Hosting & Infra
Coolify vs DigitalOcean: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Coolify and DigitalOcean. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: DigitalOcean starts at $0.15/mo, making it $5/mo cheaper than Coolify ($5/mo). Coolify offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026
Coolify vs DigitalOcean: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Coolify | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $5/mo | $0.15/mo |
| Number of Plans | 2 | 18 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | open-source | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
DigitalOcean is the more affordable option, starting at $0.15/mo compared to Coolify's $5/mo. Both are Hosting & Infra tools with 20 combined pricing plans and 64 features compared.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. Coolify uses open-source pricing while DigitalOcean uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Hosting & Infra needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Coolify Try it free |  DigitalOcean Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Self-hosted $0/monthCheapest Includes
| Gradient™ AI Platform $0/month Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Cloud $5/month Includes
| Gradient™ AI GPU Droplets $2/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 3 | — | Additional GPU Options Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | App Platform $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 5 | — | Droplets $4/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 6 | — | Kubernetes $12/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 7 | — | Functions $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 8 | — | Cloudways Managed Hosting $11/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 9 | — | Backups $20/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 10 | — | Databases $15/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 11 | — | Spaces $5/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 12 | — | Network File Storage $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 13 | — | Volumes $10/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 14 | — | Container Registry $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 15 | — | Load Balancers $12/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 16 | — | Support Plans $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 17 | — | Virtual Private Cloud $0/monthCheapest Includes
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| Tier 18 | — | Uptime $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
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Our Pick
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean offers a free plan, starts at $4.85/mo lower ($0.15/mo vs $5/mo), offers 18 tiers vs 2.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: DigitalOcean
Try DigitalOcean freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Coolify if:
- •You prefer Coolify's free tier features—Full access to all features, Need your own infrastructure for Coolify
- •You prioritize Coolify's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You want Coolify's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 2 pricing tiers
Choose DigitalOcean if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—DigitalOcean starts at $0.15/mo, saving $4.85/mo compared to Coolify at $5/mo
- •You prefer DigitalOcean's free tier features—Build, deploy and scale apps quickly, Fully managed solution, zero infrastructure management
- •You need 18 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—DigitalOcean offers 42 additional features across its plans
Both Coolify and DigitalOcean offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Coolify includes 6 features, while DigitalOcean includes 3 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.
Frequently Asked Questions: Coolify vs DigitalOcean
Which is cheaper, Coolify or DigitalOcean?
As of March 2026, DigitalOcean starts at a lower price point. Coolify starts at $5/mo while DigitalOcean starts at $0.15/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Coolify have vs DigitalOcean?
Coolify offers 2 pricing plans, while DigitalOcean offers 18 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Coolify or DigitalOcean offer a free plan?
Yes, both Coolify and DigitalOcean offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Does Coolify or DigitalOcean offer custom enterprise pricing?
DigitalOcean offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Coolify lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do Coolify and DigitalOcean use?
Coolify uses a open-source pricing model, while DigitalOcean uses usage-based pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Coolify and DigitalOcean compare for Hosting & Infra?
Both Coolify and DigitalOcean are Hosting & Infra tools. Coolify offers 2 plans starting at $5/mo, while DigitalOcean offers 18 plans starting at $0.15/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Hosting & Infra needs.
Sources
- Coolify Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- DigitalOcean Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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