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Amazon Web Services

By WP Engine

Developer Tools & Customization / API & Webhook Integration

Amazon Web Services Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin houses the Amazon Web Services (AWS) PHP SDK v2 libraries and manages access keys for use by other plugins.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.97/10

User Rating

3.9/5 (based on 7+ reviews)

Active Installations

5,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin allows the user to define AWS access keys and allows other plugins to hook into it and use the AWS SDK that is included.

The plan was for this plugin to be a dependency of several plugins and all could use the same AWS SDK. We realized however that there are problems with this idea and we have taken another approach.

This plugin was used by our plugins WP Offload S3 and WP Offload S3 Lite but it is almost certainly used by other plugins we are not aware of. So although it is no longer needed for our plugins, we will leave it here for others.

Requirements include PHP version 5.3.3 or greater, PHP cURL library 7.16.2 or greater, cURL compiled with OpenSSL and zlib, and curl_multi_exec enabled.

Comparing to Alternatives

The Amazon Web Services plugin offers seamless integration with AWS, primarily focusing on storage and media offloading. Compared to other plugins, it stands out for its transparency and simplicity but may lack advanced features for established sites.

Top alternatives

Amazon Web Services

Strengths

Transparent operation that feels like local storage
Quick response to bugs and issues
Good integration with AWS services
Free and open source with no hidden costs

Weaknesses

Limited usability for established sites with existing media
Some installation and activation errors on certain WordPress versions
Basic user interface with room for usability improvements
Lacks advanced features found in premium alternatives

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's reliability and transparency, though some express frustration with its limitations on established sites and occasional bugs.

Positive highlights

'I am very impressed with this plugin... behaves as if you were saving everything locally.' - assortedchips
'This plugin is great for connecting to your AWS account.' - sean913
'Takes a bit of tweaking, but all around does what it advertises.' - Nuanced Media

Common complaints

Not suitable for established sites with existing media
Installation and activation errors on certain WordPress versions
Some usability issues and bugs

Weaknesses

Limited features for advanced use cases
Occasional bugs despite quick fixes
Basic user interface

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users who are setting up new WordPress sites and want a straightforward, transparent way to offload media to AWS without additional costs.

Not ideal for

Site owners with established media libraries looking for advanced migration features or more robust management tools may find this plugin insufficient.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes core functionality for connecting WordPress to AWS services, enabling media offloading and storage integration without any cost.

Final Verdict

The Amazon Web Services plugin is a solid choice for users seeking a free, transparent solution to integrate AWS with WordPress, especially for new sites.

However, those with established media libraries or requiring advanced features might need to consider alternative or premium plugins to meet their needs.