AWS Amplify

Full-stack hosting and backend for web and mobile apps on AWS

AWS Amplify vs Terraform / HCP Terraform: 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 Terraform / HCP Terraform goes after "infrastructure as code with hcl" — 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 Terraform / HCP Terraform a freemium approach, which affects how costs scale as your team grows. Terraform / HCP Terraform (founded 2012) 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	Terraform / HCP Terraform
Our score	68/100	84/100
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 with HCL

Pricing comparison

AWS Amplify

Free tier available

Free TierFree

Pay-as-you-go$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Terraform / HCP Terraform

Free tier available

Open Source (CLI)Free

HCP Terraform FreeFree

HCP Terraform Plus$null/mo

Pricing verified 2026-04-16

Calculate your cost

How many developers?10

1500

AWS AmplifyUnknown

Contact sales

Terraform / HCP TerraformUnknown

Contact sales

Try AWS Amplify free →Try Terraform / HCP Terraform free →

Feature comparison

core

Feature	AWS Amplify	Terraform / HCP Terraform
Git push deploys	Yes	No
Preview environments	Yes	No
Custom domains	Yes	No
Automatic HTTPS	Yes	No
Build pipeline	Yes	No
HCL configuration	No	Yes
State management	No	Yes
Plan/apply workflow	No	Yes
Modules	No	Yes
Provider ecosystem	No	Yes

advanced

Feature	AWS Amplify	Terraform / HCP Terraform
Auth (Cognito)	Yes	No
API (AppSync/API GW)	Yes	No
Storage (S3)	Yes	No
Functions (Lambda)	Yes	No
Hosting SSR	Yes	No
Remote execution	No	HCP+
Policy as code (Sentinel)	No	HCP Plus+
Drift detection	No	HCP Plus+
Cost estimation	No	HCP Plus+
Self-hosted agents	No	HCP Plus+

integrations

Feature	AWS Amplify	Terraform / HCP Terraform
GitHub	Yes	Yes
GitLab	Yes	Yes
Bitbucket	Yes	No
All AWS services	Yes	No
AWS CodeCommit	Yes	No
AWS	No	Yes
GCP	No	Yes
Azure	No	Yes
Kubernetes	No	Yes

Ratings breakdown

AWS Amplify

Ease of use

6/10

Value for money

8/10

Features

8/10

Support

7/10

Terraform / HCP Terraform

Ease of use

6/10

Value for money

8/10

Features

9/10

Support

7/10

What the data tells us

Key capabilities you'd miss

Choosing AWS Amplify means going without HCL configuration, State management, Plan/apply workflow (which Terraform / HCP Terraform offers). Choosing Terraform / HCP Terraform 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

AWS Amplify (100,000+ employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Terraform / HCP Terraform (1,000+ 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

Try AWS Amplify free →

Choose Terraform / HCP Terraform if...

You want a free tier to get started
You value powerful features over simplicity
Getting strong value for money is a priority

Try Terraform / HCP Terraform free →

Frequently asked questions

Is AWS Amplify or Terraform / HCP Terraform better?

Terraform / HCP Terraform scores 84/100 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 Terraform / HCP Terraform scores 6/10.

How much does AWS Amplify cost compared to Terraform / HCP Terraform?

AWS Amplify starts at free (free tier available). Terraform / HCP Terraform starts at free (free tier available). AWS Amplify is the more affordable option.

Does AWS Amplify or Terraform / HCP Terraform have a free plan?

Yes, both AWS Amplify and Terraform / HCP Terraform offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.

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