AWS CloudShell Reviews & Product Details

AWS CloudShell is a browser-based shell environment that enables users to manage, explore, and interact with AWS resources directly from the AWS Management Console. It provides immediate access to a pre-authenticated Amazon Linux 2 environment with the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) and other essential development tools pre-installed. This eliminates the need for local installation or configuration, streamlining cloud resource management and development workflows. Key Features and Functionality: - Pre-Authenticated Access: CloudShell automatically uses the credentials from your AWS Management Console session, allowing seamless interaction with AWS services without additional authentication steps. - Pre-Installed Tools: The environment comes equipped with the AWS CLI, Python, Node.js, and various utilities such as git, vim, and package managers like npm and pip, enabling immediate productivity without setup overhead. - Multiple Shell Support: Users can choose their preferred command-line interface from Bash, PowerShell, or Z shell, catering to diverse user preferences. - Persistent Storage: Each user is allocated 1 GB of persistent storage per AWS Region in their home directory (`$HOME`), ensuring that files, scripts, and configurations are retained between sessions. - Security and Compliance: CloudShell operates within the AWS security boundary, inheriting the security configurations and compliance measures of the AWS environment, providing a secure platform for cloud operations. Primary Value and User Solutions: AWS CloudShell simplifies cloud resource management by providing a ready-to-use, secure shell environment accessible directly from the browser. It eliminates the complexities associated with setting up and maintaining local development environments, thereby accelerating development and operational tasks. By integrating seamlessly with AWS services and offering a consistent, pre-configured environment, CloudShell enhances productivity, reduces setup time, and ensures a secure and efficient workflow for developers and system administrators.

Seller

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Discussions

AWS CloudShell Community

Solution Type

Best-of-Breed

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Average based on 34 real user reviews.

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AWS CloudShell Integrations

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Atharva P.

Cloud BI Engineer

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

6/8/2026

"Instant, Secure AWS CLI Access in the Browser with AWS CloudShell"

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

What I like best about AWS CloudShell is that it provides instant access to a preconfigured AWS CLI environment directly from the AWS Management Console. There is no need to install AWS CLI, manage credentials locally, or configure development environments before performing administrative tasks.

The service is especially useful for quick troubleshooting, running scripts, validating configurations, and executing AWS commands securely from any browser. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

CloudShell is excellent for administrative tasks and lightweight scripting, but it is not designed for large-scale development environments or resource-intensive workloads. Session storage is limited, and long-running processes are generally better suited for dedicated compute resources. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

AWS CloudShell solves the challenge of quickly accessing AWS command-line tools without requiring local setup.

Example:

When troubleshooting IAM permissions, checking Lambda configurations, querying S3 buckets, or validating CloudFormation deployments, engineers can immediately launch CloudShell from the AWS console and execute commands without configuring credentials or installing software.

This significantly reduces setup time and improves operational efficiency. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Luca P.

Chief Operations Officer DEQUA Studio | Formerly CTO in MarTech

Marketing and Advertising

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

7/4/2025

"Browser-based shell for AWS management:"

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

AWS CloudShell provides instant, browser-based access to a pre-authenticated shell environment integrated with AWS credentials. It supports multiple shells (Bash, PowerShell, Z shell), comes with preinstalled CLI tools and SDKs, and offers 1 GB of persistent storage per region. File upload/download and session restore features are included, and there’s no extra cost for using the shell itself. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

The 1 GB storage limit per region feels restrictive for larger workflows. Session timeouts after inactivity can interrupt longer tasks. Persistent storage is not available in VPC environments, which can be disruptive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

CloudShell removes the need for local CLI setup, simplifies multi-account and multi-region management, and provides a secure, consistent environment for AWS operations and automation directly from the browser. It’s especially useful for quick troubleshooting, scripting, and administrative tasks, though not ideal for data-heavy or long-running jobs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Computer Software

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/11/2024

"AWS cloudshell for quick Linux environment on cloud."

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

The most helpful feature of CloudShell that I have found is it allows to download files directly from the CloudShell. Like I am a Windows user but whenever I get the requirements of Linux I prefer to use CloudShell for quick and easy. Most recently I used CloudShell to prepare lambda layer packages for the Python environment. So I don't need to go and spin up a Linux machine and prepare the package, instead, the CloudShell is the quickest way to achieve it. The second best use that I have done through it is by using AWS CLI on CloudShell to prepare the scripts and check them instantly without thinking about configuring AWS CLI on any system. CloudShell helps me to be independent of what host machine I am using; I will be able to do my work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

The least helpful part, what I can say, is it doesn't have port forwarding like GCP has. And second, it doesn't have the integration with the Cloud9 IDE for instant mini development and debugging. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Arvind Kumar M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/10/2024

"AWS CloudShell | A User Friendly Command Line Interface"

4.5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

I've been using the AWS CloudShell for the last few years, and I can say, that anyone with Command Line Knowledge, can use AWS CloudShell or CLI [ command line interface ] in AWS to connect and work with other AWS services, It is also a one-stop solution for managing AWS resources and also to create new resources. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

In my view, AWS Cloudshell has nothing to dislike, but yes, sometimes, needs help then the AWS Support Team takes too much time to respond. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

AWS CloudShell eliminates the need for external terminal setups, I can work with an integrated command-line interface which is available directly within the AWS Management Console. Using this tool, I can save time in creating and managing resources compared to the GUI. Instead of navigating through multiple pages for different services, the tool streamlines the process, providing a more efficient way to handle resource management task Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shivalika D.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/24/2024

"AWS CloudShell is providing effortless AWS Management."

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

Easily accessible with the use of CLI. Here are some upsides of using AWS cloud shell:

The Pre-installed Tools

Easily integrate with the AWS management console

Easy accessible without the need for local installations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

There is nothing to dislike in the AWS CloudShell. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

Removal of the Local Environment Configuration:

Problem: Installing and installing the required tools in a local development environment can be laborious and prone to mistakes.

Benefit: By offering a browser-based shell with pre-installed AWS CLI commands and SDKs, AWS CloudShell relieves users of the burden of setting up and maintaining a local environment.

Converging Console Experience:

Issue: The workflow may be interrupted by alternating between the local terminal and the AWS Management Console.

Benefit: By offering a single approach to managing AWS resources, CloudShell's smooth integration with the AWS Management Console is a great feature. From the console, users can directly access the shell.

Availability and Remote Access:

Issue: It can be difficult to get command-line tools from various devices or places.

Benefit: Without the need to install tools locally, users may run commands and control AWS resources from any place by utilizing CloudShell, which is available through a web browser. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Jitendra K.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/19/2024

"Excellent tool to manage Cloud Server"

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

Easy to access from AWS Management Console, due to which we can access it from any devices. Easy to implement and manage AWS resources. We can use it frequently due to pre-authentication based method, which help us to access easily. It provides various features to control and manage from the cloud shell. Easy to integrate with other services. If we have any concern related to the services, we can connect with the Support team and they provide solutions with accuracy. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

It provides a limited storage i.e. 1GB per region, which is less than the other cloud shell storage services. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Mohit D.

Associate Software Maintenance Engineer

Information Technology and Services

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/11/2024

"Experience seamless cloud management with a user-friendly interface."

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

I would like to recommend AWS CloudShell as a must-have tool for managing AWS. Its interface is user-friendly, and comes with pre-configured tools that make it easier to integrate with AWS services. Additionally, it offers persistent storage and prioritizes security. In my opinion, it's an outstanding service that I would recommend to both beginners and experienced AWS users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

I have noticed that some command names are a bit confusing, which makes it difficult to determine which command to use for a specific task. However, overall, the service is great and very helpful. I would highly recommend adding more built-in features to make it even better. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

This tool is amazing! It's a browser-based shell that lets you run AWS CLI commands with ease. You won't need to connect to EC2 anymore, and it's completely free to use. AWS CloudShell manages your credentials automatically, and it comes with 1 GB of persistent storage. It's highly customizable and provides access to familiar tools. Give it a try, I think you'll love it too! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Ankur V.

Product Manager

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/18/2024

"Using cloudshell from last 1.5 year. It is a great tool."

4/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

I appreciate AWS CloudShell for its convenience, allowing us to run commands and scripts directly from the AWS Management Console without the need for a separate terminal. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

occasional limitations in terms of available tools and customization options in AWS CloudShell. Users with specific workflow requirements or those accustomed to a highly customized command-line environment might find CloudShell less flexible compared to traditional local terminals. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is AWS CloudShell solving and how is that benefiting you?

AWS CloudShell simplifies AWS resource management by providing a browser-based shell in the AWS Management Console. It offers convenience, pre-installed tools, and consistent environments, reducing the need for local setups and enhancing accessibility. The benefits include streamlined workflows and improved AWS resource interactions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Varun Ganjigunte P.

Computer Vision Engineer

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

9/22/2023

"AWS CloudShell is a game changer for AWS Users"

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

AWS CloudShell has a downloading the workspace ability to our local system from CloudShell which is a really great feature while working on large datasets and code systems. The interface works seamlessly with no lag. The best part is that the shell comes with preinstalled packages and many useful Linux tools. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

The persistent storage is 1GB after the CloudShell is disconnected. This requires copy of data to a storage bucket. It would be great if the storage is automatically attached to a S3 bucket and let the user decide later to keep the data or not. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Anubhav P.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

1/21/2024

"Manage and interact with AWS resources directly from a browser using AWS CloudShell"

5/5

What do you like best about AWS CloudShell?

No additional cost to pay. Single point to manage AWS services. No issue to connect services which enables IP peering. Single credentials use to manage and monitor all the services from anywhere. It is very easy to implement in any integration. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about AWS CloudShell?

1 GB of persistent memory is the only challenge faced till now to run the custom and bulky scripts. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.