Side by side

EC2 Image Builder vs Kaniko

Both stand on container build tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

EC2 Image Builder

Free plan APIWeb

EC2 Image Builder combines image pipelines, validation, and security settings for AMIs and container images. The service itself is free, but related AWS resource charges still apply.

Visit EC2 Image Builder

Kaniko offers daemonless image builds and accepts contexts from local sources, cloud storage, and Git. Account for its Windows and multi-architecture limits, and handle untrusted builds with container runtime security in mind.

Visit Kaniko

The facts

	EC2 Image Builder	Kaniko
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Web	Linux, Self-hosted
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	aws.amazon.com	github.com
On container build tools	#13 of 34	#17 of 34

EC2 Image Builder: what it does well

Automates image refreshes when software updates become available
Supports AWS-provided and custom image validation tests
Includes security settings for patches, encryption, firewalls, and logging
Supports seven listed operating systems
Allows recipe sharing, editing, and version control

What to know first

Underlying AWS compute, storage, logs, validation, and transfer use may incur charges
On-premises image support requires VM Import/Export

Kaniko: what it does well

Builds images without a Docker daemon.
Accepts build contexts from cloud storage and Git.
Can run in Kubernetes and gVisor.
Build tracing is off by default.
Images from version 1.24.1 onward are cosign-signed.

What to know first

Does not build Windows containers.
Cannot create multi-architecture manifests itself.
Does not make untrusted builds safe on its own.
RUN --chown is unsupported.

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