DigitalOcean vs Scaleway
A detailed comparison to help you choose between DigitalOcean and Scaleway.
Quick Verdict
4.1/5
DigitalOcean
413 reviews
4.8/5
Scaleway
475 reviews
Scaleway is rated higher (4.8 vs 4.1). Cloud VPS and managed services platform offering droplets, databases, and app hosting. Built for developers who want straightforward pricing and documentation without enterprise complexity. Scaleway provides bare-metal servers, VPS, and managed Kubernetes in European data centers. Designed for developers and small-to-medium businesses needing reliable cloud compute without vendor lock-in.
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) | 2,200 | — |
| Disk read (fio) | 560 MB/s | — |
| Disk IOPS (4K random) | 8,400 | — |
| Network out | 0.5 Gbps | — |
| Latency (TTFB) | 32 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
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