Name: AWS Key Management Service
Price: 1 USD

AWS Key Management Service (KMS) creates and controls cryptographic keys for encrypting data and digitally signing it. It centralizes key lifecycles and permissions, including distinct control over who manages keys and who uses them. KMS supports symmetric encryption, asymmetric signing or encryption key pairs, and HMAC generation and verification. It integrates with AWS services including Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, Amazon RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS Lambda, and AWS CloudTrail. With CloudTrail enabled, requests are logged with details such as the user, time, API action, and key. AWS says hardware security modules validated to FIPS 140-3 Security Level 3 protect key material and operations; plaintext keys are not written to disk and are used only in HSM volatile memory for the requested operation. Multi-Region keys support cross-Region workflows, while external key stores keep key material in an external manager controlled by the customer. The service scales with demand, subject to default key-count and request-rate limits; higher limits can be requested. The listed price is 1.00 USD per month per KMS key, prorated hourly. API requests are charged separately, with a 20,000-request monthly free tier across Regions subject to exclusions.

Who it is for

KMS suits organizations using AWS services that need centralized key lifecycle and permission control. It also supports customers who need multi-Region workflows or want key material kept in an external key manager.

What is good

Supports symmetric, asymmetric, and HMAC operations.
Integrates with several AWS services.
CloudTrail can record key requests and related details.
Uses HSMs validated to FIPS 140-3 Security Level 3.

What to know first

API requests are charged separately from key costs.
Custom key stores are unavailable in two AWS China Regions.
Custom key stores do not support asymmetric KMS keys.
Default key and request limits apply.

Verdict

AWS KMS combines centralized key controls with multiple cryptographic operations and AWS service integrations. Account for per-key charges, separately billed API requests, and default limits when planning usage.

AWS Key Management Service plans and pricing

All plans

AWS KMS $1/mo $1/month (prorated hourly) per KMS key; API requests are charged separately 20,000 requests/month free tier across Regions; asymmetric-key requests and specified key-pair operations are excluded aws.amazon.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on key management software

Free plan: No
Paid from: $1/mo
Deployment model: cloud
Key audit logs: Yes

Best AWS Key Management Service alternatives

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The record

Purpose

AWS KMS creates and controls cryptographic keys used to encrypt data and digitally sign it.

Key management

KMS provides centralized control over key lifecycles and permissions, including separate control over who manages keys and who uses them.

Cryptographic operations

KMS supports symmetric encryption, asymmetric signing or encryption key pairs, and generation and verification of HMACs.

Application libraries

The AWS Encryption SDK supports KMS as a key provider for encrypting and decrypting data locally in applications.

Integrations

KMS integrates with AWS services including Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, Amazon RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS Lambda, and AWS CloudTrail.

Auditing

When CloudTrail is enabled, KMS requests are recorded with details such as the user, time, API action, and key used.

Key protection

KMS uses hardware security modules validated to FIPS 140-3 Security Level 3 to protect key material and cryptographic operations.

Plaintext keys

AWS states that plaintext keys are never written to disk and are used only in HSM volatile memory for the requested cryptographic operation.

Compliance

AWS lists KMS validations or certifications including SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, PCI DSS Level 1, FedRAMP, HIPAA, and FIPS 140-3.

Multi-Region keys

Multi-Region keys share key material and key IDs across Regions and can support cross-Region workflows such as disaster recovery.

External key stores

With an external key store, keys are generated and stored in an external key manager that the customer owns and manages, and key material stays in that HSM.

Custom key store limits

Custom key stores are unavailable in the AWS China (Beijing) and AWS China (Ningxia) Regions and do not support asymmetric KMS keys.

Scaling and limits

KMS automatically scales as encryption needs grow, has default limits for key counts and request rates, and allows customers to request higher limits.

Pricing exclusions

AWS-managed and AWS-owned key creation and storage are not charged, but API requests to AWS-managed keys are chargeable.

Price from

$1/mo