Cloud VPS comparison: AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Hetzner & OVH
Choosing a VPS or virtual private server feels like picking a toolbox: the right bits depend on the job. Below I cut through marketing fluff and give a practical comparison of six big players so you can decide whether you need enterprise grade scale, predictable low cost hosting, or a cheap virtual server for a side project.
Quick summary (what each does best)
- AWS (EC2): vast global infrastructure, deep feature set, many instance types and purchasing options; great for complex, highly scalable apps but pricing and options can be intricate. https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/
- Google Cloud (Compute Engine): strong performance, excellent networking and sustained use discounts for steady loads; suited to high performance workloads and data projects. https://cloud.google.com/compute/all pricing
- DigitalOcean (Droplets): developer friendly, simple UI, transparent monthly/hourly pricing; ideal for startups, hobby projects, and those who want a straightforward cloud VPS. https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing/droplets
- Vultr: similar to DigitalOcean with a large range of small to medium VPS options, low entry price points and global nodes; good for predictable, cheap VPS hosting. https://www.vultr.com/pricing/
- Hetzner: exceptional price to performance in Europe, often the cheapest for comparable specs; very cost effective if you can accept fewer global regions. https://www.hetzner.com/cloud
- OVH: budget oriented with large capacity and unusual offers (daily backups, high bandwidth options); good for cheap VPS server use cases but watch regional availability and support differences. https://us.ovhcloud.com/vps/
How to pick (practical factors)
- Cost vs predictability: If you want cheap VPS with straightforward billing, DigitalOcean, Vultr and Hetzner typically win. For spot discounts and massive scale, Google Cloud and AWS offer advanced pricing levers but require attention.
- Global reach and managed services: Need dozens of regions, managed databases, serverless glue? AWS and Google Cloud offer the richest ecosystems. For a plain Linux VPS or cheap Windows VPS server, the smaller providers are easier to manage.
- Windows VPS: licensing matters. Large clouds bill Windows server licenses separately; smaller hosts sometimes bundle options for cheaper Windows VPS hosting. Check the provider’s Windows terms before you deploy. OVHcloud
- Bandwidth and storage: If outbound transfer matters, read the fine print. Some providers include generous transfer allowances, others bill extra.
Real world advice
For a production app with spiky traffic, favor AWS or Google Cloud for autoscaling and network reliability. For dev, staging, small web apps, VPNs, or a cheap virtual server to run bots or build side projects, DigitalOcean, Vultr or Hetzner will usually save money and time. If you need EU located cheap VPS with strong price/performance, Hetzner is hard to beat.
Make a short checklist before you buy: region, OS (Linux or Windows), bandwidth, backups, snapshot pricing, and expected CPU/memory. Launch a small instance, run a quick load test, then scale; that hands on test tells you more than pages of specs.
Bottom line: there is no universal best VPS. Match needs to provider strengths: raw features and scale with AWS/Google Cloud, predictability and affordability with DigitalOcean/Vultr/Hetzner, budget enterprise options with OVH. #VPS #CloudVPS #VPSHosting