AWS’s Amazon Corretto vs Oracle Java in AWS
Even on AWS, using Oracle’s Java still requires a paid Oracle license.
For AWS customers, there’s no free ride with Oracle Java.
Many assume running Java on AWS somehow avoids Oracle’s rules – but it doesn’t.
If you deploy Oracle’s Java Development Kit (JDK) on AWS, you’re expected to pay Oracle’s subscription fees, just as if it were on-premises.
Pro Tip: “The easiest way to cut Java costs on AWS is to stop paying Oracle.”
Read our ultimate guide for more insights, Oracle Java in Cloud & Container Environments.
Understanding Oracle Java on AWS
Oracle’s Java licensing model is based on the number of employees and applies to cloud environments, too. Just moving Java workloads to AWS doesn’t make them free.
Oracle still requires you to license every employee who can access any Oracle JDK workload – even if that workload runs in a VM or container on AWS.
For context, Oracle’s policy is effectively all-or-nothing.
If your company has 5,000 employees, you must cover all 5,000 with Oracle Java licenses – even if only 50 use Java.
That can easily translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in Java license costs.
Notably, Oracle’s recent licensing changes have pushed everyone into this per-employee model—a shift that caught many companies by surprise.
In practice, AWS doesn’t include an Oracle Java license with its services.
If you run Oracle’s JDK on an EC2 instance or in an Amazon ECS container, you must pay for an Oracle Java SE subscription under Oracle’s terms.
The cost is typically calculated per employee (an “all employees” subscription model), which can become very expensive.
Running Java in the cloud doesn’t hide you from Oracle’s compliance audits – it just delays the bill until Oracle eventually comes knocking.
Pro Tip: “Cloud doesn’t make Oracle free; it just hides the bill until audit time.”
Use OpenJDK in containers, Container Best Practices – Using OpenJDK Images.
Introducing Amazon Corretto
Amazon Corretto is AWS’s free, open-source flavor of Java (OpenJDK). It’s a production-ready, enterprise-grade JDK that serves as a drop-in alternative to Oracle’s JDK.
Corretto is fully Java SE compliant, so it runs applications just like Oracle’s JDK.
In fact, Amazon runs Corretto internally across thousands of production services—a testament to its reliability and performance.
It’s available for multiple Java versions (8, 11, 17, etc.) and supported on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
AWS provides long-term support for Corretto, issuing regular security patches and updates at no cost.
AWS even offers technical support for Corretto as part of its standard support plans when you run it on AWS.
Corretto is also well-integrated with AWS. For example, AWS Lambda’s Java functions run on Corretto, and Amazon Linux AMIs include Corretto by default for EC2 instances.
For most workloads, Corretto is a drop-in replacement for Oracle JDK.
You don’t need to change any code – just swap out the JDK and your applications will run as before.
Corretto and Oracle Java are fully compatible at the bytecode level.
Comparison Table – Oracle Java vs Amazon Corretto
Below is a side-by-side comparison of Oracle Java and Amazon Corretto for AWS users:
| Feature | Oracle Java (Oracle JDK) | Amazon Corretto (OpenJDK) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid subscription (per-employee model) | Free (no licence fees at all) |
| Support | Included with Oracle’s Java subscription | Long-term updates by AWS (via AWS Support) |
| Updates | Regular security patches (if subscribed) | Regular security patches (AWS maintains LTS updates) |
| Compatibility | 100% Java SE compatible (proprietary build) | 100% Java SE compatible (OpenJDK standard) |
| Ideal Use Case | Oracle-centric shops; legacy apps requiring Oracle | AWS cloud workloads and hybrid environments |
Pro Tip: “If you run Java on AWS, Corretto is the default smart choice.”
Why Enterprises Are Switching
Many organizations are transitioning from Oracle’s Java to Amazon Corretto on AWS – and for good reason. Key reasons include:
- Avoiding Oracle’s steep license fees: Eliminating the per-employee Java licensing costs that Oracle imposes.
- Ending audit worries: Gaining independence from Oracle’s audits, compliance risks, and vendor lock-in by using an open-source JDK.
- Freedom in the cloud: Running Java on EC2, ECS, Lambda, or any AWS service without counting licenses or facing extra charges.
- DevOps simplicity: Standardizing on open-source Java tooling in CI/CD pipelines, without proprietary constraints.
- Cost transparency: Turning Java from a special cost item into a standard, no-cost part of your AWS stack.
In short, switching to Corretto turns Java from a costly line item into a normal, worry-free runtime – with no separate bills or special compliance headaches.
Migration Checklist – Moving from Oracle Java to Corretto
Ready to cut out Oracle JDK from your AWS environment? Here’s a step-by-step migration checklist:
✅ 1. Inventory your Java deployments – Identify every AWS resource running Oracle’s Java. Scan your EC2 instances, container images, Lambda functions, and any on-prem connections for Oracle JDK installations.
✅ 2. Validate compatibility – Test a few critical applications with Amazon Corretto to ensure they run properly (most will). This step builds confidence that switching won’t break your apps.
✅ 3. Replace base images – Update your server AMIs and container base images to include Corretto instead of Oracle JDK. This change ensures all new deployments are Oracle-free.
✅ 4. Roll out updates – Roll out Corretto in stages: deploy to a test or staging environment first, then to production once it’s validated, monitoring performance as you go.
✅ 5. Remove Oracle JDK – Uninstall Oracle JDK from all systems once Corretto is in place to prevent a fallback to it, and retain evidence of removal for audits.
✅ 6. Monitor updates – After migration, set up automated updates for Java. AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager (for example) can automatically apply Corretto security patches on a schedule.
Pro Tip: “Treat Java migration like any other cloud optimization — low effort, high reward.”
Common Questions AWS Teams Ask
Q: Will Corretto run all our Java apps?
A: Yes. Corretto is fully Java SE compatible, so your applications will run just as they did on Oracle’s JDK.
Q: Is Corretto really free for production use?
A: Absolutely. Amazon Corretto is free to use in production (or anywhere) with no licenses or subscriptions required.
Q: What about Java security updates?
A: AWS handles the updates. Amazon Corretto receives regular security patches and long-term support updates from AWS, just as Oracle’s Java does.
5 Pro Tips
1️⃣ Use AWS Systems Manager to centrally install and update Corretto across all your EC2 instances.
1️⃣ Lock your golden images (AMIs and containers) to use Corretto by default. This prevents new deployments from accidentally including Oracle JDK.
1️⃣ Document the removal of Oracle JDK. Keep proof (such as inventory reports or logs) to show auditors that Oracle Java is completely removed from your environment.
1️⃣ Combine the Corretto migration with a broader cost optimization review. Switching off Oracle Java is a great time to find other AWS cost savings.
1️⃣ If you’re unsure, test on non-production workloads first. Trial Corretto on a dev or QA environment before rolling it out company-wide.
5 Actions to Take After Reading
1️⃣ Audit your AWS environment to find where Oracle JDK is running today.
1️⃣ Download Amazon Corretto and try it out in a test environment (e.g., on a dev server or staging instance).
1️⃣ Plan your migration timeline for each application or service – you don’t have to migrate everything at once.
1️⃣ Update your base images and CI/CD pipelines to make Amazon Corretto the default Java for all new deployments.
1️⃣ Cancel Oracle Java subscriptions and remove any remaining Oracle JDK installations once your migration to Corretto is complete.
By following these steps, you’ll free your AWS environment from Oracle Java costs and compliance worries.
Amazon Corretto lets you run Java on your own terms in the cloud – with absolutely no surprise bills.
Making this switch is relatively easy, but it yields significant savings and peace of mind.
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