Cloud service · AWS

AWS App Runner

In short

AWS App Runner is a fully managed service provided by Amazon Web Services that makes it easy for developers to quickly deploy containerized web applications and APIs, without worrying about infrastructure management. AWS App Runner has been in maintenance since March 31, 2026 and is closed to new customers; existing customers can continue using it. It should not be selected for new workloads.

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6 key features of AWS App Runner

AWS App Runner is a fully managed service that enables easy deployment of containerized applications with automatic scaling, integrated CI/CD, and built-in security, without the need for server management or infrastructure expertise.

Fully managed service

AWS App Runner is a fully managed service that makes it easy for developers to quickly deploy containerized web applications and APIs, at scale and with no prior infrastructure experience required.

Automatic scaling

App Runner automatically scales up or down based on traffic, ensuring that applications are running efficiently and cost-effectively.

Integrated CI/CD

Provides integrated continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) capabilities, allowing developers to automatically build, deploy, and update their applications with each Git push.

No server management

With App Runner, there is no need to manage servers or runtimes. The service takes care of provisioning, patching, and managing the infrastructure.

Built-in security

AWS App Runner includes built-in security and compliance controls, including automatic encryption, network isolation, and AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) integration.

Direct integration with other AWS services

The service offers direct integration with other AWS services, enabling a seamless application architecture that can leverage AWS's comprehensive ecosystem.

Where AWS App Runner is used

AWS App Runner serves as a versatile platform for rapid API deployment, efficient microservices architecture management, automated software delivery via CI/CD, dynamic web application scaling based on traffic, and simplifying DevOps for startups.

01
Rapid API Deployment
Existing App Runner customers can continue using its automated provisioning, scaling, and security for their containerized web applications and APIs, but should not select it for new workloads.
02
Microservices Architecture
Organizations can leverage AWS App Runner to deploy and manage microservices efficiently. By handling the complexities of orchestrating containerized services, it enables developers to focus on building and deploying individual components of their application in a scalable and isolated environment.
03
Automated Software Delivery
AWS App Runner integrates with development tools like GitHub, enabling continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) of applications. This use case supports automated deployments, allowing teams to achieve faster time-to-market and ensuring that software updates can be delivered seamlessly and securely to end-users.
04
Web Application Scaling
For applications experiencing variable traffic, AWS App Runner automatically scales up or down based on demand. This ensures optimal resource utilization and cost efficiency while maintaining performance and availability, making it highly suitable for businesses with fluctuating workloads.
05
Simplified DevOps for Startups
Startups that are existing App Runner customers can continue using the service, but it is closed to new customers and should not be selected for new workloads.

How AWS App Runner is priced

AWS App Runner pricing involves time-based billing for running instances and traffic-based scaling, charging based on resource utilization for traffic management.

Active container instances

While processing requests, active container instances incur compute charges and charges for memory beyond the memory already allocated to provisioned instances. Processing is billed per second, rounded up to the next second, with a one-minute minimum vCPU charge each time a provisioned instance starts processing requests.

Provisioned container instances

You pay for the memory provisioned in each container instance while the application is deployed, including when it is idle.

Automatic deployments

Opting into automated deployments incurs a set monthly fee per application covering all automated deployments that month.

Build fee

Deploying from source code incurs a fee for the time App Runner takes to build the application, charged for the first deployment or when the source code changes.

Data transfer and other AWS services

Applications may incur additional charges for data transfer and other AWS services, such as Amazon CloudWatch Logs.

Services AWS App Runner works with

AWS CodePipeline

AWS App Runner integrates with AWS CodePipeline to provide continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) capabilities, allowing for automated build, test, and deployment of applications.

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AWS CodeBuild

AWS CodeBuild integration allows for automated build and test processes in App Runner, enabling seamless building of application code.

Open AWS CodeBuild →

What is AWS App Runner

2 min read

AWS App Runner is a fully managed service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that makes it easier for developers to deploy and run applications. The service is designed to abstract away many of the complexities involved with deploying, managing, and scaling applications, allowing developers to focus on writing code. This service is particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized applications and microservices.

At its core, AWS App Runner enables automatic deployments directly from a source code repository or a container image repository. This means that developers can push their code to GitHub or have their Docker or ECR images, and App Runner takes care of the rest – from building the Docker images if required, deploying them, and then scaling the application based on demand. This seamless process eliminates the need for developers to manage servers, configure deployment pipelines, or deal with scaling mechanisms manually. One of the key features of AWS App Runner is its simplicity.

The service is designed with a user-friendly interface that guides users through the setup process, making it accessible even for developers who may not have extensive experience with container orchestration or cloud infrastructure. Users can quickly specify their source code or container repository, set environment variables, and configure basic settings like instance type and desired state, and App Runner handles the heavy lifting. Scalability is another significant advantage offered by AWS App Runner.

When there are no incoming requests, App Runner scales containers down to a provisioned, CPU-throttled instance that is ready to serve incoming requests within milliseconds.

The service automatically scales the application up or down based on the traffic, ensuring that the application can handle peak loads without manual intervention. This auto-scaling feature not only helps in managing resources more efficiently but also in optimizing costs, as users pay only for the resources they use. AWS App Runner integrates with other AWS services, providing a holistic environment for application deployment. For instance, it can seamlessly connect with GitHub or Amazon ECR for source control and image repositories, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for security, and Amazon CloudWatch for monitoring and logging. This integration simplifies the management of application deployment processes and enhances the overall reliability and scalability of the applications.

For existing customers, AWS App Runner remains available to deploy and manage their applications. By simplifying many of the traditional challenges associated with application deployment and scaling, AWS App Runner allows developers to concentrate on their core product development, significantly reducing the go-to-market time for new features and updates. It is in maintenance and should not be selected for new workloads.

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