How to Host a React App on AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify has become one of the most popular hosting solutions for front-end applications, especially for React developers. With its simplified deployment process, built-in CI/CD, integration with AWS services, and global CDN, Amplify offers a seamless experience for hosting modern web applications.
This guide explains the steps involved in hosting a React application on AWS Amplify and highlights key features, best practices, and tips to ensure a smooth deployment.
What is AWS Amplify
AWS Amplify is a development platform that helps developers build, deploy, and host full-stack web and mobile applications. It provides hosting, authentication, APIs, storage, serverless functions, and CI/CD pipelines that integrate seamlessly with front-end frameworks such as React, Vue, Angular, and Next.js.
Amplify Hosting is specifically designed for modern static web applications and supports automatic deployments from Git repositories.
Why Choose AWS Amplify for React Hosting
Hosting your React app on AWS Amplify offers several advantages:
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Simple deployment process, ideal for beginners and professionals.
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Global CDN ensures fast content delivery worldwide.
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Built-in CI/CD for automated deployments from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or AWS CodeCommit.
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Easy integration with backend services such as GraphQL, REST, S3, Cognito, and Lambda.
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Custom domain setup and HTTPS included.
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Automatic environment support for dev, test, and production.
Prerequisites
Before deploying, ensure you have:
A React application ready to deploy
An AWS account
A GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or CodeCommit repository
Basic understanding of AWS services
Step-by-Step Process to Host a React App on AWS Amplify
Below is the standard workflow to host a React app using Amplify Hosting:
1. Set Up Your Source Code Repository
Push your React app to a GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or AWS CodeCommit repository.
Amplify connects to your repository to enable automatic builds and deployments.
2. Create a New App in AWS Amplify Console
Log in to the AWS Management Console and open Amplify.
Select the option to deploy a new web app and connect your Git provider.
Choose the repository and branch you wish to deploy.
3. Configure Build Settings
Amplify auto-detects React and generates a build configuration.
Review build settings, confirm the build and deployment steps, and proceed.
4. Deploy the App
Amplify provisions hosting resources, builds the React app, and deploys it to a global CDN.
After deployment, Amplify displays a live URL to access the app.
Key Features Provided After Deployment
Once your React app is hosted on Amplify, you benefit from:
Global CDN and caching
Automatic build and deploy on every commit
Password protection for staging environments
Monitoring, logs, and performance analytics
Support for multiple environments such as dev, QA, and production
Adding a Custom Domain
You can map your own domain to your Amplify app using Route 53 or external registrars.
Amplify supports:
Custom domain linking
Subdomain management
Automatic SSL certificates through AWS Certificate Manager
Enabling CI/CD for Continuous Deployment
Amplify offers continuous deployment by triggering automatic builds whenever you push changes to the connected branch.
This helps teams deploy frequently and maintain consistent versioning across multiple stages.
Integrating Backend Services Through Amplify
Amplify allows you to create and integrate backend features directly into your React application including:
User authentication with Amazon Cognito
Database and GraphQL API with AWS AppSync
REST APIs using API Gateway and Lambda
File storage using S3
Amplify CLI and Amplify Studio support both frontend and backend development.
Monitoring and Logging
Amplify Console provides monitoring tools that let you track performance, deployments, and error logs.
You can view:
Build logs
Network performance
User analytics
App health and activity
This makes it easier to troubleshoot deployment or runtime issues.
Best Practices for Hosting on AWS Amplify
Follow these recommended practices for optimal performance:
Use environment variables for API keys and secrets
Define separate environments for development, staging, and production
Enable branch-based deployments for parallel releases
Use image compression and lazy loading to improve app performance
Set caching rules for static resources
Limitations of AWS Amplify Hosting
Amplify is excellent for most static and serverless apps, but keep the following in mind:
It may not suit large monolithic backends
Build minutes have cost implications if not optimized
Vendor lock-in can occur if deeply integrated with AWS services
Pricing Overview
Amplify Hosting uses pay-as-you-go billing. You are charged for:
Build and deploy usage
Storage and data transfer from CDN
For small to medium-scale apps, Amplify is cost-effective due to low usage-based billing.
Conclusion
AWS Amplify provides a fast, secure, and scalable hosting solution for React applications. Its CI/CD integration, global CDN, and backend service support make it an ideal choice for modern front-end deployments. Whether you are building a small web portfolio or a complex enterprise application, Amplify simplifies the hosting lifecycle and helps you deliver a reliable cloud-hosted experience.
If you are planning to build a serverless or full-stack application on AWS, combining Amplify with Lambda, AppSync, S3, and Cognito creates a complete cloud-native solution.
