Serverless isn't always cheaper. At scale, containers often win by 40-60%.
Serverless wins: <1M requests/month, highly variable traffic, simple functions, rapid prototyping. Cost advantage: pay-per-use eliminates idle cost.
Containers win: >5M requests/month, steady traffic, complex applications, specific runtime requirements. Cost advantage: resource sharing and optimization at scale.
The crossover point: typically 2-5M requests/month. Below: serverless cheaper. Above: containers cheaper by 40-60%.
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This article expands on ideas from my published work in CIO.com, Built In, Mind the Product, and HackerNoon. View published articles →
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