AWS Amplify vs AWS SNS: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
AWS Amplify positions itself as "full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on aws" while AWS SNS goes after "managed pub/sub messaging and mobile push at aws scale" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both use usage-based pricing, but AWS Amplify charges per gb while AWS SNS charges per message — a meaningful difference for larger teams. AWS SNS (founded 2010) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while AWS Amplify (2017) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| AWS Amplify | AWS SNS | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 68/100 | 72/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on AWS | Managed pub/sub messaging and mobile push at AWS scale |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | AWS Amplify | AWS SNS |
|---|---|---|
| Git push deploys | Yes | No |
| Preview environments | Yes | No |
| Custom domains | Yes | No |
| Automatic HTTPS | Yes | No |
| Build pipeline | Yes | No |
| Pub/sub topics | No | Yes |
| Mobile push | No | Yes |
| SMS delivery | No | Yes |
| Email notifications | No | Yes |
| SQS fan-out | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | AWS Amplify | AWS SNS |
|---|---|---|
| Auth (Cognito) | Yes | No |
| API (AppSync/API GW) | Yes | No |
| Storage (S3) | Yes | No |
| Functions (Lambda) | Yes | No |
| Hosting SSR | Yes | No |
| FIFO topics | No | Yes |
| Message filtering | No | Yes |
| Dead-letter queues | No | Yes |
| Encryption at rest | No | Yes |
| Cross-region delivery | No | Yes |
integrations
| Feature | AWS Amplify | AWS SNS |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Yes | No |
| GitLab | Yes | No |
| Bitbucket | Yes | No |
| All AWS services | Yes | Yes |
| AWS CodeCommit | Yes | No |
| AWS Lambda | No | Yes |
| AWS SQS | No | Yes |
| AWS EventBridge | No | Yes |
| CloudWatch | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing AWS Amplify means going without Pub/sub topics, Mobile push, SMS delivery (which AWS SNS offers). Choosing AWS SNS means losing Git push deploys, Preview environments, Custom domains. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
Choose AWS Amplify if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Choose AWS SNS if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS Amplify or AWS SNS better?
AWS SNS scores 72/100 compared to AWS Amplify's 68/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — AWS Amplify excels at ease of use (6/10) while AWS SNS scores 5/10.
How much does AWS Amplify cost compared to AWS SNS?
AWS Amplify starts at free (free tier available). AWS SNS starts at free (free tier available). AWS Amplify is the more affordable option.
Does AWS Amplify or AWS SNS have a free plan?
Yes, both AWS Amplify and AWS SNS offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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