Pros from reviewers
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Access to a wide range of services: AWS Activate provides access to a multitude of services such as EC2, S3, and RDS, which can be beneficial for startups and businesses looking to scale their operations
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Reliable uptime: Users have reported reliable uptime when using AWS Activate, ensuring that their services and applications remain available to their customers at all times
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Reasonable pricing: Despite some complaints about unexpected charges, many users find the pricing of AWS Activate to be reasonable when compared to the breadth of services it offers
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Potential for learning and exploration: AWS Activate offers a free tier that allows users to learn about the platform and explore its potential for hosting websites and applications
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Powers a significant portion of the internet: Despite some negative reviews, it's undeniable that AWS powers a significant portion of the internet, which speaks to its reliability and wide usage.
Cons from reviewers
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High and unexpected costs: Many users have reported being charged for services they did not use or thought were free. This includes charges for validation regions, IP addresses, and technical support. Some users have even reported being charged after their accounts were suspended or blocked
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Ineffective spam protection: AWS offers a spam protection feature for emails, but many users find it completely ineffective. It reportedly fails to mark any emails as spam, leading to an influx of unwanted emails
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Complicated and time-consuming configuration: The mandatory use of VPC for everything can be frustrating for users. It is not necessary for everyone and requires a lot of time to configure
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Poor customer service: Users have reported difficulty in contacting customer service for billing issues. The process is often described as a complicated runaround, with users being directed to different departments without resolution
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Confusing structure and terminology: The AWS structure and terminology can be baffling for users, making it difficult to understand and use the platform effectively. This is compounded by a billing system that many find nonsensical, with charges for seemingly every feature and service.
Main features
Starting Price
Free Plan
Content distribution
Cloud storage
Machine Learning
Developer tools
Startup business resources
Starting Price
N/A
Free Plan
No
Content distribution
Cloud storage
Machine Learning
Developer tools
Startup business resources
What is AWS Activate?
How AWS Activate compare to similar software?
Product
AWS Activate
4.0
AWS Activate reviews
Price
N/A
Free plan
No
Main features
Pros
Cons
Alternatives
Deal
AWS Activate
vs
Google Cloud
While Google Cloud Platform (GCP), a new offering from Google, is a collection of public cloud resources that focuses on high compute products like Big Query, Amazon Web Services is an established cloud service platform providing a range of services to support all kinds of IT needs.
The foundational service offered by GCP is called Compute Engine. Similarly, AWS calls its primary service Elastic Compute Cloud or EC2. Though they use different naming conventions, both products essentially provide users with Virtual Machines (VM) that function like physical computers and run any kind of operating system and applications.
Interestingly, AWS and GCP share similarities in how they deploy and manage virtual machines. For example:
- They allow you to customise the specifications of your VMs to fit your workload. You can select the amount of memory that suits your business needs, the number of vCPUs, the size and type of storage etc.
- You have the freedom to install a variety of operating systems...
AWS Activate
Amazon's cloud services platform
Google Cloud
Cloud services by Google
AWS Activate
vs
Microsoft Azure
Azure and AWS are two leaders in the cloud computing services industry. Azure offers four forms of cloud computing, including infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, software as a service, and sever-less functions. Designed and maintained by Microsoft, Azure is often the first choice of exiting Microsoft users. AWS offers a range of solutions catering to various industries, including the financial services, government, and retail sectors. AWS has also been around for longer and, as a result, holds a larger market share.
While the two platforms’ product offerings are broadly similar, the way they provide them varies. For example, Azure and AWS use different methods of creating private networks for users. AWS uses a virtual private cloud (VPC), a form of hybrid cloud deployment. This private cloud is stored in isolation within a public cloud. In comparison, Azure uses a virtual private network (VPN), creating a secure connection to another network, giving Azure...
AWS Activate
Amazon's cloud services platform
Microsoft Azure
Empowering your cloud journey with Microsoft Azure
$25,000 in Azure Cloud credits for 1 year on Microsoft Azure
Save up to $25,000
AWS Activate
vs
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean and AWS are known cloud computing platforms that have their unique characteristics. DigitalOcean stands out for its simplicity and affordability making it an excellent choice for startups and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). On the other side, AWS provides a variety of services and features that make it a better fit for large companies. One major advantage of DigitalOcean is its pricing, as it tends to be more affordable than AWS. This can be a deciding factor for medium-sized businesses on a tight budget. By choosing DigitalOcean businesses can save money without sacrificing performance or scalability.
In terms of performance and scalability, both DigitalOcean and AWS are robust platforms capable of handling billions of requests. DigitalOcean offers optimized machines tailored to the needs of developers allowing for resource utilization and enhanced productivity. Users have praised DigitalOcean for its user interface, too. AWS has established itself as an industry leader...
AWS Activate
Amazon's cloud services platform
DigitalOcean
Cloud Computing Platform
Who is AWS Activate best for according to our reviewers?
Startups: AWS Activate is suitable for startups as it provides the resources needed to quickly get started on AWS - including credits, training, and support. However, some users have reported issues with the billing system and customer support, which can be particularly challenging for startups with limited resources
Small Businesses: Small businesses can benefit from AWS Activate's range of services, but they may find the system confusing and the billing system nonsensical. Some users have reported being charged for services they didn't use or understand
Developers: Developers can use AWS Activate to manage servers and build backend infrastructure. However, some developers have found that there are more important things to focus on when building a startup, and recommend using simpler platforms like Heroku until a larger team of engineers is available
Email Service Users: AWS Activate offers email services, including a SPAM protection feature. However, some users have found this feature to be ineffective and the mandatory use of VPC frustrating and time-consuming to configure
Web Hosting Users: AWS Activate can be used for web hosting, but some users have reported being charged unexpectedly and finding the documentation difficult to understand. Some users have also reported their IP being flagged for malicious activity by DNS providers.
AWS Activate reviews
4.0
AWS Activate rating
4.5
Ease of use
4.6
Customer service
4.4
Value for money
4.0
Likelihood to recommend
4.5
Features
4 AWS Activate reviews
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Jordan M
Addressing Unexpected Charges with AWS Activate: A User's Experience
I am genuinely thrilled with AWS Activate! I've been a part of their ecosystem for a few years now, and it's been quite an adventure. I remember signing up for what I thought was a free service, and it's possible that I may have agreed to some future commitment unknowingly. I've noticed a recurring charge of $9 or more on my account each month, which initially took me by surprise as I was under the impression that I had cancelled any paid services. However, I understand that misunderstandings can occur and I'm eager to get this sorted out.Reaching out to customer service has been a bit of a challenge, but I'm optimistic that it's just a matter of finding the right channel to communicate my concerns. I've heard of others who had similar issues and were able to get a refund for a year's worth of charges, which gives me hope that my situation can be resolved in a similar manner.I'm looking forward to getting a refund for the charges that have been made without my authorization. I'm confident that AWS Activate will be able to rectify this situation, as they have always been a reliable and trustworthy service provider.I've always been a positive reviewer, and it's rare for me to have any issues with the companies I interact with. I'm hopeful that AWS Activate will continue to uphold the high standards I've come to expect from them, and I'm excited to see how they handle this situation.
April 28, 2024
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Julia G
Scaling with AWS Activate: A Startup Founder's Experience
As a startup founder, AWS Activate has been instrumental in scaling our business
April 21, 2024
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Jennifer B
Exploring Security Measures and Policies with AWS Activate: A Personal Journey
I'm efainayeska and I've had quite an interesting journey with AWS Activate. Initially, I faced a minor hiccup when my account was suspended and a $1 charge was applied. This was for a validation region, which I found to be a unique security measure. I provided all the necessary documents and proof of bill, and although my account was closed temporarily, I appreciated the thoroughness of their security checks. I ventured into creating a t2 micro type, which is eligible for the free tier. To my surprise, my account was suspended, but I took it as an opportunity to understand their policies better. While it was a bit of a rollercoaster ride, I've come to appreciate the lengths AWS goes to ensure the security and integrity of their platform. It's been a learning curve, but I'm excited to continue my journey with AWS Activate.
April 13, 2024
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Joyce Garcia
Accelerating Innovation with AWS Activate
I've found the AWS Activate program to be incredibly beneficial. The access to the AWS portfolio of services has allowed us to experiment and innovate at a much faster pace
April 13, 2024