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Amazon Web Services

By WP Engine

Developer Tools & Customization / API & Webhook Integration

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

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

6.75/10

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

Amazon Web Services plugin stands alone in its category with no close direct alternatives available.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Seamless integration with AWS services.
Transparent operation that feels like local storage.
Quick response to bugs and issues.
Supports free usage effectively.

Weaknesses

Limited usability for established sites with existing media.
Some installation and activation errors on certain versions.
Requires tweaking for optimal performance.
No direct alternatives to compare features.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a 3.9 average rating from 7 reviews, most users appreciate the plugin's functionality and transparency, though some report significant issues.

Positive highlights

"Fantastic – transparent functionality" - assortedchips
"Pretty Good All Around" - sean913
"Works Well Enough" - Nuanced Media
Responsive support addressing bugs quickly - assortedchips

Common complaints

Ineffective for established sites with existing images - Tharindu

Weaknesses

Usability issues for older sites.
Errors during installation and activation on some versions.
Requires manual adjustments to work optimally.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users starting fresh with AWS integration or those who want a lightweight, transparent plugin for new content.

Not ideal for

Site owners with established media libraries looking to migrate existing images may find this plugin insufficient.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers core AWS integration features suitable for most users.

Final Verdict

Amazon Web Services plugin provides a solid, transparent integration with AWS for WordPress users, especially those starting new projects. It is well-supported and free, making it accessible for many. However, it lacks features for migrating existing media, which limits its usefulness for established sites.

With no direct alternatives, this plugin fills a unique niche but requires some technical adjustments and may present challenges for certain users. Its free availability and responsive support make it a worthwhile option for those needing basic AWS connectivity without advanced migration needs.