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Amazon Braket is an AWS service for submitting quantum tasks to managed simulators or supported, provider-operated quantum processing units (QPUs). You can start with a simulator without booking quantum hardware; QPU use is billed separately, and simulator runs and related AWS services may also incur charges. This FAQ explains how to choose a backend, reach a QPU, and keep costs under control.
What is Amazon Braket?
Amazon Braket is a managed service that connects your quantum program to a selected device, which can be a simulator or a QPU. You submit a quantum task containing the program and execution settings. For gate-based tasks, those settings include measurement instructions and the number of shots—the number of times the circuit is run to sample results. Braket queues the task as needed and stores its results in an S3 bucket in your AWS account. QPU processing takes place at facilities operated by third-party providers, not on hardware that you own or run locally. See how Amazon Braket works.
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Braket provides access to quantum-computing resources on demand, but that does not make every run instantaneous: queueing and backend execution affect how long a task takes. A simulator can help test code and settings, but it does not necessarily reproduce every outcome of a real QPU.
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Yes. You can run a local simulator in your own environment or submit work to a managed, on-demand simulator in AWS. This lets you develop and validate quantum tasks without booking QPU time. AWS recommends testing in simulation before QPU execution to catch coding and configuration problems; simulator and QPU results may differ.
Choose a local simulator when your machine is suitable
A local simulator runs on your host, so the available memory, processors, and other local resources constrain the workload. AWS’s guidance recommends local simulation for circuits below 18 qubits and a workload-based choice in the 18–24-qubit range. These are selection guidelines, not universal capacity limits: practical performance depends on the circuit, simulation method, and host.
Choose an on-demand simulator when you need AWS-managed capacity
Managed simulators are designed to scale beyond typical local environments, but submitting a task adds service latency. Simulator choice also depends on whether you need noise modeling, the circuit size, and the task’s timing needs. Compare current capabilities and trade-offs in AWS’s simulator comparison and simulator task guide.
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Which simulators are available in Amazon Braket?
AWS documents a local simulator in the Braket SDK and managed on-demand simulators including SV1 and DM1; the pricing page also describes TN1. Names, capabilities, and supported options can change, so consult the current AWS simulator documentation before choosing a backend.
Shot settings affect the meaning of simulator results. For SV1, AWS documents exact simulation when shots are set to zero and sampled results when shots are nonzero. QPU tasks require a positive number of shots. Check the current quantum-task examples for task and shot requirements.
Which quantum hardware can I access?
The supported-device directory is the authoritative place to check current QPUs and simulators, along with provider, model, paradigm, device ARN, and Region. The catalog and Regional availability can change; use the live Amazon Braket supported regions and devices page rather than relying on an old device list.
When comparing QPUs, consider the supported paradigm, device availability and Region, queue and task status, calibration and native gate properties, shot fee, and whether reservations are offered. Device properties can also be inspected in the AWS console or with the GetDevice API operation. The Braket SDK can submit QPU tasks across Regions by creating a session in the target device’s Region.
How do I access a QPU on Amazon Braket?
- Check the device and Region. Find the QPU in the supported-device directory and note its Region and device ARN. Confirm that its paradigm suits your program.
- Enable Braket and review the terms. Using a third-party device requires accepting account terms covering data transfer among you, AWS, and the device provider. Local and AWS-managed on-demand simulators do not require that agreement. See how to enable Amazon Braket.
- Validate the task on a simulator. Confirm that the program and execution settings work before submitting to hardware. Simulation is a development aid, not a guarantee that QPU output will match.
- Submit to the selected QPU in its Region. Configure the task for the device and use a session for that device’s Region when working through the SDK. Results are delivered to an S3 bucket in your AWS account.
- Track task status and charges. Check the task’s status and the relevant Region in the console; the task list is Region-specific.
How much does Amazon Braket cost?
There is no single universal Braket rate. For on-demand QPU access, AWS charges a task fee plus a shot fee that varies by device. Dedicated reservations are priced by reservation duration instead. Simulator use may be billed separately, and notebooks, Hybrid Jobs, S3 storage, and other AWS services can add charges. Current rates, models, and applicable Regions are listed on the Amazon Braket pricing page; check that page for your selected device and access mode rather than relying on a fixed example.
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How can I set a spending limit?
AWS offers SDK cost tracking, per-device QPU spending limits, and AWS Budgets alarms. These are useful controls, but the per-device limit is not a cap on every Braket-related charge: it excludes simulators, managed notebooks, Hybrid Job EC2 instance costs, and Braket Direct reservations. Refer to AWS’s cost tracking and saving guidance for the current controls and their scope.
Quick Recap
- Use SDK cost estimates to understand expected task costs before submitting.
- Set a per-device spending limit for QPU tasks where applicable, and use AWS Budgets alarms for broader billing visibility.
- Validate circuits with a simulator before paying QPU task and shot fees.
- When checking task history or auditing charges, inspect every Region you used because the console’s task listing is Region-specific.
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