DigitalOcean vs Scaleway
A detailed comparison to help you choose between DigitalOcean and Scaleway.
DigitalOcean Simple, predictable cloud infrastructure for developers | Scaleway European cloud infrastructure with competitive pricing and transparent billing | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.1 (413 reviews) | 4.8 (475 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| Starting price | From €6/mo | Free tier available✓ |
| Best for | Startups and solo developers building web applications, APIs, and small-scale infrastructure who prioritize simplicity and documentation over enterprise features. | European startups and developers prioritizing cost efficiency, data sovereignty, and avoiding long-term contracts with established cloud providers. |
| Specifications (entry plan) | ||
| CPU cores | 1 vCPU | 2 vCPU✓ |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB✓ |
| Storage | 25 GB✓ | 20 GB |
| Bandwidth | 1 TB/mo | 1 TB/mo |
| SLA uptime | 99.99%✓ | 99.9% |
| Data-center count | 15✓ | 5 |
| €/vCPU/mo | €6.00 | €0.00✓ |
| €/GB RAM/mo | €6.00 | €0.00✓ |
| Performance | ||
| CPU score (sysbench) | 5,200 | — |
| Disk read (fio) | 2,800 MB/s | — |
| Disk IOPS (4K random) | 55,000 | — |
| Network out | 1 Gbps | — |
| Latency (TTFB) | 28 ms | — |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ||
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | United StatesNetherlandsSingaporeUnited KingdomGermanyCanada+2 | FranceNetherlandsPoland |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | free tierhourly billingnvme storageipv6ddos protectionbackups includedsnapshotsmanaged options3 compatibleeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenterterraform providerkubernetes supportprivate networkingapi access | free tierhourly billingipv6ddos protectionsnapshotsmanaged optionbare metalgpu availables3 compatibleeu datacentergdpr compliantterraform providerkubernetes supportapi access |
| Visit DigitalOcean → | Visit Scaleway → | |
DigitalOcean
Pros
- + Deploy Droplets in under one minute with streamlined console
- + Access extensive community documentation and tutorials
- + Get transparent, predictable pricing with no surprise fees
- + Manage infrastructure via API, CLI, or web dashboard
Cons
- - Limited geographic presence compared to AWS or Google Cloud
- - Smaller ecosystem of third-party integrations and tools
- - Scaling to enterprise requirements may require migration elsewhere
Scaleway
Pros
- + Configure instances precisely with granular CPU, RAM, and storage options
- + Access bare-metal servers at lower price points than major competitors
- + Pay by the hour with no long-term contracts or setup fees
- + Manage infrastructure via API or intuitive dashboard
- + Comply with EU data residency requirements with multiple European regions
Cons
- - Smaller ecosystem and fewer third-party integrations compared to AWS or DigitalOcean
- - Support response times slower than premium enterprise providers
- - Limited US region availability; primarily Europe-focused infrastructure
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.