AWS Amplify vs Pulumi: 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 Pulumi goes after "infrastructure as code in python, typescript, go, and more" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. They take different commercial approaches — AWS Amplify uses a usage-based-based model and Pulumi a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows.
At a glance
| AWS Amplify | Pulumi | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 68/100 | 76/100 |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on AWS | Infrastructure as code in Python, TypeScript, Go, and more |
Pricing comparison
Pulumi
Pricing verified 2026-04-16
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Feature comparison
core
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Pulumi |
|---|---|---|
| Git push deploys | Yes | No |
| Preview environments | Yes | No |
| Custom domains | Yes | No |
| Automatic HTTPS | Yes | No |
| Build pipeline | Yes | No |
| General-purpose language (TS/Python/Go) | No | Yes |
| State management | No | Yes |
| Diffs and previews | No | Yes |
| Stacks | No | Yes |
| Provider ecosystem | No | Yes |
advanced
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Pulumi |
|---|---|---|
| Auth (Cognito) | Yes | No |
| API (AppSync/API GW) | Yes | No |
| Storage (S3) | Yes | No |
| Functions (Lambda) | Yes | No |
| Hosting SSR | Yes | No |
| Policy as code (OPA/CrossGuard) | No | Enterprise |
| Automation API | No | Yes |
| Pulumi AI | No | Yes |
| ESC (secrets) | No | Yes |
| Self-hosted backend | No | Enterprise |
integrations
| Feature | AWS Amplify | Pulumi |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Yes | No |
| GitLab | Yes | No |
| Bitbucket | Yes | No |
| All AWS services | Yes | No |
| AWS CodeCommit | Yes | No |
| AWS | No | Yes |
| GCP | No | Yes |
| Azure | No | Yes |
| Kubernetes | No | Yes |
| GitHub Actions | No | Yes |
| Terraform (import) | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing AWS Amplify means going without General-purpose language (TS/Python/Go), State management, Diffs and previews (which Pulumi offers). Choosing Pulumi 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.
What company size tells you
Pulumi (51-200 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. AWS Amplify (100,000+ employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
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 Pulumi if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS Amplify or Pulumi better?
Pulumi scores 76/100 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 Pulumi scores 7/10.
How much does AWS Amplify cost compared to Pulumi?
AWS Amplify starts at free (free tier available). Pulumi starts at free (free tier available). AWS Amplify is the more affordable option.
Does AWS Amplify or Pulumi have a free plan?
Yes, both AWS Amplify and Pulumi offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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Sanity