EC2 Image Builder
EC2 Image Builder is a web and API service for creating and maintaining customized Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and container images.
What EC2 Image Builder is
EC2 Image Builder is a web and API service for creating and maintaining customized Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) and container images. Its pipelines can automatically produce refreshed images when software updates become available, without a manual start. AWS-provided or custom tests can check booting, required drivers, and CIS hardening before production use. Security settings can apply patches, enforce strong passwords, enable full-disk encryption and firewalls, close non-essential ports, and turn on logging and audit controls. The service supports Amazon Linux, CentOS, macOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu, and Windows Server. VM Import/Export extends support to on-premises VHDX, VMDK, and OVF images. Images can be created through the AWS Management Console, command line, or APIs. Image Builder itself is free; compute, storage, logging, validation, and transfer resources may cost extra.
Good
- Automated image updates through pipelines
- Custom and AWS-provided validation tests
- Security settings cover patches and encryption
- Supports AMIs and container images
- Recipes can use version control
Watch out
- Underlying AWS resources incur separate charges
- No free trial is listed
- Remote builds allow 100 concurrent builds
Who it suits
It suits organizations maintaining secure, customized server or container images. It also fits teams distributing standardized AMIs across AWS accounts.
Verdict
EC2 Image Builder combines automated builds, image checks, security settings, and sharing options for AWS image management. Its free service charge does not remove costs from the AWS resources used around it.
Plans and prices
From EC2 Image Builder's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| EC2 Image Builder | Free | Underlying AWS resources used to create, store, and copy images are charged separately · No charge for the service; underlying AWS resource charges apply. |
The facts
Each one read from EC2 Image Builder's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automated builds
- Pipelines can automatically produce updated images when software updates become available, without users manually initiating builds.checked 7 Oct 2026
- AWS integrations
- Image Builder integrates with AWS Resource Access Manager and AWS Organizations to share AMIs across AWS accounts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Creation interfaces
- Custom images can be created using the AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface, or APIs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Image formats
- The service builds AMIs and container images, and with VM Import/Export can support on-premises VHDX, VMDK, and OVF virtual machine images.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Image validation
- AWS-provided and custom tests can validate images before production use, including checks for booting, required drivers, and CIS hardening.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The service is aimed at customers maintaining secure, customized server and container images, including organizations that distribute standardized images across AWS accounts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Marketplace integration
- Users can subscribe to AWS Marketplace image products in the Image Builder console and use them as base images in recipes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- EC2 Image Builder automates customization, testing, distribution, and lifecycle management of Amazon Machine Images and container images.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Recipe management
- Recipes can be shared, forked, and edited outside the Image Builder user interface, and used with version control software.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security settings
- AWS-provided settings include applying security patches, enforcing strong passwords, enabling full disk encryption and firewalls, closing non-essential ports, and enabling logging and audit controls.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported operating systems
- Supported image operating systems include Amazon Linux, CentOS, macOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Ubuntu, and Windows Server.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Usage costs
- There is no charge for EC2 Image Builder itself, but other services used for compute, logs, image validation, storage, and transfers may incur charges.checked 7 Oct 2026
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