What it is
DigitalOcean is a cloud built for developers and small teams: virtual servers (Droplets), a platform to ship apps from Git (App Platform), managed databases, S3-compatible storage and Kubernetes. Pricing is simple and predictable, and its tutorial library is one of the most widely used resources for learning server administration.
How to use it
- Spin up a Linux server (Droplet) in a minute and pay by the hour, with a monthly cap.
- Ship an app from Git with App Platform, without managing the server.
- Use a managed database for PostgreSQL, MySQL or Redis, with automatic backups.
- Store files in Spaces, S3-compatible with a built-in CDN.
- Automate your infrastructure with its API, CLI or Terraform.
What it's good for
- A startup that needs servers and databases without AWS's complexity.
- A dev agency hosting client apps and APIs on Droplets.
- A team self-hosting tools like n8n, an open-source CRM or its own backend.
Pros
- Simple, predictable pricing, with servers from about US$4 per month
- Clean dashboard and excellent tutorials for learning server admin
- Servers, PaaS, databases and storage in one place
- API, CLI and Terraform to automate everything
Cons
- No data centers in Latin America; the closest are in North America
- Dashboard, docs and support in English
- Fewer services than AWS, Google Cloud or Azure for very large needs
