AWS Lightsail vs Fly.io
Verdict up front: Fly.io starts cheaper ($1.94/mo); Fly.io covers more ground (35 regions). The right pick depends on workload — details below.
| AWS Lightsail | Fly.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $3.50/mo | $1.94/mo |
| Billing | monthly | usage |
| Regions | 14 | 35 |
| Free tier / trial | 3 months free on select bundles | Limited free allowances (varies) |
| Category | iaas, paas | paas, edge |
AWS Lightsail
Amazon's simplified VPS — fixed bundles, AWS escape hatch
- + Predictable bundle pricing
- + Easy upgrade path into full AWS
- + Managed DB option
- + Free-tier eligible
- − Bundle caps bite at scale
- − Bandwidth overage is expensive
- − Panel still AWS-flavored
Fly.io
Run apps close to users — microVMs on a global anycast network
- + True edge deployment model
- + Anycast + WireGuard private nets
- + GPU regions
- + SQLite/LiteFS story
- − Operational complexity vs typical PaaS
- − Pricing model takes a spreadsheet
- − Occasional platform incidents