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Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service

aws.amazon.com

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Spec score 8.3 #4 of 32 in Container Orchestration Software

What it is

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a managed Kubernetes service for building, running, and scaling production applications across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments. It manages Kubernetes control-plane availability across three AWS Availability Zones and replaces unhealthy control-plane nodes automatically. Applications can run on Amazon EC2 or AWS Fargate. EKS Auto Mode automates provisioning for compute, storage, and networking, along with scaling, operating-system patching, and add-on management. Hybrid deployments can use Hybrid Nodes, AWS Outposts, or EKS Anywhere. EKS remains compatible with upstream Kubernetes applications and tools, and integrates with IAM role-based access control, VPC pod networking, and Application Load Balancers. EKS Capabilities provides managed Argo CD for GitOps across clusters. There are no minimum fees or upfront commitments, but worker resources and related traffic are billed separately. Standard version support is $0.10 a month, billed per cluster hour.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Amazon EKS is a managed Kubernetes service for building, running, and scaling production-ready applications across environments.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Support
AWS lists technical support for service-related technical issues and says it is unavailable under the Basic Support Plan.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Founded
2006Read 28 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Auto Mode
EKS Auto Mode automates compute, storage, and networking infrastructure provisioning, scaling, operating system patching, and add-on management.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
AWS integrations
EKS integrates with AWS IAM for role-based access control, VPC for pod-level networking, and Application Load Balancers for load distribution.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Compute
EKS supports running Kubernetes applications on Amazon EC2 and AWS Fargate.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Hybrid deployments
EKS supports workloads across cloud, on-premises, and edge environments using Hybrid Nodes, AWS Outposts, or EKS Anywhere.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Intended workloads
AWS describes EKS use cases including generative AI, internal development platforms, data platforms, distributed hybrid applications, and application modernization.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Kubernetes compatibility
EKS is Kubernetes-conformant and supports applications and community tools compatible with upstream Kubernetes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Managed control plane
EKS manages Kubernetes control plane availability and scalability across three AWS Availability Zones and replaces unhealthy control plane nodes automatically.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Managed GitOps
EKS Capabilities provides fully managed Argo CD for GitOps deployment and management across multiple clusters.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Pricing scope
EKS has no minimum fees or upfront commitments, while worker-node resources such as EC2 instances, EBS volumes, public IPv4 addresses, and cross-AZ traffic are charged separately.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Security and compliance
AWS states that it supports 143 security standards and compliance certifications, including PCI-DSS, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, GDPR, FIPS 140-3, and NIST 800-171.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Shared responsibility
AWS describes security and compliance as shared responsibility; customers manage guest operating systems, associated application software, and configuration of AWS-provided security group firewalls.Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Plans and prices

Standard Kubernetes version support $0.10 a month $0.10 per cluster per hour Per cluster; standard support lasts 14 months after a Kubernetes version is released Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Extended Kubernetes version support $0.60 a month $0.60 per cluster per hour Per cluster; applies for the 12 months after standard support ends Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Provisioned Control Plane XL $1.65 a month $1.65 per cluster per hour, in addition to standard cluster pricing XL scaling tier Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Provisioned Control Plane 2XL $3.40 a month $3.40 per cluster per hour, in addition to standard cluster pricing 2XL scaling tier Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Provisioned Control Plane 4XL $6.90 a month $6.90 per cluster per hour, in addition to standard cluster pricing 4XL scaling tier Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Provisioned Control Plane 8XL $13.90 a month $13.90 per cluster per hour, in addition to standard cluster pricing 8XL scaling tier Read 30 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com

Every Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Managed control plane spans three Availability Zones
  • Runs workloads on EC2 or Fargate
  • Supports hybrid and edge deployments
  • Provides managed Argo CD
  • Compatible with upstream Kubernetes

Limits

  • Worker resources are charged separately
  • Basic Support excludes technical support
  • Security remains a shared responsibility
  • Extended version support costs $0.60 a month

Who it suits

EKS suits teams running Kubernetes workloads across AWS, hybrid, or edge environments, including generative AI, data, and modernization projects. It also fits organizations needing managed multi-cluster operations.

Verdict

EKS combines managed Kubernetes operations with AWS networking, identity, and deployment integrations. Budget separately for worker infrastructure, traffic, and the support tier your clusters require.

Where Specifiction places it

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