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Lambda (AWS Serverless) vs Traefik

Lambda (AWS Serverless) logo

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Software

Run code without thinking about servers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Traefik logo

Traefik

Software

Modern cloud-native edge router and API gateway

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lambda (AWS Serverless) billed on two axes at once, $0.20 per million requests plus $0.0000166667 per GB-second of duration, so memory settings change the bill as much as traffic does; Traefik requires Kubernetes or container knowledge
  • They diverge on capability: Lambda (AWS Serverless) covers Function-as-a-Service, Traefik covers Load Balancing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Lambda (AWS Serverless) and Traefik actually diverge.

Attributes where Lambda (AWS Serverless) and Traefik differ
AttributeLambda (AWS Serverless)Traefik
Pricing modelusage-basedUnknown
PlatformsWeb, ApiKubernetes, Docker, Cloud
Founded20142015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Function-as-a-Service
  • Event-driven execution
  • Auto-scaling
  • Pay-per-use
  • Multiple languages
  • Concurrency limits
  • Dead Letter Queues
  • Environment variables

Only in Traefik

  • Load Balancing
  • SSL/TLS Termination
  • Kubernetes
  • Docker
  • Consul
  • etcd
  • Linux support
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • API Gateway

What people use each for

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

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Event-driven functions without managing serversnot Traefik
  • API backends behind API Gatewaynot Traefik
  • Processing S3, DynamoDB, SQS and Kinesis eventsnot Traefik
  • Scheduled jobs without a always-on instancenot Traefik
  • Edge compute through Lambda@Edgenot Traefik

Traefik

  • API gateway for microservices architecturenot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Kubernetes ingress controllernot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Container and VM traffic routingnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)
  • Cloud-native application managementnot Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Where each one falls short

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

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

  • Billed on two axes at once, $0.20 per million requests plus $0.0000166667 per GB-second of duration, so memory settings change the bill as much as traffic does
  • Provisioned concurrency, used to avoid cold starts, is charged separately at $0.0000041667 per GB-second whether or not the function runs
  • Ephemeral storage beyond the included 512 MB is metered
  • Lambda@Edge costs $0.60 per million requests, three times the standard request rate
  • VPC use and cross-region data transfer carry EC2 charges on top

Traefik

  • Requires Kubernetes or container knowledge
  • Complex configuration for advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Lambda (AWS Serverless)

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • 1M free requests/month
    • 400,000 GB-seconds/month
    • Always free

Traefik

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Traefik review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Lambda (AWS Serverless) if

  • You need function-as-a-service.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want event-driven execution.
Lambda (AWS Serverless) review

Choose Traefik if

  • You need load balancing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud.
  • You also want ssl/tls termination.
Traefik review

Questions people ask

Is Lambda (AWS Serverless) or Traefik better?
Neither clearly leads. Lambda (AWS Serverless) starts at Free and Traefik at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Lambda (AWS Serverless) or Traefik?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) starts at Free and Traefik at Free.
Does Lambda (AWS Serverless) or Traefik run on more platforms?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) runs on Web, Api. Traefik runs on Kubernetes, Docker, Cloud.
Can I use Lambda (AWS Serverless) for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lambda (AWS Serverless) best used for?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) is most often used for event-driven functions without managing servers, api backends behind api gateway, processing s3, dynamodb, sqs and kinesis events, scheduled jobs without a always-on instance. Of those, event-driven functions without managing servers and api backends behind api gateway are not what Traefik is typically brought in for.
What can Lambda (AWS Serverless) do that Traefik cannot?
Lambda (AWS Serverless) covers Function-as-a-Service, Event-driven execution, Auto-scaling, Pay-per-use. Traefik covers Load Balancing, SSL/TLS Termination, Kubernetes, Docker. Both handle API Gateway.
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