DJames617 Service Comparison
ALB vs NLB vs API Gateway
These can all front applications, but layer and feature set drive the answer.
What They Have in Common
Each option can solve part of the scenario. The exam expects you to choose the one that satisfies the stated constraints with the right operational burden, security boundary, availability model, and cost behavior.
Key Differences
| Option | Primary model | Best use | Security | Availability | Operations and cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB | Layer 7 load balancer | HTTP apps, path/host routing, containers | Security groups, WAF, ACM | Multi-AZ targets | LCUs and hours |
| NLB | Layer 4 load balancer | TCP/UDP/TLS, static IP, high performance | Target SG behavior varies, TLS listeners | Multi-AZ targets | NLCUs and hours |
| API Gateway | Managed API front door | Serverless APIs, authorizers, throttling, stages | Authorizers, IAM, WAF, resource policies | Managed regional/edge APIs | Per request plus cache/features |
Typical Exam Clues
Practice After Studying
Return to the certification guide that includes this comparison and launch domain training from there.