Amplify technically has a larger CDN (600+ CloudFront locations vs Netlify's 150+), but Netlify's performance is excellent and may feel faster for users due to optimizations and lower latency routing. Both are suitable for global audiences, though Amplify has slight infrastructure advantage.
Do I need AWS knowledge to use AWS Amplify?
The Amplify CLI and framework abstract much AWS complexity, allowing developers without AWS expertise to get started. However, understanding Lambda, DynamoDB, Cognito, and IAM helps troubleshoot issues and optimize costs. Netlify requires no AWS knowledge whatsoever.
How to Choose Between Netlify and AWS Amplify
Primary Focus: Netlify has Frontend deployment and static sites, while AWS Amplify has Full-stack application development.
Learning Curve: Netlify has Beginner-friendly, minimal configuration, while AWS Amplify has Steeper, requires AWS knowledge.
Pricing Model: Netlify has Straightforward usage-based with generous free tier, while AWS Amplify has Complex per-service pricing tied to AWS.
Backend Capabilities: Netlify has Serverless functions with limited scope, while AWS Amplify has Full serverless backend, databases, auth, APIs.
Ecosystem Integration: Netlify has Third-party integrations and git-based workflows, while AWS Amplify has Deep native AWS service integration.
Vendor Lock-in Risk: Netlify has Low, can migrate with minimal friction, while AWS Amplify has High, tightly coupled to AWS services.
Global CDN Performance: Netlify has Excellent, 150+ edge locations worldwide, while AWS Amplify has Excellent, leverages CloudFront with 600+ edge locations.
Development Experience: Netlify has Drag-and-drop, intuitive UI, git-integrated, while AWS Amplify has CLI-driven, requires configuration files.