Amazon Web Services vs DigitalOcean
2026 comparison on prices, plans, regions and editorial verdict.
12 plans 13 regions Since 2011
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Amazon Web Services | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| From | $3.5/mes | $5/mes |
| Plans | 4 | 12 |
| Regions | 20 | 13 |
| HQ | Seattle, EEUU | Broomfield, Colorado, EEUU |
| Categories | VPSVDSDedicated serverS3 storageManaged hostingCDN | VPSVDSS3 storageManaged hosting |
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 |
Amazon Web Services
The enterprise default. Unrivalled for flexibility and global network, but the bill surprises almost everyone.
Pros
- 33+ regions
- Spot instances 70-90% off
- Advanced managed services
- IAM granular
Cons
- Expensive egress fees ($0.09/GB)
- Complex per-component pricing
- Premium support billed separately
- Steep learning curve
DigitalOcean
Best choice to get started quickly in the cloud. More expensive than Hetzner but with global reach, human support and flawless UX. Trustpilot ~4/5 across thousands of reviews.
Pros
- 14 global regions (Atlanta new in 2026)
- Reference-level docs and tutorials
- Monthly caps: no billing surprises
- $200/60-day free credit currently active
- On-demand H100/H200/MI300X GPU Droplets
Cons
- More expensive than Hetzner/Contabo for generic CPU
- Limited bandwidth vs European providers
- English-only support, sometimes slow without upgrade
- Account verification lockouts reported on Trustpilot
Category overlap
Both offer
VPSVDSS3 storageManaged hosting
Only Amazon Web Services
Dedicated serverCDN
Only DigitalOcean
Frequently asked questions
Amazon Web Services or DigitalOcean: which is cheaper?
Amazon Web Services from $3.5/mo vs DigitalOcean from $5/mo. Amazon Web Services is cheaper on its entry plan.
Which provider has better region coverage?
Amazon Web Services offers 20 regions. DigitalOcean offers 13 regions.
Which has the better editorial rating?
Amazon Web Services: 4.4/5 · DigitalOcean: 4.4/5.