Which cloud is cheapest for your workload?
Compare compute, storage, data transfer and managed databases across seven providers — the big three plus the value players. Pick a spec, see who wins, and understand why.
The bottom line
Across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode (Akamai), Hetzner and Oracle Cloud, the cheapest cloud provider depends on what you run. For raw compute, Hetzner and Oracle Cloud are consistently the cheapest, and value providers like DigitalOcean and Linode undercut the big three on simple workloads. AWS, Azure and Google Cloud price their headline compute almost identically. The biggest hidden cost is egress (data transfer out): hyperscalers charge roughly $0.09–$0.12 per GB, while DigitalOcean, Linode and Hetzner bundle terabytes of transfer for free and Oracle Cloud includes 10 TB free every month. For a small always-free server, Oracle Cloud's Ampere tier and Google Cloud's e2-micro are the standouts. Prices below are an indicative snapshot, updated July 2026.
The seven providers, honestly
The big three price their headline compute almost identically. Where they really differ is discounts, egress, ecosystem depth and how easy they are to start with.
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Feature matrix
The things that quietly decide your bill and your weekend — free tiers, billing granularity, spot capacity and whether data transfer is bundled.
| Provider | Free tier | Per-second billing | Spot / preemptible | Egress bundled | Managed DB | Regions |
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Cloud GPU vs. self-hosted: rent or buy?
Renting cloud GPUs has zero upfront cost but the hourly rate adds up. Buying your own is cheaper per hour — but you pay for the hardware and the electricity to run it. Pick a GPU and your usage to see which wins, and exactly when buying pays for itself.
Cloud pricing in plain words
New to this? These are the terms that show up on every cloud bill.
Common questions
Which cloud provider is cheapest?
For raw compute, Hetzner and Oracle Cloud are usually the cheapest, and value providers like DigitalOcean and Linode beat the big three on simple workloads. AWS, Azure and Google Cloud price their headline compute almost identically. The real difference often shows up in egress, where hyperscalers charge per GB and value providers bundle terabytes for free.
Why is cloud egress so expensive?
Egress is the cost of moving data out of a provider to the internet. AWS, Azure and Google Cloud charge roughly $0.09–$0.12 per GB after a small free allowance, which adds up fast for data-heavy sites. DigitalOcean, Linode and Hetzner include large transfer pools with their servers, and Oracle Cloud gives 10 TB free per month.
Is the pricing on this page live?
No — it's a curated snapshot, updated periodically and shown as indicative only. Cloud prices change often and vary by region, so always confirm the current rate on the provider's own pricing page before you buy.
What's the catch with the cheap providers?
Value providers keep prices low by offering fewer managed services, fewer regions and less enterprise tooling. They're excellent for a website, an app server or a side project. If you need a deep catalogue of managed services, global reach or specific compliance, the big three earn their premium.
Not sure which fits your business?
Picking a provider is the easy part — sizing it right, securing it and keeping the bill sane is the real work. BridgeStack IT helps businesses design and run cloud infrastructure that stays fast and affordable.