Secrets or environment variables?

Choosing between environment variables and AWS Secrets Manager hinges on factors such as use case, security needs, and the data type. Environment variables are easier to use, free, and offer fast access but are less secure and lack features like versioning. On the other hand, AWS Secrets Manager provides robust security through encryption, access control, audit trails, and supports secret versioning and rotation. However, it comes with additional costs and can introduce latency and rate limits.

General recommendations suggest using AWS Secrets Manager for storing sensitive data like API keys and passwords, due to its enhanced security features. For less sensitive, non-critical data such as feature flags or environment-specific URLs, environment variables are often adequate. Cost-conscious users who don’t need advanced features may find environment variables more economical. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific requirements and limitations.