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AWS (Amazon Web Services) vs CoreWeave

AWS (Amazon Web Services) logo

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Cloud

The leading cloud computing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CoreWeave logo

CoreWeave

AI

Specialized cloud for GPU compute

From
$0.35/per-hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AWS (Amazon Web Services) data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills; CoreWeave gPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand
  • They diverge on capability: AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AWS (Amazon Web Services) and CoreWeave actually diverge.

Attributes where AWS (Amazon Web Services) and CoreWeave differ
AttributeAWS (Amazon Web Services)CoreWeave
Starting priceFree$0.35/per-hour
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Api, Cli, MobileCloud
CategoryCloudAI
Founded20062017

Identical on both: pricing model (usage-based), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • EC2 - Virtual Servers
  • S3 - Object Storage
  • RDS - Managed Database
  • Lambda - Serverless Computing
  • CloudFront - CDN
  • VPC - Virtual Network
  • IAM - Access Management
  • CloudWatch - Monitoring

Only in CoreWeave

  • NVIDIA H100/A100
  • Kubernetes native
  • High bandwidth
  • Object storage
  • Cloud APIs
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • Terraform
  • Kubernetes

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Web hostingnot CoreWeave
  • Data storagenot CoreWeave
  • Machine learningnot CoreWeave
  • Big data analyticsnot CoreWeave
  • Application developmentnot CoreWeave

CoreWeave

  • Renting GPU compute for model training and inferencenot AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Running large scale AI workloads without buying hardwarenot AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

  • Data transfer in is free and data transfer out is charged, which is the standard source of unexpected bills
  • Discounts require one or three year Savings Plan commitments rather than being automatic
  • Every service is priced separately, so a working architecture has no single published cost
  • The free tier is a promotional allowance rather than an ongoing free plan

CoreWeave

  • GPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand
  • Spot pricing is roughly 40% of on demand, at $19.71 an hour for the same H100 node, so predictable capacity carries a large premium
  • The newest hardware carries no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Discounts of up to 60% require committed usage agreements negotiated with sales
  • Only the GH200 is offered as a single GPU instance

Pricing, plan by plan

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

Free
  • AWS Free TierFree
    • EC2 750 hours/month
    • 5GB S3 storage
    • 20GB data transfer
  • Pay-As-You-GoFree
    • No upfront payment
    • No long-term commitments
    • Pay only for what you use

CoreWeave

$0.35/per-hour
  • Standard$0.35/per-hour
    • Various GPU types
    • Kubernetes
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Dedicated clusters
    • Custom solutions

Which should you pick?

Choose AWS (Amazon Web Services) if

  • You need ec2 - virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile.
  • You also want s3 - object storage.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) review

Choose CoreWeave if

  • You need nvidia h100/a100.
  • You work on Cloud.
  • You also want kubernetes native.
CoreWeave review

Questions people ask

Is AWS (Amazon Web Services) or CoreWeave better?
Neither clearly leads. AWS (Amazon Web Services) starts at Free and CoreWeave at $0.35/per-hour, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AWS (Amazon Web Services) or CoreWeave?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AWS (Amazon Web Services) and $0.35/per-hour for CoreWeave.
Does AWS (Amazon Web Services) or CoreWeave run on more platforms?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) runs on Web, Api, Cli, Mobile. CoreWeave runs on Cloud.
Can I use AWS (Amazon Web Services) for free?
Yes. AWS (Amazon Web Services) has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CoreWeave starts at $0.35/per-hour.
What is AWS (Amazon Web Services) best used for?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) is most often used for web hosting, data storage, machine learning, big data analytics. Of those, web hosting and data storage are not what CoreWeave is typically brought in for.
What can AWS (Amazon Web Services) do that CoreWeave cannot?
AWS (Amazon Web Services) covers EC2 - Virtual Servers, S3 - Object Storage, RDS - Managed Database, Lambda - Serverless Computing. CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100, Kubernetes native, High bandwidth, Object storage. Both handle Terraform, Kubernetes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AWS (Amazon Web Services): What are AWS's payment options and pricing models?

AWS offers four pricing approaches: pay-as-you-go (you pay only for what you use), flat-rate plans combining multiple services into one monthly price without overages, Savings Plans offering discounts on compute and machine learning with 1- or 3-year commitments, and volume-based tiered pricing where costs decrease as usage increases.

Source
CoreWeave: How much does CoreWeave cost?

CoreWeave does not publish pricing on its website. The company uses a quote-based pricing model and directs customers to contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing options and customized solutions.

Source
AWS (Amazon Web Services): Are there contracts, termination fees, or commitments required for AWS?

No long-term contracts are required for AWS services. No termination fees apply once you stop using the service. Savings Plans provide optional 1- or 3-year commitments with discounted hourly rates, but you can revert to pay-as-you-go pricing anytime.

Source
CoreWeave: How can I get a quote from CoreWeave?

To obtain CoreWeave pricing, you must contact their sales team directly through the Contact Us option on their website. They will provide a customized quote based on your specific compute and infrastructure requirements.

Source
AWS (Amazon Web Services): Does AWS offer a free tier?

AWS provides a free tier that offers hands-on experience with AWS products at no charge. The free tier allows new customers to try eligible services before committing to paid usage.

Source
AWS (Amazon Web Services): How do I estimate my AWS costs?

AWS provides the AWS Pricing Calculator and Cost Explorer tool to estimate costs for single or multiple services. AWS also offers cost optimization recommendations, performance reporting, and budget alerts to help track and control spending.

Source
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