2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 60 GB SSD, 3 TB transfer.
- Free option
- 90-day free trial (750 hours/month) on the $5–$12 Linux bundles and the $15 database. New AWS accounts get $100 in credits immediately and can earn another $100. The Free plan lasts up to six months.
- Why it fits
- Projects that want predictable AWS — a fixed-price server with a clear upgrade path into the wider AWS ecosystem.
- How deploys work
- Pick a blueprint (WordPress, LAMP, Node.js, plain Linux), get SSH in the browser or your terminal, and manage it like any VPS.
- The tradeoff
- Costs more per spec than the European VPS crowd, and stopped instances keep billing.
- You install, secure, and back up the database yourself.
Fine for steady modest traffic; move up when RAM gets tight.
- Free option
- Limited early-access plan: 1 vCPU, 512 MB RAM, and 10 GB disk in Seattle, Frankfurt, or Miami. Confirm access in your account before relying on it.
- Why it fits
- Developers who want a cheap server near their users, wherever those users are.
- How deploys work
- You get root on a fresh Linux server; setup and deploys are yours to script.
- The tradeoff
- Fully self-managed, and the hour-based billing model is less forgiving than per-second rivals.
- You install, secure, and back up the database yourself.
A single small Droplet handles steady modest traffic; resize when it stops being enough.
- Why it fits
- Developers comfortable with a Linux server who want predictable pricing and full control.
- How deploys work
- You get root on an Ubuntu server: install your runtime, or start from a 1-click image.
- The tradeoff
- You are the ops team — security updates, backups, and monitoring are on you.
- You install, secure, and back up the database yourself.
