# Amazon Lightsail

> The simple corner of AWS: a ready-made server for a flat monthly price.

- Level: Basic
- Topics: AWS
- URL: https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/amazon-lightsail/
- In Spanish: [Amazon Lightsail](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/es/amazon-lightsail/)

**Lightsail** is AWS's answer for people who want one server and nothing more complicated. You pick a plan, pick what it should come with (plain Linux or Windows, or a ready-made setup like WordPress), and a minute later you have a running machine with a fixed IP address and a browser-based terminal. It is the AWS version of the classic "virtual private server" sold by hosting companies.

The main difference with Amazon EC2 is packaging. With EC2 you choose and pay separately for the machine, the disk, the network traffic and the public address, and you configure a VPC and security rules. With Lightsail all of that comes in one bundle at a predictable monthly price, with a much smaller set of options and a simpler console.

It suits a personal blog, a small business website, a test environment or a side project. Lightsail also offers simple managed databases, load balancers and container hosting in the same style. When a project grows beyond it, you can take a snapshot of the server and move it to EC2, where the full range of AWS options is available.

## An analogy

A furnished studio with utilities included in the rent, instead of an apartment where you set up electricity, gas and internet one by one. Less flexible, but one bill and you move in today.

## Keep in mind

- Virtual servers in fixed-price bundles: machine, disk, transfer and IP together.
- One-click setups for common apps like WordPress.
- Far fewer options than EC2, on purpose.
- Snapshots can be exported to EC2 when a project outgrows it.

## Go deeper

- [What is Amazon Lightsail? (official docs)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lightsail/latest/userguide/what-is-amazon-lightsail.html)
- [Amazon Lightsail](https://aws.amazon.com/lightsail/)

## Related terms

- [Server](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/server/): A computer whose job is to answer requests from other computers, all day, every day.
- [Linux](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/linux/): A free, open source operating system that runs most of the internet's servers.
- [CMS](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/cms/): Software that lets people publish and edit a website's content without writing code.
- [IP address](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/ip-address/): The number that identifies a device on a network, like a postal address.
- [Web browser](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/web-browser/): The app that fetches web pages from the internet and draws them on your screen.
- [Command line](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/command-line/): Controlling a computer by typing text commands instead of clicking icons.
- [Amazon EC2](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/amazon-ec2/): Virtual computers you rent by the hour, in any size, and switch off when done.
- [Amazon VPC](https://tidbit.legios.com.ar/amazon-vpc/): Your own private slice of the AWS network, with walls you draw yourself.