Amazon WorkSpaces

Overview

Amazon WorkSpaces is a cloud service for delivering managed desktops and streamed applications to remote and hybrid users. It suits organizations that want persistent desktops alongside options for application delivery, identity, storage, and endpoint management. Its range is useful, but billing depends on the service and configuration, and two product timelines deserve attention before a rollout.

Key features

Persistent desktops and application delivery

WorkSpaces Personal gives each user the same virtual desktop at sign-in, with applications, files, and settings retained. That persistence is a practical fit for users who need a consistent work environment rather than a disposable session. Personal offers AlwaysOn monthly subscriptions or AutoStop hourly metering with a monthly base fee; AutoStop can suit intermittent use, but its hourly charges mean the bill depends on actual usage.

WorkSpaces applications is the alternative when people need streamed applications rather than an entire personal desktop. It supports image building and streaming on general-purpose, compute-optimized, memory-optimized, and GPU instance families, giving administrators options for different workloads. A Windows single-session user fee is only part of the cost: provisioned instance-hour charges also apply.

Identity, storage, and security

WorkSpaces DaaS supports desktops joined to AD or non-AD domains, AWS IAM Identity Center brokering with providers such as Entra ID, and Intune endpoint management. Persistent SSD-based user storage is sized by bundle and backed up automatically. Amazon S3 or Amazon FSx can preserve selected settings and files between sessions, which is useful when session continuity matters beyond the desktop itself.

Organizations can bring Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise licenses to WorkSpaces DaaS or buy Microsoft Office bundles from AWS. WorkSpaces also integrates with VDI management software from Citrix, Dizzion, Leostream, Omnissa, and Workspot. Its security requirements include TLS 1.2, while TLS 1.3 is recommended; supported cipher suites provide perfect forward secrecy.

WorkSpaces secure browser streams encrypted pixels from a browser session in AWS and provides controls for file transfer, printing, copy and paste, and domain allowlists and blocklists. That makes it a distinct option for controlled browser access, rather than a replacement for every full desktop workload. AWS states a financially backed service-level agreement based on monthly uptime percentage and lists 99.9%.

Product timelines

WorkSpaces Pools stopped accepting new customers on July 31, 2026, though existing customers can continue using it until December 31, 2027. It is therefore not an option for a new deployment. AWS says support for PCoIP-based WorkSpaces Personal ends on October 31, 2027, so deployments relying on PCoIP need a migration plan before that date.

Pricing

WorkSpaces is paid, with a stated starting price of $25/mo, and also has a free plan and free trial. Its Free Tier runs for up to three months: choose either two Standard AutoStop desktops with 40 combined monthly hours or five Performance AutoStop Ubuntu desktops with 100 combined monthly hours. The combined-hour caps and short duration make this a limited evaluation, not a long-term free deployment.

• WorkSpaces applications — Windows single-session user fee: 4.19 USD per month, billed $4.19 per user per month, plus provisioned instance-hour charges. This covers Windows Server streaming sessions; instance price varies by type, size, and operating system. It fits application delivery, but the user fee alone is not the total cost.
• WorkSpaces secure browser — standard.regular (US East/Northern Virginia): 7.00 USD per month, billed $7 per monthly active user, covering up to 200 streaming hours per monthly active user. Each additional streaming hour costs $0.035, and regional pricing varies. This suits controlled browser use within the included hours.
• WorkSpaces Personal AutoStop — Ubuntu Linux Power example (US West/Oregon): 7.25 USD per month, billed $7.25 per month + $0.66 per hour. It includes an 80 GB root volume, a 10 GB user volume, and the Ubuntu Linux Power bundle. The base charge is low, but hourly metering matters for frequent use.
• WorkSpaces Personal AlwaysOn — Windows Standard example (US West/Oregon): 44.00 USD per month, billed $44 per machine per month. It includes a 175 GB root volume, a 100 GB user volume, and the Windows Standard bundle. This fixed monthly example fits steady use better than a metered desktop, but costs more than the AutoStop base charge.

These examples cover different services, regions, and configurations; they are not interchangeable per-user prices. Check the applicable instance, usage, and regional charges when estimating a deployment.

Platforms

Clients are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iPad, Android, Chromebook, and supported web browsers. The broad client range works for mixed-device access, but the PCoIP support end date may affect existing Personal deployments.

Who it's for

WorkSpaces is a strong fit for organizations that need managed persistent desktops, application streaming, or controlled browser sessions, particularly when AWS identity, storage, or VDI integrations matter. It is less suitable for teams seeking one simple, universal per-seat price, or for new customers looking to adopt Pools.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Persistent desktops retain applications, files, and settings, supporting a consistent user environment.
• Pro: AutoStop, AlwaysOn, application streaming, and secure browser options cover different access patterns instead of forcing one desktop model.
• Pro: Identity, endpoint management, automatic backups, and S3 or FSx options support administration and continuity.
• Con: Costs can combine a base or user fee with hourly instance or streaming charges, so the starting price is not a complete budget.
• Con: The Free Tier is capped by combined monthly hours and lasts up to three months.
• Con: Pools is closed to new customers, and PCoIP-based Personal support has a stated end date.

Alternatives

Consider these options when their pricing or desktop model better matches the workload:

• Cloud PC Services for a broader comparison of cloud desktop options.
• Desktop as a Service Software to compare desktop-as-a-service products.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software for other VDI choices.
• Ace Cloud Hosting Desktop as a Service has a free trial and an Enterprise (Team Desktops) plan at 352.19 USD per month, billed per user/month, for 100 users on Windows Server 2022; consider it if that specified team plan fits.
• V2 Cloud has a free trial and Basic Users from $35.00/mo for front-desk, data-entry, call-center, and administrative workloads; consider it for those workload types.
• MacinCloud has a free trial and Pay-As-You-Go starting at US$4/day, billed by the day, with RDP, a static IP, a 100/1000 Mbps port, and no admin/root access; consider it if that access model and daily billing suit.
• Dizzion Cloud PC offers dedicated persistent desktops with Core or Complete tiers and CPU or GPU workload configurations, with pricing available by contacting Dizzion.
• Infosaic Cloud Virtual Desktop has a Light plan at 11.95 USD per month, with 3 GB RAM, 4 virtual cores, an 80 GB system drive, and a 10 GB data drive; consider it if those specified resources fit.
• Shadow PC offers Neo Lite at 29.99 USD per month with 120 hours/month, sessions up to 4h, 1440p, and a 256 GB SSD; consider it when those usage and session limits suit.
• Workspot Cloud PCs is an enterprise service with configurable desktop resources and use-based payment; pricing is available by contacting Workspot.
• Vagon Cloud Computer offers hourly plans charged by the minute, including Sand at $0.25/hour with 2 cores, 3.1 GHz, and 4GB RAM; consider it if that hourly model and configuration suit.

Verdict

Choose Amazon WorkSpaces if your organization needs persistent cloud desktops or application streaming with AWS identity, storage, and management options. Its main advantage is the breadth of delivery and administration choices; its main drawback is that costs vary by service and usage, while Pools and PCoIP timelines can constrain deployment plans.