Best cloud server providers (October 2026)
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Rent virtual servers by the month or hour for websites, apps and databases. Pick a provider with a data centre near your users.
The ranking
- 1
Amazon Lightsail
by AWSGood all-round optionSimple AWS virtual servers at a fixed monthly price, part of the AWS Free Tier.
Pros
- Data centre in Asia
- Included in the AWS Free Tier
- Mumbai confirmed
Cons
- Data centre in Europe, Data centre in Africa: check on Amazon Lightsail's site
- 2
DigitalOcean
by DigitalOceanGood all-round optionSimple cloud servers (Droplets) with predictable monthly prices.
Data centre in AsiaData centre in EuropeData centre in AfricaPros
- Data centre in Asia
- Data centre in Europe
- Bangalore, Singapore, Sydney, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and North America
Cons
- No data centre in Africa
- 3
Vultr
by VultrLowest entry priceLow-cost cloud compute instances from USD 2.50 a month.
Data centre in Asia: check on siteData centre in Europe: check on siteData centre in Africa: check on sitePros
- —
Cons
- Data centre in Asia, Data centre in Europe, Data centre in Africa: check on Vultr's site
- 4
Akamai Cloud (Linode)
by AkamaiGood all-round optionLinode's developer cloud, now Akamai, with shared CPU servers from USD 5 a month.
Data centre in Asia: check on siteData centre in Europe: check on siteData centre in Africa: check on sitePros
- —
Cons
- Data centre in Asia, Data centre in Europe, Data centre in Africa: check on Akamai Cloud (Linode)'s site
- Some plan prices vary by region
Not yet ranked
We could not confirm these prices on the vendors' pages; they join the ranking automatically once we do.
- Hetzner Cloud: Low-cost cloud servers from Germany with locations in Europe, the US and Singapore. See prices on Hetzner Cloud's site Alternatives to Hetzner Cloud
Compare all in a table
| Rank | Product | Score | Entry price (USD) | Data centre in Asia | Data centre in Europe | Data centre in Africa | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon Lightsail | 73 | 3.50 | Yes | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Visit site |
| 2 | DigitalOcean | 61 | 4.00 | Yes | Yes | No | Visit site |
| 3 | Vultr | 50 | 2.50 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Visit site |
| 4 | Akamai Cloud (Linode) | 38 | 5.00 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Visit site |
Entry price is the cheapest paid plan, converted to USD where the vendor prices in another currency. Usage-based prices are not compared.
What to check
Data centre in Asia. 2 of 4 confirm it.
Data centre in Europe. 1 of 4 confirm it.
Data centre in Africa. 0 of 4 confirm it.
Score: features 30, free plan or trial 20, pricing transparency 25, entry price value 25. Commissions are never part of it. Full method.
Questions
What is the cheapest option?
Vultr, from USD 2.50 per month.
Is there a free option?
0 of the 4 ranked products have a free plan.