Understanding AWS Support Plans: Which One is Right for You?

AWS provides several Support Plans tailored to different needs and budgets. Here's a detailed comparison to help you select the best option:

1. Basic Support (Free Tier):

• Perfect for: Getting started with AWS, managing account and billing.
• Cost: Free
• Access: Email support for basic questions and AWS Community Forums for general troubleshooting. Access to AWS Community Forums

2. Developer Support:

• Ideal for: Experimenting and developing on AWS.
• Cost: Starts at $29/month or 3% of your monthly AWS usage (whichever is higher).
• Access: Technical questions via the Support Center.
• Response Time: 12-14 hours during local business hours.
• Features: Basic Trusted Advisor checks for security and service quotas.

3. Business Support:

• Recommended for: Running production workloads on AWS.
• Cost: Starts at $100/month or 10% of your first $10,000 in monthly AWS usage (whichever is higher).
• Access: 24/7 technical support via phone, email, and chat.
• Response Time: 1 hour for urgent cases.
• Features: Full access to Trusted Advisor, support for third-party applications, architectural guidance, and AWS Support API for case automation.
• Optional: Proactive Infrastructure Event Management.

4. Enterprise Support:

• Best for: Mission-critical applications on AWS.
• Cost: Starts at $15,000/month or 10% of your first $150,000 in monthly AWS usage (whichever is higher).
• Access: 24/7 technical support via phone, email, and chat with a 15-minute response time for critical cases.
• Features: Includes all Business Support features, plus a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM), Support Concierge for billing and account analysis, proactive programs, and full access to Trusted Advisor best practice checks.

Choosing the Right Plan:

• Basic Support: Ideal for basic needs and trials.
• Developer Support: Cost-effective for development and testing phases.
• Business Support: Comprehensive for production environments.
• Enterprise Support: Provides the highest level of service and dedicated support for mission-critical workloads.

Selecting the appropriate AWS Support Plan depends on your specific requirements, from initial experimentation to running critical applications, ensuring you receive the right level of technical assistance and support for your AWS environment.