What is Amazon Corretto?
Amazon Corretto is a free, multiplatform, production-ready OpenJDK distribution. AWS maintains Corretto internally for thousands of production services and makes the same distribution available for free.
Corretto includes performance optimizations and security patches that go beyond standard OpenJDK. The distribution is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and as a Docker image for container workloads.
Core Features
- Free LTS: Long-term support without license fees
- TCK Certification: Full Java SE compatibility
- Multi-Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows, and container images
- Performance Patches: AWS-specific optimizations for production workloads
- Quarterly Updates: Regular security and bug-fix releases
Typical Use Cases
Oracle JDK Replacement: Switch from paid Oracle JDK to free Corretto without code changes. Save license costs while maintaining compatibility.
Container Workloads: Corretto Docker images as the base for Java containers on ECS and EKS. Optimized images for minimal container size and fast startup times.
Lambda Java Runtime: Amazon Corretto as the runtime for Java-based Lambda functions. AWS uses Corretto internally as the default Java runtime for Lambda.
Benefits
- Completely free with long-term support
- No license costs, even for production use
- Drop-in replacement for Oracle JDK
- Performance optimizations from AWS
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with Amazon Corretto: JDK migration, performance optimization, container image strategies, and Java application development on AWS.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Corretto really free?
Yes. Amazon Corretto is completely free, including Long-Term Support. There are no license fees, even for production use. AWS commits to free quarterly updates for LTS versions.
Which Java versions are supported?
Corretto offers LTS versions (Java 8, 11, 17, 21) and current feature releases. LTS versions receive at least 4 years of free updates, some even longer.
Can I switch from Oracle JDK to Corretto?
Yes. Corretto is TCK-certified and fully compatible with the Java SE specification. In most cases, simply replacing the JDK is sufficient without code changes.