# Understanding the Amazon AppConfig hosted configuration store
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Amazon AppConfig includes an internal or hosted configuration store. Configurations must be 2 MB or smaller. The Amazon AppConfig hosted configuration store provides the following benefits over other configuration store options. 
+ You don't need to set up and configure other services such as Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) or Parameter Store.
+ You don't need to configure Amazon Identity and Access Management (IAM) permissions to use the configuration store.
+ You can store configurations in YAML, JSON, or as text documents.
+ There is no cost to use the store.
+ You can create a configuration and add it to the store when you create a configuration profile.