AWS Budgets vs. AWS Cost Explorer

Attribute	AWS Budgets	AWS Cost Explorer
Cost tracking	Yes	Yes
Forecasting	Yes	Yes
Alerts	Yes	No
Customization	Yes	Yes
Integration with other AWS services	Yes	Yes

Overview

AWS Budgets and AWS Cost Explorer are two tools provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help users manage and optimize their cloud spending. While both tools are designed to provide insights into your AWS costs, they have different features and functionalities that cater to different needs.

AWS Budgets

AWS Budgets is a tool that allows users to set custom budgets for their AWS spending and track their usage against those budgets. Users can create budgets based on various criteria such as service, linked account, tag, and more. AWS Budgets also provides alerts when spending exceeds or is forecasted to exceed the set budget, helping users to stay on top of their costs.

One of the key features of AWS Budgets is its ability to create multiple budgets for different cost categories or projects. This allows users to have a granular view of their spending and make informed decisions on where to optimize costs. Additionally, AWS Budgets provides historical data on spending trends, which can be useful for forecasting future costs and budget planning.

Another advantage of AWS Budgets is its integration with AWS Organizations, which allows users to set up and manage budgets across multiple linked accounts. This centralized approach to budget management can be beneficial for organizations with complex AWS environments and multiple accounts.

AWS Cost Explorer

AWS Cost Explorer, on the other hand, is a tool that provides a comprehensive view of your AWS costs and usage. It offers various features such as cost visualization, cost forecasting, and cost anomaly detection. Users can analyze their costs by service, linked account, tag, and more, allowing for detailed insights into spending patterns.

One of the key features of AWS Cost Explorer is its ability to generate custom reports and visualizations to help users understand their cost drivers and identify areas for optimization. Users can create cost reports based on different time periods, cost dimensions, and filters, making it easy to drill down into specific cost data.

Additionally, AWS Cost Explorer offers cost forecasting capabilities, allowing users to predict future costs based on historical data and usage patterns. This can be useful for budget planning and cost optimization strategies. The tool also provides cost anomaly detection, which alerts users to any unusual spikes or deviations in their spending.

Comparison

While both AWS Budgets and AWS Cost Explorer are valuable tools for managing AWS costs, they cater to different needs and use cases. AWS Budgets is more focused on budget planning and tracking, allowing users to set custom budgets and receive alerts when spending exceeds those budgets. It is ideal for users who want to proactively manage their costs and stay within budget limits.

On the other hand, AWS Cost Explorer is more geared towards cost analysis and optimization, providing detailed insights into cost drivers and usage patterns. It offers advanced features such as custom reports, cost forecasting, and anomaly detection, making it a powerful tool for users who want to dive deep into their cost data and identify opportunities for cost savings.

Overall, the choice between AWS Budgets and AWS Cost Explorer depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you are looking for a tool to help you set and track budgets, AWS Budgets may be the right choice for you. If you are more interested in analyzing your costs and optimizing your spending, AWS Cost Explorer may be the better option. Ultimately, both tools can be used in conjunction to provide a comprehensive approach to managing and optimizing your AWS costs.