The DigitalOcean Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about DigitalOcean in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
DigitalOcean
The Insider’s Guide
Cloud servers, app hosting and managed databases for developers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from DigitalOcean’s own pages.
Made by DigitalOcean · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from DigitalOcean’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on DigitalOcean’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 31 of the 54 other web hosts we grade
DigitalOcean sells virtual machines it calls Droplets, a managed App Platform for deploying code, Kubernetes, managed databases, object storage and GPU servers. Droplets start at $4 a month and are billed per second, App Platform hosts up to three static-site apps for free, and outbound bandwidth is included in each Droplet.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about DigitalOcean, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Droplets are unmanaged servers: setup, updates and security are yours.
- 1
Best for plain cloud servers for developers
DigitalOcean sells Droplets from $4 a month, billed by the second, along with App Platform, managed databases and Kubernetes.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $4 per month (Droplet), billed per second.
- 3
There is a free plan
App Platform: 3 apps made only of static sites, with 1GiB of data transfer per app.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Droplets
Virtual machines in Basic and Premium CPU options, billed per second since January 1, 2026, with a monthly cap on each size.
- 6
App Platform
A managed way to deploy static sites, web services, workers and jobs, with free static sites for up to three apps.
- 7
Managed Kubernetes and Functions
Kubernetes starts at $12 a month, and Functions include 90,000 GiB-seconds a month free with no per-invocation charge.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 31 of 54
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing DigitalOcean does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
DigitalOcean at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4 per month (Droplet), billed per second
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- DigitalOcean, since 2012
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for plain cloud servers for developers
DigitalOcean sells Droplets from $4 a month, billed by the second, along with App Platform, managed databases and Kubernetes. A Droplet is an unmanaged server, and the free App Platform tier only covers 3 static sites with 1GiB of transfer each.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Droplets from $4 a month, inside the cheaper quarter ($5.28). Managed databases start at $15, Kubernetes at $12 and bandwidth past the allowance is $0.01 per GiB. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 3 static-site apps free on App Platform, 1GiB of transfer each. Add a container, worker or job and the app is paid. |
| Features | B | Droplets, App Platform, managed Kubernetes and databases, storage, backups and GPUs from one provider. The listing names no hole in the core job. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. Droplets are unmanaged servers: setup, updates and security are yours. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, and the listing shows no integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who DigitalOcean is for
- Fits if you want plain virtual machines with a monthly cap on the price
- Works for teams that want databases and Kubernetes under one bill
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you don't want to patch and secure a server yourself
- Tight if you stay free: 3 static apps and 1GiB of transfer each
- Watch out: a container, worker or job makes a free app paid
- Watch out: most listed prices are starting points, and larger Droplets, databases and GPUs cost more
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want plain virtual machines with a predictable monthly cap
- Static sites and small apps on the free App Platform tier
- Teams that want managed databases and Kubernetes from one provider
Worth knowing
- Free App Platform apps can only use static site components; any container, worker or job makes the app paid.
- Bandwidth beyond a Droplet's included transfer is billed at $0.01 per GiB.
- A Droplet is an unmanaged server: updates and security setup are the buyer's job.
- Many of the listed prices are starting points; larger Droplet, database and GPU sizes cost more.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4
A month to start. There is a free plan too
DigitalOcean has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4 per month (Droplet), billed per second.
Add a container, worker or job and the app is paid.
App Platform static sites
$0
per month for up to 3 static-site apps
Free for apps using only static sites, with 1GiB of transfer each. Extra static-only apps are $3 a month.
App Platform containers
$5
per month for the entry container plan
Paid apps with web services, workers or jobs run on container plans from $5 a month; other plans include $10, $20 and $25.
Droplets
$4
per month, billed per second
Virtual machines, billed per second with a 60-second or $0.01 minimum. Each includes outbound transfer, starting at 500GiB a month.
Managed Databases
$15
per month and up
Fully managed databases for PostgreSQL, MySQL and caching, maintained by DigitalOcean.
The free plan
App Platform: 3 apps made only of static sites, with 1GiB of data transfer per app.
Read from digitalocean.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Cloud servers, app hosting and managed databases for developers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, databases.
Droplets, App Platform, managed Kubernetes and databases, storage, backups and GPUs from one provider.
- Droplets
- Virtual machines in Basic and Premium CPU options, billed per second since January 1, 2026, with a monthly cap on each size.
- App Platform
- A managed way to deploy static sites, web services, workers and jobs, with free static sites for up to three apps.
- Managed Kubernetes and Functions
- Kubernetes starts at $12 a month, and Functions include 90,000 GiB-seconds a month free with no per-invocation charge.
- Storage
- Spaces object storage starts at $5 a month, block storage volumes at $10, and shared file storage is $0.15 per GiB-month.
- Backups and snapshots
- Droplet backups cost 20% of the Droplet price for weekly and 30% for daily, and snapshots are usage-based from $0.01 per GiB a month.
- GPU Droplets and AI models
- GPU Droplets start at $0.76 per GPU-hour on demand, and the platform also lists hosted AI models priced per million tokens.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
DigitalOcean is made by DigitalOcean, and has been around since 2012.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
31/54
Other web hosts it is graded above
DigitalOcean's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 31 of the 54 other web hosts we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on features (B, above 29 of 54) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4 a month, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 13 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 55 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. DigitalOcean’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 27 of 54
- CFree plan and trialAbove 42 of 54
- BFeaturesAbove 29 of 54
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 54
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 54
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 53 web hosts. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. DigitalOcean is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing DigitalOcean does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
It costs $48 a year.
What you could not
- Databases with views, filters and links between them.
- An API that other software can build on.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. DigitalOcean’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Akamai Linode, Vultr, Hetzner, Cloudways and Render
The 5 tools DigitalOcean is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Akamai Linode
From $5/mo
Linux virtual servers from $5 a month on Akamai Cloud.
- DigitalOcean has a free plan. Akamai Linode does not.
- 1.8GPA
Vultr
From $2.50/mo
Cloud servers, bare metal and GPUs billed hourly or monthly.
- DigitalOcean has a free plan. Vultr does not.
- DigitalOcean also covers databases.
- 2.4GPA
Hetzner
From €1.60/mo
German hosting: web hosting, cloud servers and dedicated servers.
- DigitalOcean has a free plan. Hetzner does not.
- DigitalOcean also covers databases.
- Hetzner also covers file sharing.
- 2.2GPA
Cloudways
Free trial · from $11/mo
Managed cloud hosting on DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS or Google.
- DigitalOcean has a free plan. Cloudways does not, though it has a free trial.
- DigitalOcean also covers databases.
- Cloudways also covers malware protection.
- 2.4GPA
Render
Free plan · from $25/mo
Cloud hosting for web services, databases and workers.
- Render also covers workflow automation.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is DigitalOcean free?
DigitalOcean has a free plan. App Platform: 3 apps made only of static sites, with 1GiB of data transfer per app.
How much does DigitalOcean cost?
DigitalOcean lists 4 plans. App Platform static sites: $0 per month for up to 3 static-site apps.
What platforms does DigitalOcean work on?
DigitalOcean is available on Web.
Does DigitalOcean have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. DigitalOcean is listed for Web.
Does DigitalOcean have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. DigitalOcean is listed for Web.
Is DigitalOcean open source?
DigitalOcean is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does DigitalOcean have an API?
Yes. DigitalOcean offers a public API, according to its own site.
Who makes DigitalOcean?
DigitalOcean is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2012.
What are the alternatives to DigitalOcean?
The closest alternatives to DigitalOcean in our directory are Akamai Linode, Vultr, Hetzner, Cloudways and Render.
How does DigitalOcean compare with other web hosts?
DigitalOcean's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 31 of the 54 other web hosts we grade, and level with 13.
Is DigitalOcean good value for money?
ToolGPA grades DigitalOcean B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4 a month, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 13 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of DigitalOcean?
Nothing DigitalOcean does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from DigitalOcean’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from DigitalOcean's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by DigitalOcean. Prices change, so check digitalocean.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- DigitalOcean, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/digitalocean
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "DigitalOcean: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/digitalocean
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/digitalocean/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded web hosts after DigitalOcean, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 55 web hosts we grade, compared
- Cloudflare Pages Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for static sites and full-stack apps2.8 GPA
- Netlify Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for sites and web apps, priced by monthly credits2.8 GPA
- Northflank Insider's GuideContainer platform for services, jobs, databases and GPUs2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what DigitalOcean’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. DigitalOcean is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by DigitalOcean. Prices and plans change: check digitalocean.com before you buy.