AWSAWS vs DigitalOcean
AWS rates 4.5/5 and starts at Custom. DigitalOcean rates 4.6/5 and starts at $4/mo. DigitalOcean is the higher rated. Only AWS has a free tier.
DigitalOcean rates higher (4.6/5 vs 4.5/5). AWS suits Startups to enterprises, while DigitalOcean is aimed at Developers & startups.
AWS vs DigitalOcean at a glance
| Measure | AWS | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Reviews | 16,800 | 7,800 |
| Starting price | Custom | $4/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Public API | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations listed here | 5 | 5 |
Feature & pricing comparison
Pricing side by side
| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Free | — |
| Pay-as-you-go | Custom | — |
DigitalOcean
Full pricing →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Droplet | $4/mo | $48 |
| General Purpose | $63/mo | $756 |
Which should you choose?
Choose AWS if…
- Most services matters to you.
- Huge ecosystem matters to you.
- Global scale matters to you.
- Fewer services than hyperscalers would be a problem.
Choose DigitalOcean if…
- Simple & predictable pricing matters to you.
- Great developer UX matters to you.
- Excellent tutorials matters to you.
- Complex pricing would be a problem.
AWS
Pros
- Most services
- Huge ecosystem
- Global scale
Cons
- Complex pricing
- Steep learning curve
DigitalOcean
Pros
- Simple & predictable pricing
- Great developer UX
- Excellent tutorials
Cons
- Fewer services than hyperscalers
- Limited global regions
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS better than DigitalOcean?+
DigitalOcean rates higher (4.6/5 vs 4.5/5). AWS suits Startups to enterprises, while DigitalOcean is aimed at Developers & startups.
Which is cheaper, AWS or DigitalOcean?+
AWS starts at Custom and DigitalOcean starts at $4/mo.
Do AWS or DigitalOcean have a free plan?+
AWS has a free tier; DigitalOcean does not (though trials may be available).
Which is better rated, AWS or DigitalOcean?+
DigitalOcean, at 4.6/5 across 7,800 reviews, versus 4.5/5 for AWS.
What is AWS best for, and what is DigitalOcean best for?+
AWS is aimed at Startups to enterprises (scalable apps, enterprise workloads). DigitalOcean is aimed at Developers & startups (startups, indie projects).