Which type of Amazon EC2 instance is considered a best practice for selection when starting out?

When starting out with Amazon EC2 instances, selecting On-Demand instances is widely considered a best practice due to their flexibility and ease of use. On-Demand instances allow users to pay for compute capacity by the hour or second, with no long-term commitments. This pay-as-you-go model is particularly advantageous for startups and projects that might have variable workloads or are still in the experimentation phase. It enables users to scale their computing resources up or down based on current needs without the financial risk associated with larger commitments.

This approach allows new users to familiarize themselves with AWS services without needing to commit to a specific instance type or usage. It provides the advantage of immediate availability without the complexities and potential penalties tied to options like Reserved or Dedicated instances, which require more careful planning and commitment based on long-term usage needs.

In contrast, Spot instances are often less reliable, as they can be interrupted when AWS needs the capacity back, making them less suitable for critical workloads, especially when just starting out. Reserved instances provide cost savings for predictable workloads but require upfront payment and commitment, which may not be ideal for beginners who are still exploring their needs. Dedicated instances are more suitable for compliance and licensing requirements, and they also represent a higher cost, making them less optimal