Best DigitalOcean Alternative 2026: Our TOP 3 Alternatives
DigitalOcean’s VPS offerings give you plenty of flexibility and customization options, but they’re also quite complex for beginners. Add to that relatively high costs and performance issues. So if not DigitalOcean, then what?
From budget-friendly starter VPS to high-performance VPS solutions for growing applications, we’ve rounded up 3 DigitalOcean alternatives that might be a better fit for your project.
What’s Wrong With DigitalOcean?
DigitalOcean ranked 8th out of 11 in our VPS comparison. While the US-based provider offers plenty of configuration flexibility, it falls short in real-world performance, pricing, and ease of use. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest drawbacks:
Weak Performance
In our performance test, DigitalOcean lagged behind many competitors in CPU and RAM performance, which can significantly slow down resource-heavy applications or multiple processes running at once.High Costs
DigitalOcean also falls short in terms of value for money. Its plans are significantly more expensive than other VPS providers without delivering better performance.Not Beginner-Friendly
DigitalOcean’s offerings are geared toward experienced users. If you’re new to VPS, you can expect a steep learning curve.Cluttered, Slow Dashboard
The dashboard packs in a lot of features, which can make it feel overwhelming. This makes it especially difficult for beginners to navigate, and it can feel sluggish at times.Limited Support
Live chat and dedicated support are only available to paying customers. If you need phone support, DigitalOcean does not offer it.Backups Cost Extra
Automatic backups aren’t included by default, and even snapshots come with an additional fee.
So, DigitalOcean’s VPS isn’t our top pick, especially for beginners. But which alternatives are better?
The Best DigitalOcean Alternatives
The best VPS depends on your budget, performance needs, and feature requirements. Here are the five best DigitalOcean alternatives from our comparison:
Hetzner: Powerful Performance for Experienced Users
Hetzner *is a strong alternative to DigitalOcean if you want full control over your VPS at a low cost. It’s built for users who prefer to manage their own servers and value a high-performance setup, fast deployment, and a clean, no-nonsense dashboard.
Performance is a standout: Hetzner delivers strong benchmark results for CPU and RAM, offering better overall value than DigitalOcean. However, it’s less beginner-friendly, as you’re expected to handle more of the setup yourself. The documentation is solid.
Hetzner is a solid DigitalOcean alternative if you:
need a high-performance VPS at a fair price
want to manage and configure your servers independently
prefer a dashboard that’s fast and easy to navigate
need German-language documentation and easily accessible support
Hetzner’s clean and straightforward dashboard.
What Does Hetzner Do Better Than DigitalOcean?
Hetzner takes a different approach than DigitalOcean. It stands out where cost control, hardware performance, and overall efficiency matter most:
More bang for your buck
Hetzner simply offers you more for your money, especially if you need extra RAM or processing power. You often get better specs for less than with DigitalOcean.Stronger server performance
Hetzner outperforms DigitalOcean in CPU and RAM benchmarks, which makes a real difference for database-driven apps, containers, or any workload that demands consistent resources.Support you can actually reach
Hetzner offers more traditional support options, including a phone line. This is a major advantage if you don’t want to rely solely on tickets when issues arise.
Where Does Hetzner Fall Short Compared to DigitalOcean?
Despite its strengths, Hetzner has some drawbacks compared to DigitalOcean. These mainly involve flexibility and certain infrastructure aspects that may matter depending on your project.
Less flexible plans
Hetzner offers several VPS configurations, but you have less control over fine-tuning than with DigitalOcean. If you need to customize CPU, RAM, and storage for a specific use case, DigitalOcean provides more flexibility.Weaker SSD performance
Hetzner’s storage performance lags behind DigitalOcean’s. It’s sufficient for standard projects, but for I/O-heavy applications, DigitalOcean may be the better choice.Weaker network performance
DigitalOcean also has a slight edge in network performance, which can matter for high-traffic applications.
Hostinger: A User-Friendly VPS for Quick Setup
Hostinger* is a solid DigitalOcean alternative if you want a VPS without the hassle of manual setup. The Lithuania-based provider combines a modern control panel with a straightforward setup process.
Instead of focusing on maximum flexibility, Hostinger simplifies common server tasks such as setup, management, and security.
Hostinger is a great DigitalOcean alternative if you:
want to launch a VPS quickly with minimal setup
prefer a modern, easy-to-understand control panel
need a provider that’s simple to use, even without deep cloud expertise
value automatic backups at no extra cost
Hostinger’s hPanel.
Where Hostinger Beats DigitalOcean
Hostinger stands out for its ease of use, fast workflows, and useful extra features:
Easier to manage
The hPanel is more intuitive than DigitalOcean’s dashboard and gives you faster access to key features. You can manage servers, domains, and other hosting products in one place.Better single-core performance
Hostinger outperforms DigitalOcean in tasks that rely heavily on single-core performance, which makes a difference for traditional web apps and smaller database queries.Free backups
Weekly automatic backups are included at no extra cost. You can also create manual snapshots whenever needed.
Where Hostinger Falls Short Compared to DigitalOcean
Hostinger isn’t as flexible as DigitalOcean and isn’t as budget-friendly as it first appears:
Less flexible scaling
Hostinger gives you fewer options to fine-tune CPU, RAM, or storage. If you need to adjust resources to match your requirements, DigitalOcean offers more control.Higher renewal costs
The low introductory prices increase significantly after the first term, which can make long-term budgeting more difficult.Weaker network performance
Hostinger’s network isn’t as robust as DigitalOcean’s. For most websites, this is not an issue, but data-heavy applications or frequent transfers may cause slower performance.
IONOS: Affordable VPS Hosting
IONOS* is one of Germany’s most well-known hosting providers. Its VPS offerings focus on simplicity and clear pricing. Instead of a developer-heavy platform, IONOS prioritizes quick setup and an environment that’s easy to use right away.
IONOS is a great DigitalOcean alternative if you:
want a VPS with the lowest possible ongoing costs
don’t need a highly complex cloud platform
prefer a straightforward control panel over a technically complex environment
expect high traffic without extra charges
The IONOS cloud panel.
What Makes IONOS Better Than DigitalOcean?
IONOS isn’t just cheaper than DigitalOcean—it’s also easier to use. For most web projects that don’t require advanced features, it’s more than enough.
Easier to use
The interface is clean and intuitive, even for beginners. You can quickly access servers, firewalls, backups, and billing details without hassle.Lower costs
IONOS is significantly cheaper than DigitalOcean for comparable plans. This is especially noticeable if you use a VPS long-term rather than just for testing.Strong RAM performance
IONOS delivers excellent RAM performance in benchmarks, which is beneficial for caching and running multiple services at once.
What Makes IONOS Worse Than DigitalOcean?
IONOS also has some drawbacks, particularly when it comes to flexibility, storage performance, and technical control.
Less flexible scaling
You can’t adjust resources as precisely as with DigitalOcean. If your project grows and you need to scale specific components, DigitalOcean provides more options.Weaker SSD performance
IONOS lags behind DigitalOcean in read and write speeds, which can be noticeable for databases, ecommerce sites, or other storage-heavy applications.No rescue system
IONOS doesn’t offer a traditional rescue mode. If you encounter major issues, you’ll have fewer direct troubleshooting options than with DigitalOcean.
All Alternatives Tested
Didn’t find the right fit in our top 5? Another provider from our test might work better for you. Here’s the full ranking of the 11 VPS services we reviewed, with links to our detailed test reviews:
Final Thoughts: Plenty of DigitalOcean Alternatives
DigitalOcean is not a bad VPS provider, but it’s not always the best choice. For many use cases, there are alternatives that are easier to use, more affordable, or offer better support.
The best option depends on your specific needs:
Still not sure which VPS provider is right for your project? Check out our in-depth VPS comparison, where we test 7 of the most popular providers.
