DigitalOcean is a cloud infrastructure company that provides cloud services to help individuals and businesses deploy, manage, and scale applications. Users can use DigitalOcean to create a flexible and scalable environment for their projects by accessing virtual servers, storage, networking capabilities, and other resources.
Now that you know what DigitalOcean is, read on to find out more about the services that this leading cloud provider can offer your company.
What is DigitalOcean used for?
DigitalOcean provides multiple services, but its primary offerings are for application and website hosting use cases. To deploy DigitalOcean’s infrastructure as a service environment, developers launch a private virtual machine (VM) instance, which the company calls a Droplet.
Over time, their services have expanded into a plethora of cloud services. Here is the story of their services, as told on Digital Ocean’s official website.
“DigitalOcean was founded in 2012 to meet the needs of developers who were looking for simple, affordable cloud computing solutions. Our first product, the Droplet, is an easy-to-use virtual machine that can be spun up in just minutes. Over the past decade, DigitalOcean has evolved to serve both software developers and the small-to-medium-sized businesses that are at the heart of innovation today.
Today, DigitalOcean is proud to offer solutions that cater to the needs of those just learning to code, builders getting started on their big idea, and scalers, businesses that are growing rapidly and need a cloud solution that will scale alongside them. Putting simplicity first, we provide a range of cloud computing solutions, from virtual machines to managed Kubernetes, that are tailored to the needs of startups and small businesses.”
While DigitalOcean has many applications nowadays, here are a few that businesses frequently use:
- Website Hosting: Host your websites and web applications with ease using DigitalOcean’s reliable infrastructure.
- App Development: Develop and deploy applications effortlessly, leveraging DigitalOcean’s user-friendly environment.
- Data Storage: Store and manage data securely with DigitalOcean’s scalable and high-performance storage solutions.
- Server Deployment: Quickly deploy virtual servers known as Droplets to run applications or host websites.
DigitalOcean also offers a variety of pre-configured,one-click applications, making it easy to set up popular software like WordPress or Docker. Additionally, their intuitive control panel allows for easy monitoring and management of your virtual machines.
In addition to DigitalCloud, Rackspace is another IT service provider. While DigitalCloud offers a variety of cloud solutions, they may not meet your specific needs. Learn more about Rackspace in our article, “What is Rackspace: Highlighting the Powerhouse of Cloud Solutions.“
Key Features and Services Offered by DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean stands out in the competitive cloud computing market due to its impressive array of features and services. Some of the key features include flexible pricing plans, robust security measures, and reliable customer support. Additionally, DigitalOcean offers a vast library of tutorials and resources to help users maximize the potential of their cloud infrastructure. Some key offerings include:
1. Droplets
Droplets are virtual machines that serve as the fundamental building blocks of DigitalOcean. They provide flexibility in terms of size, allowing users to choose configurations based on their specific requirements. Whether you need a small instance for testing or a powerful setup for production, Droplets has you covered.
2. Spaces
DigitalOcean Spaces is a scalable object storage service designed to handle large amounts of data. It simplifies data storage, retrieval, and management, making it an ideal solution for applications with high storage demands.
3. Kubernetes
For container orchestration, DigitalOcean offers a managed Kubernetes service. This allows users to deploy, manage, and scale containerised applications using Kubernetes, without the complexity of manual setup and maintenance.
What is DigitalOcean (Image by JavatPoint)
4. Marketplace
The DigitalOcean Marketplace provides a curated selection of pre-configured, one-click applications and development stacks. This enables users to easily deploy and manage popular software without the need for extensive setup and configuration.
5. Developer-Friendly Interface
DigitalOcean is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it an attractive choice for developers. The simplicity of navigation and the availability of detailed documentation contribute to a seamless user experience.
What is the difference between AWS and DigitalOcean?
AWS and DigitalOcean are both cloud service providers, but AWS is known for its extensive range of services and scalability options, catering to larger enterprises. On the other hand, DigitalOcean is more user-friendly and straightforward, making it a popular choice for smaller businesses and individual developers looking for simplicity and ease of use.
1. Complexity and Scale
AWS is an extensive and complex platform, suitable for large enterprises with intricate infrastructure needs. In contrast, DigitalOcean is known for its simplicity, making it a preferred choice for startups, small to medium-sized businesses, and individual developers.
2. Pricing Models
DigitalOcean adopts a straightforward and transparent pricing model, making it easy for users to estimate costs. AWS, with its vast array of services and pricing tiers, can be more challenging to navigate and predict costs accurately.
3. Variety of Services
AWS provides a comprehensive suite of services, catering to a wide range of use cases. DigitalOcean, while offering a robust set of services, may not have the same breadth as AWS. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of the project.
4. Global Reach
AWS has a broader global presence with data centers in more regions compared to DigitalOcean. For businesses with a global footprint, AWS might be the preferred choice to ensure low-latency access for users worldwide.
While cloud solutions such as DigitalOcean are important for digital businesses, cost-effective solutions may still require the use of virtual machines. Learn more about one of the most well-known virtual machine solutions, VMware, in our article: “What Is VMware? Definition, Function, and Benefits“.
Is DigitalOcean free to use?
DigitalOcean lets you try out all of its infrastructure services for free. This includes Droplet plans, Spaces Object Storage, Block Storage, and Load Balancers. On the Starter plan, you can also make and publish three static sites for free.
DigitalOcean’s infrastructure services, such as all Droplet plans, Spaces Object Storage, Block Storage, and Load Balancers, can all be tried for free.
On the Starter plan, you can make and publish 3 static sites for free. For every extra static site, you’ll have to pay $3.00 per month. If your app changes a lot and has things like a database, web service, or background worker, you should choose the Basic or Professional tier.
They also have a Basic plan that starts at $5 per month and a Basic Droplet that costs $4 per month. You will be charged for each hour that you use your server if you don’t use it for 672 hours in a month. That’s how much you’ll be charged each month if you use your server for more than 672 hours.
You can also get services worth $200 for 60 days. DigitalOcean will need to see a credit card to make sure you are who you say you are before giving you the free trial. For the first 14 days, you won’t be charged or billed.
Conclusion
Finally, DigitalOcean is a trustworthy and easy-to-navigate cloud platform that businesses and developers alike can rely on. If you are looking for a scalable cloud solution that is both efficient and feature-rich, it is a great option because of its simplicity. Whether you go with DigitalOcean or another industry heavyweight like AWS depends on project specifics like size, complexity, and service needs.
