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Tulio Calil
Tulio Calil

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Stop Overpaying: 3 Cheaper Alternatives to DigitalOcean VPS

If you're like me, you've probably started a few side projects or small apps and quickly realized that even "affordable" platforms like DigitalOcean can add up fast. In this post, I'll share some cheaper (and sometimes free) alternatives to host your projects without burning your wallet. Let's dive in!

Cloudfnatic (my personal choice)

Price: Starts at $2.99/month
One of the cheapest options out there. Simple UI, Docker support, and fast deployment make it great for small projects on a tight budget.

Tulio Calil Cloudfnatic

Hetzner Cloud

Price: Starts at €3.79/month
High-performance VPS with SSD storage, IPv6, and generous bandwidth. EU-based and known for excellent price-to-performance ratio.

Tulio Calil Hetzner

Oracle Cloud Free Tier

Price: Free forever
Offers 2 always-free VPS instances with 1 GB RAM. Surprisingly reliable for small apps, bots, or personal projects — and completely free.

Tulio Calil Oracle Cloud

These are just a few of the most affordable VPS options I’ve found while trying to cut costs without sacrificing flexibility. If you know any other hidden gems or have experience with the ones listed here, drop a comment below — I'd love to hear your thoughts, tips, or even horror stories. Let's help each other host smarter! 🚀

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