What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
You can build and run a Bell-state quantum circuit on your own computer with Amazon Braket’s Python SDK—no quantum computer or S3 bucket required. Start with Braket’s local simulator; when you are ready to try an AWS-hosted simulator or QPU, switch the device and provide an S3 output location.
Choose where to run your first circuit
Amazon Braket offers three useful starting points: a simulator running in your Python environment, an AWS-hosted simulator, or a quantum processing unit (QPU) hosted by AWS or a third-party provider. For a first run, use the local simulator. It avoids submitting a cloud task and keeps the initial setup simpler.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Option | Where it runs | What you need | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| LocalSimulator | Your local Python environment or Braket notebook | Braket SDK; no S3 output location | Capacity depends on your computer. AWS says its local state-vector simulator can handle up to 25 qubits depending on available hardware. |
| SV1 | AWS-hosted on-demand simulator | AWS credentials and permissions, plus an S3 output location | AWS documents support for circuits up to 34 qubits; check current device details. |
| QPU | A hosted quantum processor | AWS credentials and permissions, S3 output location, and applicable third-party terms | Availability, supported operations, and access vary by device. |
The Braket notebook environment comes with the SDK installed. For local development, install the Amazon Braket SDK and Boto3 in your Python environment. Cloud execution additionally requires AWS credentials and a user or role with permission to use Braket. Third-party QPU access may require accepting data-transfer terms; AWS says this agreement is not required for local and on-demand simulators. See the Amazon Braket getting-started guide.
Build a Bell-state circuit
A Bell-state circuit uses two qubits. A Hadamard gate, H, puts qubit 0 into a superposition. A controlled-NOT gate, CNOT, uses qubit 0 to control a flip on qubit 1, entangling the pair. When measured, the ideal circuit produces either 00 or 11, each with probability one-half.
#1 Best Overall
from braket.circuits import Circuit
from braket.devices import LocalSimulator
bell = Circuit().h(0).cnot(0, 1)
print(bell)This is the circuit used in AWS’s first-circuit guide. Printing it lets you inspect the operations before execution.
Run it locally and read the counts
Run 1,000 measurement shots locally and inspect the resulting counts:
local_sim = LocalSimulator()
result = local_sim.run(bell, shots=1000).result()
counts = result.measurement_counts
print(counts)AWS’s documentation illustrates output as Counter({'11': 503, '00': 497}). Those numbers are an example, not a guaranteed result. Each shot samples the circuit’s measurement distribution, so repeated runs fluctuate; for this ideal Bell circuit, counts should be concentrated on 00 and 11 and roughly balanced. The 1,000-shot example and illustrative counts come from AWS’s current, undated Developer Guide.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The local simulator executes in your Python or notebook environment. This call does not need an S3 location, and it does not submit a paid hosted Braket task. Local simulation is useful for small prototypes, but the maximum circuit size depends on your machine; AWS gives an estimate of up to 25 qubits for its local state-vector simulator, subject to available hardware. See AWS’s first-circuit guide.
Optional: run the circuit on AWS SV1
To move from a local run to an AWS-hosted simulation, construct an AwsDevice for SV1 and pass an S3 bucket and prefix to run(). Substitute your bucket name and a prefix you want to use for the result data:
from braket.aws import AwsDevice
sv1 = AwsDevice("arn:aws:braket:::device/quantum-simulator/amazon/sv1")
result = sv1.run(bell, s3_location=("your-bucket-name", "braket-results"), shots=100).result()
print(result.measurement_counts)The ARN and 100-shot value follow AWS’s example; device identifiers and documentation may change, so verify the current ARN before running. Hosted task results are stored in S3. If you do not supply a bucket, AWS documents a default bucket naming pattern, but specifying your own destination makes result handling explicit. S3 storage is a separate AWS service and may incur charges. AWS documents SV1 support up to 34 qubits in its first-circuit guide.
Rank #4
Optional: submit to a QPU
A QPU run follows the hosted-task pattern: choose an available QPU device ARN, keep the S3 output location, and submit the circuit. Do not assume every QPU is available in every region or at every time, or that it supports every circuit operation. Before submission, check the device listing for its status, region, availability, and supported operations.
Third-party QPU access requires accepting the relevant AWS account terms about data transfer. QPU tasks and shots can incur charges; check current device pricing and your account’s Free Tier eligibility before launching. AWS explains the hosted-device workflow in its first-circuit guide and account terms in its getting-started documentation.
Check cost and preserve results
Local simulation is the low-friction way to learn the SDK without submitting a hosted quantum task. Cloud simulators and QPUs use AWS resources and can incur charges; S3 storage can also be billed separately. Pricing and Free Tier terms change, so consult the Amazon Braket pricing page before using hosted devices. The current pricing page describes one hour per month of on-demand simulator time for the first 12 months under the Free Tier; eligibility and terms apply and may change.
AWS says Braket task IDs and associated metadata are removed after 90 days. Save any results, task records, or metadata you need beyond that period in your own storage. This retention period is stated in AWS’s current, undated Developer Guide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
