DigitalOcean
AI-native cloud platform for developers and scaling businesses
Overview
DigitalOcean is an AI-native cloud infrastructure platform designed for developers, startups, and growing software businesses. Founded in 2012, DigitalOcean delivers a comprehensive suite of cloud compute and hosting solutions, ranging from core Droplet virtual machines and GPU-powered compute to managed Kubernetes clusters and fully managed database engines. In addition to core hosting and infrastructure, DigitalOcean features an integrated AI stack. This includes serverless AI inference, GPU droplets, and intelligent routing across dozens of open-weighted and frontier AI models. Its single-endpoint architecture allows developers to build, evaluate, and scale AI applications efficiently with predictable unit economics. With flat monthly pricing caps, global data centers, and developer tools like App Platform and cloud storage, DigitalOcean simplifies deploying and scaling applications in production.
Best for: Developers, startups, and SMBs looking for predictable pricing, managed cloud infrastructure, and serverless AI model inference.
Pros and cons
What works well
- Predictable cloud infrastructure pricing with flat rates and monthly caps.
- Unified AI stack supporting serverless inference, model routing, and dedicated GPU droplets.
- Broad suite of developer tools ranging from simple virtual machines to managed Kubernetes.
Where it falls short
- Project resources cannot be automatically transferred across teams except for Droplet Snapshots.
- Certain newer platform features like the Inference Router remain in public preview.
Pricing
App Platform
Starting at $0/month
Fully managed infrastructure solution to build, deploy, and scale apps quickly.
Functions
Starting at $0/month
Serverless computing solution where you pay only for execution time used.
Droplets
Starting at $4/month
Efficient virtual machines with per-second billing and fast deployment.
Kubernetes
Starting at $12/month
Managed Kubernetes platform with free control plane and automated scaling.
Managed Databases
Starting at $15/month
Fully managed databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis/Valkey.
User reviews
Frequently asked questions
How do I move a project from one team to another on DigitalOcean?
You can transfer Droplet Snapshots directly to another team or account; other infrastructure resources must be migrated manually.
How can I disable device verification for my DigitalOcean account?
Device verification can be disabled by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) or by authenticating with Google or GitHub.
How do I recover access if I lose my two-factor authentication device?
If you lose access to your 2FA device, you can disable 2FA using your backup method, such as backup codes or SMS.
What should I do if my account is locked during sign-up?
If your account is locked during sign-up, contact DigitalOcean support so they can authorize access to your account.
How do I fix a 'JavaScript heap out of memory' error on App Platform?
Increase the heap memory limit by setting the environment variable NODE_OPTIONS to --max-old-space-size=4096.
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