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Cloud service providers: DigitalOcean vs. Alibaba Cloud

Quick Verdict

DigitalOcean is a good choice for users who value simplicity and ease of use, while Alibaba Cloud is better suited for users who need a wider range of services and global reach.

Comparison of Cloud service providersDigitalOcean vs. Alibaba Cloud

Key features – Side-by-Side

AttributeDigitalOceanAlibaba Cloud
Compute Instance PricingHourly pricing, maximum of 672 hours per month. CPU-Optimized plans can be cheaper.Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) with per-second billing and one-month prepaid Subscription models. Monthly subscription offers a 30-60% discount compared to PAYG.
Storage OptionsSSD storage, "Spaces" for object storage, encrypted block storage volumes.Object Storage Service (OSS), Elastic Block Storage (EBS), File Storage NAS, Ultra Cloud Disk, SSD Cloud Disk, ESSD Cloud Disk.
Global Data Center LocationsNorth America, Europe, Asia, Australia.30 locations across 15 countries, including China, Middle East, and Europe.
Managed Kubernetes ServiceDigitalOcean Kubernetes (DOKS) simplifies Kubernetes management. Control plane, bandwidth allowance, and container registry are included for free.Alibaba Cloud Container Service for Kubernetes (ACK) is a managed Kubernetes service. Supports Docker CE and offers a Docker community.
Serverless Computing OptionsDigitalOcean Functions is a serverless computing solution that runs on-demand.Elastic Container Instance (ECI) is a serverless container instance service.
Database ServicesManaged database services for MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis.Relational (PolarDB, ApsaraDB) and NoSQL databases.
Security FeaturesCloud Firewalls, VPC, data encryption, two-factor authentication, SSH Keys.Identity and Access Management, Data Encryption, Key Management Service (KMS), Network Security (Virtual Private Clouds), Anti-DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Security Center.
Uptime SLA99.99% uptime SLA for network, power, and virtual server availability.ECS offers a 99.975% availability SLA for single instances and 99.995% for multi-zone instances.
Ease of UseKnown for its simplicity and user-friendly interface.Security Center provides a GUI to simplify the management of assets.

Overall Comparison

Ease of Use: DigitalOcean wins; Global Reach: Alibaba Cloud wins; Storage Options: Alibaba Cloud wins; Uptime SLA: Similar

Pros and Cons

DigitalOcean

Pros:
  • Simplicity and user-friendly interface
  • Offers various Droplet plans with different performance characteristics
  • Utilizes SSD storage for reliable and fast data retrieval
  • Simplifies Kubernetes management
  • Offers a serverless computing solution that runs on-demand
  • Includes automated backups, point-in-time recovery, and automatic security updates for databases
  • Provides a CLI and API for developers
  • Offers various security features, including cloud firewalls, VPC, data encryption, and two-factor authentication
  • Provides 24/7 email and ticket support
  • Provides a 99.99% uptime SLA
Cons:
  • No major disadvantages reported.

Alibaba Cloud

Pros:
  • Offers a variety of storage options including Object Storage, Block Storage, and File Storage.
  • Global data center locations across 15 countries.
  • Managed Kubernetes Service (ACK) simplifies Kubernetes deployment.
  • Comprehensive suite of security features.
  • Multiple options for compute instance pricing (PAYG and Subscription).
Cons:
  • No major disadvantages reported.

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