- DigitalOcean alternatives at a glance
- Ten cloud providers to consider instead of DigitalOcean
- The email port new servers often block
- What to compare between cloud providers
- Moving a server to a new provider
- Security basics for any new server
- My plain advice on DigitalOcean alternatives
- Frequently asked questions
The right DigitalOcean alternative depends on what you run: simple VPS providers suit websites and small apps, European clouds suit businesses that want data kept in the EU, and app platforms suit developers who'd rather not manage servers. Check what each provider blocks on new accounts, because outgoing email is a common surprise.
DigitalOcean made cloud servers approachable for developers and small businesses. But the market has filled up with providers that compete on location, simplicity and support, and many teams now spread work across more than one.
Below are ten alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from smaller independent clouds to services from big names. Each description comes from the provider's own website, re-checked today. If speed is part of your reason for moving, my comparison of AWS CloudFront and BunnyCDN covers the delivery side.
Decide how much server work you want to do. A VPS gives you full control and full responsibility, while an app platform handles servers for you and asks you to fit its way of working.
DigitalOcean alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site describes a free plan, Trial only means a trial or starter credit, and No means neither is stated. Most cloud providers work on usage-based plans.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Lightsail | Simple cloud servers | Easy VPS inside a big cloud | Trial only |
| Civo | Cloud native provider | Fast Kubernetes clusters | Trial only |
| Contabo | VPS and dedicated servers | Generous resources on VPS | No |
| Exoscale | European cloud provider | EU-based cloud infrastructure | No |
| Fly.io | App hosting platform | Running apps close to users | Trial only |
| Hetzner | Cloud and dedicated servers | Strong value European servers | No |
| Kamatera | Cloud server provider | Flexible custom server sizes | Trial only |
| Linode | Cloud computing platform | Developer-friendly VPS | Trial only |
| Scaleway | European cloud provider | European cloud with many services | No |
| UpCloud | Cloud server provider | Fast servers with European roots | Trial only |
Ten cloud providers to consider instead of DigitalOcean
AWS Lightsail
Best for: Small businesses who want simple servers with the option to grow into a larger cloud later.
Civo
Best for: Developer teams who want quick, simple Kubernetes and cloud services.
Contabo
Best for: People who want VPS servers with plenty of resources for side projects and small apps.
Exoscale
Best for: European businesses who want cloud servers and storage hosted in Europe.
Fly.io
Best for: Developers who want to deploy apps in regions near their users without managing servers.
Hetzner
Best for: Developers and small firms who want reliable cloud and dedicated servers from a German provider.
Kamatera
Best for: Businesses who want to build cloud servers with custom specifications in many locations.
Linode
Best for: Developers who want simple, reliable virtual servers with good documentation.
Scaleway
Best for: Businesses who want a European cloud with servers, storage and managed services.
UpCloud
Best for: Teams who want fast cloud servers and storage from a provider with European roots.
The email port new servers often block
Here's the surprise many people hit on day one. DigitalOcean's own documentation explains that SMTP is blocked on its servers, strongly recommends against running your own mail server because self-hosted mail is hard to secure and often flagged as spam, and recommends a third-party email service instead.
Many cloud providers restrict outgoing mail on new accounts for the same reasons. So before you move a website that sends contact form emails or order receipts, plan to send through a dedicated email service. It's more reliable, and your messages are far more likely to reach the inbox.
What to compare between cloud providers
- Data centre locations: close to your users, and in the right country.
- Managed services: databases, backups and load balancers.
- Support: community docs only, or people you can reach?
- Restrictions: outgoing email and other limits on new accounts.
- Idle resources: what keeps running when you're not using it.
Moving a server to a new provider
- Take a full backup and snapshot of the current server.
- Create the new server with the same operating system version.
- Copy your files, databases and configuration across.
- Lower your DNS time to live, then point the domain at the new server.
- Watch logs and email delivery for a few days before deleting the old server.
Security basics for any new server
- SSH keys: not passwords, for server logins.
- Firewall: only open the ports you need.
- Automatic updates: for security patches.
- Backups: scheduled, and tested by restoring one.
If your server runs a public website, my guide on how to stop hackers getting into your business website covers the application side.
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It's also worth setting up simple uptime alerts on day one. You'll hear about a problem from a monitoring email rather than from a customer, which makes every fix calmer.
Document your server setup as you go. A short note of what you installed and why turns the next migration from a guessing game into a checklist.
Do you make cloud providers? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on DigitalOcean alternatives
If server work isn't your strength, don't run your own servers. A managed platform or managed hosting takes away some control and saves you from 2am security patches.
And keep backups somewhere other than your main provider. If an account is locked or a region goes down, you'll want a copy you can reach.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to DigitalOcean?
Simple VPS providers suit websites, European clouds suit EU data needs, and app platforms suit developers who want less server work.
Can I send email from a cloud server?
Often not directly. DigitalOcean's documentation says SMTP is blocked and recommends a third-party email service.
Which provider is best for European data?
Providers with European data centres and EU headquarters suit businesses with EU data rules.
Is a VPS hard to manage?
It needs some technical skill for setup, security and updates.
What's the difference between a VPS and an app platform?
A VPS gives you a whole server to manage, while an app platform runs your code for you.
Do cloud providers offer free trials?
Many offer starter credit or trials for new accounts.
How do I move my website to a new server?
Back up, copy files and databases, then switch DNS once everything is tested.
Should I use more than one provider?
Some teams do for resilience, though it adds complexity.
Do I need a control panel?
Not always, but a control panel makes managing websites easier for non-developers.
Can I keep my website online during a move?
Yes. Build and test the new server first, then switch DNS so visitors move over without downtime.
