Digital Ocean Review (2024)
TL;DR: What We Think of Digital Ocean
Cloud hosting can be a little daunting for many people in the first place, but Digital Ocean has made that doubly so with the liberal use of self-developed technical jargon. For layman unfamiliar with the company, start by exploring “Droplets” – their unique term for “cloud hosting solution”. That said, Digital Ocean is a highly modular and scalable environment with many advanced, developer-friendly features. Everything here is priced independently, so you’re really paying for only what you need.
Suitable for:
eCommerce, Enterprise, Developers-friendly, or Adult Website Hosting
Our Evaluation: Digital Ocean Pros and Cons
Digital Ocean Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Competitive and flexible pricing model
- Choice of 15 distributed data centers
- Highly configurable virtual machines
- Built-in alert system for resource thresholds or critical issues
Digital Ocean Cons
- Charges apply for automated backups
- Unencrypted backups
- Only suitable for advanced users
- Less user-friendly for team operations
Our Detail Findings & Experience with Digital Ocean
About Digital Ocean: Quick Introduction
Established in 2011, DigitalOcean was founded by Ben Uretsky, Moisey Uretsky, Mitch Wainer, Jeff Carr, and Alec Hartman. Originating from their prior venture, ServerStack, DigitalOcean was crafted to simplify cloud computing for software developers. With a mission to empower developers in building, deploying, and scaling cloud applications effortlessly, DigitalOcean has grown substantially, offering accessible, high-performance, and cost-effective cloud solutions tailored to the needs of software developers and small-scale startups.
| Performance |
Is Digital Ocean fast in terms of hosting speed and performance?Overall, yes. However, note that Digital Ocean is more of an infrastructure provider. There isn’t much built-in speed features for the users; however price is relatively cheaper and users has total freedom to configure their own server. The company publishes their server and network service status publicly, click here to visit. |
| Security |
Are websites hosted on Digital Ocean secure with server-side security?Digital Ocean offers powerful security with advanced network protection, data encryption, and continuous monitoring – making it a secure choice for cloud infrastructure needs. |
| Supports |
What types of customer support does Digital Ocean offer?As infrastructure provider, Digital Ocean offers a different level of support compared to managed hosting services. Their support is more focused on infrastructure-related issues and is less about spoonfeeding detailed guidance on website or application development. While essential support for technical issues with their platforms is there, users generally need a higher level of technical expertise to manage and troubleshoot their applications. In case you need help, you can reach out to Digital Ocean’s support via email. |
| Value for Money |
Is Digital Ocean worth its pricing in term of value?Known for its straightforward pricing, Digital Ocean primarily targets developers with its range of scalable ‘Droplets’ (cloud servers). It offers predictable, flat-rate pricing with various tiers based on CPU, memory, and storage resources. This makes it appealing for businesses and individuals looking for clear, no-surprise billing. |
| Overall Users Satisfaction |
What do users say about Digital Ocean?Based on our market research, Digital Ocean customers are singing praises for its affordable hosting plans, flexible server setup, and outstanding speed performance. Overall, they are one of the top cloud hosting choices for many users. For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below. |
| Beginners Friendliness |
Is Digital Ocean suitable for beginners?No, we do not think Digital Ocean is suitable for beginners with modest web hosting needs. Its complex setup and configuration, combined with the technical skills required, can be challenging for those without substantial web development experience. While Digital Ocean offers a highly scalable and powerful environment, it’s less suited for those seeking a more straightforward and cost-effective hosting solution. |
| Small Business Friendliness |
Is Digital Ocean suitable for small businesses?Similarly, Digital Ocean may not be an ideal choice for small businesses – especially if you don’t require high levels of website scalability or have complex hosting needs. The platform’s focus on modular cloud pricing and a technically demanding environment can pose challenges for small business owners lacking extensive technical expertise. While it offers powerful, scalable solutions, these features are more aligned with the needs of high-volume online shops or web developers with advanced skills. Small businesses seeking simpler, more straightforward hosting solutions might find Digital Ocean’s offerings to be an overkill. |
| Web Developers Friendliness |
Is Digital Ocean suitable for web developers?Digital Ocean is an excellent choice for experienced web developers, offering an environment that’s ideal for high-performance sites and a range of deployable features. Its scalable, high-powered infrastructure and advanced tools align well with the technical skills and demands of seasoned developers. |
| Host Own Email |
Can you host custom email accounts with Digital Ocean?No, you cannot host your own email accounts with Digital Ocean. To do this, you will need to utilize a third-party email provider like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 at additional cost. |
| Onboarding |
Is Digital Ocean easy for new customers to start with?The onboarding process with Digital Ocean is surprisingly quick and easy. All you need is to fill out a few details and provide your billing information, then you will be let loose into their control area. This works out well since you won’t be charged yet and you can explore to your heart’s content. |
| Free Trial |
Is Digital Ocean available for a free trial?Yes, Digital Ocean offers a 30-day free trial period. If you are not satisfied with their services for any reason, you can cancel within this period and receive a full refund. Try now: Click here to signup at Digital Ocean official website |
Digital Ocean Plans & Pricing
Digital Ocean offers more customizable cloud services, allowing users to tailor their server’s resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage to their specific needs.
Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing
When evaluating hosting options, it is important to note that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices often increase significantly upon renewal. Be sure to research and compare the renewal prices and not just the introductory rates to understand the true cost of hosting over time.
To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared two tables below that compare the initial signup costs and renewal costs of Digital Ocean services with several other providers we monitor.
Compare Digital Ocean’s Signup Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Ocean | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $4.00 – 96.00/mo | $14.00 – 3569.98/mo | $ – /mo |
| Servers.com | $ – /mo | $5.37 – 692.04/mo | $104.9 – 712.64/mo | $5.37 – 692.04/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
| WP Engine | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $15.00 – 145.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $2.00 – 8.00/mo | $5.25 – 21.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $13.13 – 52.50/mo |
| Hostinger | $2.99 – 9.99/mo | $4.49 – 19.99/mo | $ – /mo | $9.99 – 29.99/mo | $2.49 – 8.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| N6 Cloud | $2.24 – 9.74/mo | $2.96 – 91.84/mo | $104.25 – 374.25/mo | $3.82 – 63.72/mo | $9.74 – 49.49/mo | $ – /mo |
Compare Digital Ocean’s Renewal Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Ocean | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $4.00 – 96.00/mo | $14.00 – 3569.98/mo | $ – /mo |
| Servers.com | $ – /mo | $5.37 – 692.04/mo | $104.9 – 712.64/mo | $5.37 – 692.04/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
| WP Engine | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $30.00 – 145.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $4.00 – 16.00/mo | $7.50 – 30.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $18.75 – 75.00/mo |
| Hostinger | $7.99 – 24.99/mo | $13.99 – 59.99/mo | $ – /mo | $24.99 – 64.99/mo | $11.99 – 24.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| N6 Cloud | $5.99 – 17.24/mo | $5.14 – 153.75/mo | $126.75 – 468.75/mo | $3.82 – 63.72/mo | $9.74 – 49.49/mo | $ – /mo |
Caution: Prices May Vary Web hosting prices can change frequently. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information, please visit the official Digital Ocean website.
Is Digital Ocean the Right Choice for You?
Diving into Digital Ocean, you’re greeted with a cloud hosting realm that caters specifically to the tech-savvy and developers. It’s a world of highly flexible virtual machines, backed by a competitive pricing strategy that’s hard to beat. Yet, this ocean has its depths—its complexity and the extra charges for automated backups might make newcomers or those in search of simplicity think twice.
A treasure for the experienced, but the uninitiated may need to navigate its waters carefully.
Summary of Digital Ocean Pros and Cons
Digital Ocean Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Competitive and flexible pricing model
- Choice of 15 distributed data centers
- Highly configurable virtual machines
- Built-in alert system for resource thresholds or critical issues
Digital Ocean Cons
- Charges apply for automated backups
- Unencrypted backups
- Only suitable for advanced users
- Less user-friendly for team operations
Digital Ocean Alternatives to Consider
In case Digital Ocean is not right for you, below are some alternatives to consider. You can also find more options in our hosting reviews page (full list).