DigitalOcean - PaaS and cloud without the complexity
App Platform, Spaces, Managed DB. Deploy in minutes.
DigitalOcean offers App Platform (PaaS), Spaces (S3-compatible storage), Managed Databases and Droplets. We use it when the priority is fast deployment, predictable pricing and no infra management - with full EU region support.
When DigitalOcean is the best choice
DigitalOcean works well for projects requiring simple, predictable hosting and PaaS.
- Web apps and APIs (Next.js, Node.js) - deploy via App Platform
- S3-compatible storage (Spaces) for files and uploads
- Managed PostgreSQL/Redis - no DB server management
- Projects with hosting budget and EU region (GDPR) requirements
- Teams without dedicated DevOps - PaaS is enough to scale
When to consider alternatives
DigitalOcean has its limits - in some scenarios AWS or another cloud will fit better.
- Highly advanced services (ML, IoT, Kinesis) - then AWS/GCP
- Global multi-region with very low latency - broader offering elsewhere
Architecture and services
DigitalOcean is built around App Platform (PaaS), Spaces, Managed DB and optionally Droplets.
App Platform (PaaS)
Deploy from repo (Git). Auto build (e.g. Node, Next.js), env vars, scale by instances. No server management.
Spaces (S3-compatible)
Object storage for files, uploads, assets. S3-compatible API - easy integration (e.g. AWS SDK). CDN included.
Managed Databases
PostgreSQL, Redis, MySQL - backups, patches, HA. Access from App Platform or Droplets via connection string.
Security and compliance
DigitalOcean offers security basics and ability to host in EU regions.
Regions and data
EU regions (e.g. Frankfurt) - data in EU, support for GDPR requirements with proper app configuration.
Environment variables
Secrets in App Platform as env vars (encrypted at rest). No secrets in repo.
Spaces and access
Spaces: private buckets, signed URLs, CORS. Access only via app with proper keys.
Performance and costs
Predictable pricing, simple scaling and monitoring in the dashboard.
Costs
App Platform: from tens of USD/month. Spaces: $5/month per bucket. Managed DB: from ~$15/month. Predictable, no hidden fees.
Scaling
App Platform: more instances or larger plan. DB: higher tier. No cluster management.
How we deliver on DigitalOcean
We typically deploy apps on App Platform with Managed DB and Spaces as needed.
Setup (1-2 days)
App Platform from repo (Git), env vars, domain. Optionally Spaces and Managed DB.
Deployment and maintenance
CI/CD via push to repo. Logs and monitoring in DigitalOcean dashboard. DB backups handled by DO.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DigitalOcean have EU regions?
Yes. Regions include Frankfurt (FRA1). Data can be stored in the EU, supporting GDPR requirements with proper app configuration.
App Platform vs VPS (Droplet) - when which?
App Platform: apps from Git, zero server management. Droplet: when you need full control, custom stack or unusual services. For most of our projects App Platform is enough.
Want to use this technology in your project?
Contact us to discuss how we can help with your project.
Let's talk
about the project.
Have an app idea or need technological support? Write to us — we'll prepare a preliminary analysis and estimate within 48h. Projects that go through our DDT process (Discovery, Design & Technology) come with a price guarantee and a fixed-price agreement — a key differentiator for us.
80-890 Gdansk, Poland