diff --git a/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc b/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
index 39006d1ab53..a29a743fed8 100755
--- a/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ With that out of the way, let's get started with the fun part...
 
 == Installation
 
+You can skip installation completely by using our hosted
+Elasticsearch Service on https://www.elastic.co/cloud[Elastic Cloud], which is
+available on AWS and GCP. You can
+https://www.elastic.co/cloud/elasticsearch-service/signup[try out the hosted service] for free.
+
 Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8. Specifically as of this writing, it is recommended that you use the Oracle JDK version {jdk}. Java installation varies from platform to platform so we won't go into those details here. Oracle's recommended installation documentation can be found on http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/install/install_overview.html[Oracle's website]. Suffice to say, before you install Elasticsearch, please check your Java version first by running (and then install/upgrade accordingly if needed):
 
 [source,sh]
diff --git a/docs/reference/setup/install.asciidoc b/docs/reference/setup/install.asciidoc
index 783cb804e7a..7675e5ad146 100644
--- a/docs/reference/setup/install.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/setup/install.asciidoc
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 [[install-elasticsearch]]
 == Installing Elasticsearch
 
+Elasticsearch can be run on your own hardware or using our hosted
+Elasticsearch Service on https://www.elastic.co/cloud[Elastic Cloud], which is
+available on AWS and GCP. You can
+https://www.elastic.co/cloud/elasticsearch-service/signup[try out the hosted service] for free.
+
 Elasticsearch is provided in the following package formats:
 
 [horizontal]
@@ -38,7 +43,7 @@ Elasticsearch on Windows. MSIs may be downloaded from the Elasticsearch website.
 `docker`::
 
 Images are available for running Elasticsearch as Docker containers. They may be
-downloaded from the Elastic Docker Registry. 
+downloaded from the Elastic Docker Registry.
 +
 {ref}/docker.html[Install {es} with Docker]