Amazon Elastic Container Registry

Paid#7 of 61 in Container Registries

Amazon Elastic Container Registry: A capable AWS-native registry with strong controls, scanning, and multi-Region support. Ranked #7 of 61 in Container Registries by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Paid; best for AWS-native container workloads.

8.8/10★★★★☆Editor score

Visit Amazon ECR

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.8 / 10
• Pricing
  Paid
• Best for
  AWS-native container workloads
• Free plan
  No
• Paid from
  $0.10/GB/mo
• Image scanning
  Yes
• Facts checked
  22 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Deep integration with ECS, EKS, Fargate, Lambda, and Elastic Beanstalk
  • Scanning, immutable tags, lifecycle policies, signing, and encrypted storage
  • Cross-Region and cross-account replication with pull-through caching

• Where it doesn't

  • Usage-based pricing requires cost planning rather than fixed subscription budgeting
  • Its strongest fit is within the AWS ecosystem
  • The 52,000 MiB layer limit may matter for unusually large layers

Our verdict on Amazon Elastic Container Registry

Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR) is a fully managed registry for Docker and Open Container Initiative images and artifacts. It supports private and public repositories, with access through the web, APIs, Docker-compatible tools, the AWS CLI, and the AWS Management Console. Its clearest audience is teams running container workloads on AWS, especially those using Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS, AWS Fargate, AWS Lambda, or AWS Elastic Beanstalk. IAM-based repository access control also makes it a natural fit for organizations already managing permissions through AWS IAM.

The main strength is how many registry controls sit alongside AWS services. Amazon ECR provides basic and enhanced vulnerability scanning, lifecycle policies for expiring or archiving images, immutable image tags, automatic image signing, HTTPS transfer, and encryption at rest. Pull-through cache repositories can support image access patterns, while cross-Region and cross-account replication supports distribution across AWS environments. Docker Registry HTTP API V2 and OCI support broaden compatibility beyond a single image format, and AWS CloudTrail adds an audit integration for AWS activity.

Pricing is usage-based rather than organized around fixed subscription plans, so it suits teams prepared to manage variable service costs. There is no free plan. Amazon ECR is a strong choice when container storage and delivery belong inside an AWS operating model, particularly where repository governance, scanning, replication, and IAM controls matter. Teams seeking a registry centered on a different cloud ecosystem, or preferring a simple fixed-plan structure, should compare alternatives before choosing it.

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Amazon Elastic Container Registry pricing

All 1 Amazon Elastic Container Registry plans and prices →

Amazon Elastic Container Registry fact sheet

Amazon Elastic Container Registry integrations

Amazon Elastic Container Registry lists 7 integrations on its own site.

• Amazon ECS
• Amazon EKS
• AWS Lambda
• AWS Fargate
• AWS IAM
• AWS Signer
• Docker CLI

Alternatives to Amazon Elastic Container Registry

• HarborA self-hosted Harbor registry with strong policy, scanning, signing, and replication controls.9.4
• QuayA flexible registry for teams that need hosted convenience or self-hosted control.9.3
• 8gears Container RegistryA security-focused Harbor registry with OCI support, policy controls, and flexible deployment options.9.2

See all Amazon Elastic Container Registry alternatives →

Amazon Elastic Container Registry vs the competition

• Amazon Elastic Container Registry vs Harbor
• Amazon Elastic Container Registry vs Quay
• Amazon Elastic Container Registry vs 8gears Container Registry
• ZRAmazon Elastic Container Registry vs Zot Registry
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• Amazon Elastic Container Registry vs JFrog Container Registry

Compare Amazon Elastic Container Registry with any tool side by side →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update