Why EC2 Deployment is the Smart Choice for Indie Hackers

As an indie hacker, choosing the right deployment strategy can make or break your project. Here's why Amazon EC2 often emerges as the optimal choice.

The Cost Advantage

Real Numbers Comparison

Monthly Costs (typical startup load):
Heroku: $50-100/month (Basic dynos)
Vercel: $20+ /month (Pro plan)
EC2: $10-30/month (t3.micro/small)

Control and Flexibility

Full System Access

Custom runtime environments
Direct file system access
Custom security rules
Choice of operating system

Scaling Economics

Vertical Scaling

Start with t3.micro and scale up only when needed:

# Example upgrade path
t3.micro ($8.50/month) →
t3.small ($17/month) →
t3.medium ($34/month)

Practical Setup Guide

1. Basic Setup

# Update system
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

# Install Docker
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

2. Security Best Practices

Use Security Groups effectively
Implement SSH key authentication
Regular system updates

Cost Optimization Tips

Use Spot Instances for non-critical workloads
Implement auto-scaling based on load
Utilize free tier benefits

When to Consider Alternatives

When you need zero DevOps overhead
For static sites with minimal backend needs
When time-to-market is critical

Conclusion

EC2 provides the perfect balance of control and cost-effectiveness for indie hackers. The initial learning curve pays off in long-term savings and flexibility.

Kartik Gautam