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Docker for AWS VS Amazon EKS

Compare Docker for AWS VS Amazon EKS and see what are their differences

Docker for AWS logo Docker for AWS

Docker Enterprise Edition (EE) for AWS This deployment is fully baked and tested, and comes with the latest Docker Enterprise Edition for AWS. This release is maintained and receives security...

Amazon EKS logo Amazon EKS

Amazon EKS makes it easy for you to run Kubernetes on AWS without needing to install and operate your own Kubernetes clusters.
  • Docker for AWS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15
  • Amazon EKS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-30

Docker for AWS features and specs

  • Portability
    Docker containers allow applications to be packaged with all their dependencies and environments, ensuring they run the same way across all environments, including AWS.
  • Scalability
    Docker integrates well with AWS services like ECS and EKS, enabling easy scaling of applications by managing containers across a cluster.
  • Resource Efficiency
    Containers are lightweight compared to traditional VMs, allowing for better resource utilization, which can optimize costs on AWS when running multiple applications or services.
  • Rapid Deployment
    Docker accelerates the deployment process, allowing for faster iteration and reduced time-to-market by using containers to deploy consistent environments on AWS.
  • Microservices Support
    Docker promotes a microservices architecture, enabling AWS users to decompose their applications into small, manageable services that can be developed, tested, and deployed independently.

Possible disadvantages of Docker for AWS

  • Complexity
    Managing containers at scale may introduce complexity, requiring a good understanding of container orchestration tools and AWS ecosystem.
  • Data Management
    Persisting data in a Docker environment can be challenging due to the ephemeral nature of containers, requiring additional AWS services or configurations to manage stateful applications.
  • Security Concerns
    Containers share the host operating system kernel, which can potentially lead to security vulnerabilities if not properly managed or isolated.
  • Networking Challenges
    Configuring networks and service discovery within Docker containers on AWS can be intricate, especially when interconnecting multiple containers or different AWS services.
  • Limited by Host OS
    Docker containers must run on a compatible host operating system, which can limit the choice of technologies when deploying across multiple environments in AWS.

Amazon EKS features and specs

  • Managed Service
    Amazon EKS is a managed Kubernetes service, which means AWS handles the control plane, saving time and operational overhead.
  • Scalability
    EKS integrates with AWS's scaling tools such as Auto Scaling groups, allowing for seamless scaling of applications.
  • Security
    Offers integration with AWS IAM for authentication and supports network policies and encryption for securing applications.
  • AWS Ecosystem Integration
    Deeply integrated with other AWS services like VPC, IAM, CloudWatch, and more, providing a streamlined experience.
  • Community and Ecosystem Support
    Being a Kubernetes service, it benefits from the extensive Kubernetes ecosystem and community support for tools and extensions.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon EKS

  • Cost
    While EKS simplifies management, it comes with additional costs over using self-managed Kubernetes clusters.
  • Complexity
    EKS, like Kubernetes itself, can be complex to manage and configure, needing skilled personnel to handle deployments.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Reliance on AWS services can make it hard to migrate to another cloud provider or an on-premises solution if needed.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Organizations new to Kubernetes might find the learning curve steep when adopting EKS, requiring significant training and adjustment.
  • Regional Availability
    EKS might not be available in all AWS regions, limiting deployment flexibility for global applications.

Docker for AWS videos

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Amazon EKS videos

Amazon EKS Architecture Introduction

More videos:

  • Review - AWS re:Invent 2018: [REPEAT 1] Deep Dive on Amazon EKS (CON361-R1)
  • Review - AWS re:Invent 2020: Looking at Amazon EKS through a networking lens
  • Review - Amazon EKS Roadmap - Nathan Taber
  • Review - AWS re:Invent 2023 - The future of Amazon EKS (CON203)
  • Review - Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (Amazon EKS)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker for AWS and Amazon EKS)
Developer Tools
42 42%
58% 58
Cloud Computing
26 26%
74% 74
Cloud Hosting
40 40%
60% 60
DevOps Tools
39 39%
61% 61

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Amazon EKS might be a bit more popular than Docker for AWS. We know about 70 links to it since March 2021 and only 70 links to Docker for AWS. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Docker for AWS mentions (70)

  • From Beginner to Pro: Deploying Scalable AI Workloads with Docker & Terraform
    For more information on Docker, you can refer to the official Docker documentation and explore relevant open-source projects on Docker's GitHub. Additionally, for Terraform-related resources, check out the official Terraform documentation and Terraform GitHub. - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • Building Autonomous AI Agents with Docker: How to Scale Intelligence
    Docker Official Documentation Docker Hub - AI & Machine Learning Containers Deploying AI with Docker & Kubernetes Docker Community Forums GitHub - AI Agents & Docker Projects. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Docker + Cypress in 2025: How I’ve Perfected My E2E Testing Setup
    Docker Documentation: For container best practices, security tips, and new features. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Docker 101 ft. Avg Web Dev
    For more detailed information, visit the official **Docker documentation.**. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Containers and Docker: Simplifying Software Development
    Docker Documentation: https://docs.docker.com/. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
View more

Amazon EKS mentions (70)

  • Vector: A lightweight tool for collecting EKS application logs with long-term storage capabilities
    In this article, we present an architecture that demonstrates how to collect application logs from Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) via Vector, store them in Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) for long-term retention, and finally query these logs using AWS Glue and Amazon Athena. - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • Comparing the Top 10 Managed Kubernetes Providers (2025 Edition)
    Amazon EKS Deep AWS integration (just bring your patience). - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Top 8 Docker Alternatives to Consider in 2025
    AWS Elastic Container Service (ECS) and Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) provide managed container orchestration platforms integrated with AWS infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Securing Applications Using Keycloak's Helm Chart
    Kubernetes cluster: You need a running Kubernetes cluster that supports persistent volumes. You can use a local cluster, like kind or Minikube, or a cloud-based solution, like GKE%20orEKS or EKS. The cluster should expose ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) for external access. Persistent storage should be configured to retain Keycloak data (e.g., user credentials, sessions) across restarts. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • HardenEKS: The Easy Way to keep your AWS EKS clusters secure and compliant
    HardenEKS is a potent Python-based Command Line Interface (CLI), capable of systematically assessing whether Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) clusters comply with the strict guidelines laid out in the AWS EKS Best Practices Guide (EBPG). This comprehensive guide covers six fundamental pillars of best practices for Amazon EKS clusters:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Docker for AWS and Amazon EKS, you can also consider the following products

Docker Hub - Docker Hub is a cloud-based registry service

Google Kubernetes Engine - Google Kubernetes Engine is a powerful cluster manager and orchestration system for running your Docker containers. Set up a cluster in minutes.

Docker Compose - Define and run multi-container applications with Docker

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

Salad Container Engine - Salad Container Engine (SCE) offers affordable fully managed container orchestration and access to highly available compute resources on the globally distributed SaladCloud network.

Azure Container Service - Azure Container Service is a solution that optimizes the configuration of popular open-source tools and technologies specifically for Azure, it provides an open solution that offers portability for both users containers and users application configu…