Digital Ocean vs Contabo: guide for 2024

Digital Ocean vs Contabo: Final verdict

Looking over DigitalOcean vs. Contabo, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

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  DigitalOcean (Overall grade: 8.3)
  
  
  provides a wide array of hosting solutions, including managed WordPress and ecommerce hosting, supported by a global network of 14 data centers. With a 99.99% uptime SLA, various scaling options, and comprehensive security features such as DDoS protection and 2FA, DigitalOcean ensures reliable performance and minimal downtime. The intuitive DigitalOcean Control Panel, extensive community support, and premium features like CDN and automatic backups make it an excellent choice for developers and businesses seeking flexibility and ease of use. However, it doesn’t offer built-in email hosting or dedicated servers, which might be a concern for some users.
  
• 
  Contabo (Overall grade: 7.6)
  
  
  excels with high-performance hardware, such as AMD EPYC processors and Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSDs, making it ideal for projects requiring high resource availability. With a slightly higher 99.996% uptime guarantee, extensive security measures including mandatory 2FA and DDoS protection, and 24/7 monitoring, Contabo delivers strong reliability. Despite offering affordable VPS plans and easy upgrades, it lacks integrated CDN and advanced caching mechanisms, potentially impacting website speed under heavy traffic. Additionally, while customer support is reliable, limited hours and less modern control panel design may affect the user experience.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner Contabo: Contabo edges out with a superior uptime guarantee and high performance hardware.

DigitalOcean provides real-time alerts for endpoint status and latency across four global regions, offering a 99.99% uptime SLA. Their automated monitoring, 24/7 availability checks, and customizable alerts make it easy to stay ahead of issues. With multiple data centers, high-quality infrastructure, and robust security measures, DigitalOcean ensures reliable performance and swift recovery through automated backups and snapshots.

Contabo offers a slightly higher uptime guarantee of 99.996%, making it a reliable choice for minimal downtime. They use advanced processors, multiple global data centers, and offer high-speed storage options like Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSDs. With comprehensive security, including free DDoS protection and mandatory two-factor authentication, Contabo provides a strong foundation for hosting needs. Their top customer support, evidenced by high performance testing grades, further solidifies their edge.

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: Known for its high uptime, extensive data centers, and developer-friendly environment.

Comparing both providers, DigitalOcean outshines Contabo in several areas. DigitalOcean features 99.99% uptime SLA with 14 globally distributed data centers, compared to Contabo’s 99.996% uptime rating and fewer global data center locations. DigitalOcean implements SSD storage, CDN, and caching mechanisms such as page and object caching, enhancing website performance. Conversely, Contabo offers SSD or Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSDs, boosted by 16-core AMD EPYC processors. Contabo provides a commendable connection speed between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s, upgradable to 10Gbit/s, but lacks an integrated CDN.

Website speed

When it comes to website speed, DigitalOcean’s SSD storage, combined with their CDN and caching mechanisms, ensures quick page load times and efficient database operations. Contabo, while offering faster Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSDs, lacks integrated caching solutions and CDN services which could result in comparatively slower load times under heavy traffic conditions.

Scalability

DigitalOcean offers flexible scaling through their Droplets and App Platform, supporting seamless horizontal scaling and load balancing. Users can easily scale up or down based on demand, and pricing starts at $4 per month for basic plans. While Contabo provides affordable VPS plans and the potential for easy upgrades, it doesn’t specify if elastic scaling is available or if dedicated servers are an option. The exact cost to scale in Contabo isn’t mentioned.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: A hosting provider offering extensive security features and certifications.

Both DigitalOcean and Contabo, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

DigitalOcean and Contabo both offer robust technical security measures to ensure the safety of hosted applications. DigitalOcean provides automatic backups, DDoS protection, two-factor authentication (2FA), and data encryption both at rest and in transit. Contabo also offers always-on DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and configurable PHP versions for up-to-date security. While both providers support similar features such as SSL certificates and PHP version flexibility, DigitalOcean’s added features, like web application firewalls and extensive compliance certifications, give it an edge.

Operational security measures:

The operational security measures of DigitalOcean and Contabo aim to protect data centers and user accounts. DigitalOcean supports VPC for secure networking, load balancers, managed databases with TLS/SSL connections, and cloud firewalls. Contabo focuses on physical security with 24/7 CCTV surveillance, magnetic card access controls, role-based access controls, and regular security reviews. Contabo also offers monitoring tools and automation for resellers. While DigitalOcean’s operational security features are more cloud-focused, Contabo emphasizes physical data center security.

Compliance and certifications:

Both hosting providers adhere to GDPR standards. DigitalOcean holds several compliance certifications, including SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, and CSA STAR Level 1. Contabo’s infrastructure supports high redundancy and reliable operations, which are critical for compliance, although specific additional certifications like PCI are not detailed.

🏆 Winner: DigitalOcean Known for its robust security features and a wide range of hosting types.

DigitalOcean offers a strong array of security options including DDoS protection, SSL certificates, and firewalls, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize security. It provides various hosting types such as dedicated, shared, VPS, and managed services for WordPress, Kubernetes, and databases. DigitalOcean’s additional services like a virtual private cloud, content delivery network, and cloud firewalls are strong points for businesses needing scalability. SSH access is a built-in feature, and while SFTP isn’t explicitly mentioned, it typically comes hand-in-hand with SSH access. DigitalOcean also ensures performance and reliability with a 99.99% uptime SLA and 14 globally distributed data centers.

Contabo stands out with high-performance AMD EPYC 7282 16-core processors and extensive data center coverage. It offers a variety of control panel features for managing servers, domains, and billing, providing a high level of customization and control. Contabo is flexible with multiple OS options like Ubuntu, Windows, and CentOS, and supports various control panels and custom images. The inclusion of features like Two-Factor Authentication, DDoS protection, and 24/7 monitoring ensures security. Although FTP and SFTP are not explicitly mentioned, SSH access implies their availability. Contabo provides a competitive pricing structure, flexible upgrade options, and a high uptime guarantee of 99.996%.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both DigitalOcean and Contabo offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

DigitalOcean does not offer built-in email hosting capabilities or reselling of third-party email services. In contrast, Contabo allows users to set up and manage their own email accounts directly, which is a significant advantage for businesses needing comprehensive email solutions. While transactional email specifics are not detailed for either provider, Contabo’s inclusion of basic email hosting can simplify operations for users.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: Providing a diverse array of hosting solutions, DigitalOcean caters to various needs with its competitively priced plans and features.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Comparing DigitalOcean and Contabo reveals varying pricing plans and unique offerings. DigitalOcean’s Website Hosting starts at $4/month with features like 99.99% uptime SLA and 1-click apps for WordPress. Its VPS Hosting varies from $4/month for Shared CPU Droplets to $131/month for Storage-Optimized Droplets. Meanwhile, Contabo’s Self-Managed VPS Plans range from $3.99/month to $26.99/month, with significant RAM and storage offers like 60GB RAM and 1.6TB SSD. Both offer ample features such as DDoS protection and automatic backups, but DigitalOcean stands out with Transparent Pricing and a developer-friendly environment. Plans for both providers vary in duration with the option to scale, ensuring flexibility for users.

Enterprise plans

DigitalOcean offers advanced plans like Storage-Optimized Droplets starting at $131/month, equipped with 16GB memory, 300GB SSD, and global data centers. Contabo, in contrast, presents features like the €212.48/month AMD EPYC 16 Cores Dedicated Server with 256GB REG ECC RAM and 3TB HDD. Both providers have robust options for demanding enterprise needs, though DigitalOcean’s flexible pricing and feature set provide a competitive edge.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: A user-friendly platform with extensive support and automated setups.

DigitalOcean provides a custom user interface known as the DigitalOcean Control Panel, which offers a streamlined experience for users at any technical level. The Control Panel is designed to be intuitive, allowing quick access to essential features such as Droplet management, 1-Click Apps deployment, and resource monitoring. Users can easily scale their resources and manage their virtual machines with minimal clicks. The App Platform further simplifies the process by abstracting away the underlying infrastructure, making it approachable even for those without extensive technical backgrounds. Additionally, DigitalOcean integrates seamlessly with Cloudways for managed hosting solutions, providing an extra layer of user-friendly management.

Contabo leverages a more traditional approach with its Customer Control Panel. The panel covers a wide range of functions, including VPS management, server controls, and operating system installations. While it offers all necessary functionalities, its design may feel slightly less modern and refined compared to DigitalOcean’s Control Panel. Nonetheless, it provides comprehensive options for controlling and managing server resources and configurations. Users can expect a straightforward method for managing their hosting needs, albeit with a bit more manual intervention required compared to DigitalOcean’s automated features.

Both DigitalOcean and Contabo offer various options for site migration. DigitalOcean provides tools such as automated snapshots and backups, alongside detailed documentation to guide users through the migration process. While these resources are mostly available for free, more comprehensive managed services through Cloudways may incur additional costs. Contabo, on the other hand, offers similar resources and a range of tutorials to assist with manual migrations. However, they do not indicate the presence of automated migration tools explicitly, and professional managed services might also come with additional fees.

DigitalOcean’s help center is filled with extensive documentation and tutorials, ensuring users can find guidance on virtually any topic. The community support adds another layer of assistance, where users can interact and solve problems collectively. Access to 24/7 customer support through Cloudways also enhances the support experience. Contabo offers a variety of tutorials and a customer support system that includes ticketing and phone support, although their hours are somewhat limited compared to DigitalOcean. Despite the availability of managed services, the scope and accessibility of Contabo’s resources might feel less expansive.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: Offers streamlined and comprehensive user management features with versatile user roles.

DigitalOcean and Contabo vary significantly in their approaches to managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility. DigitalOcean provides defined roles like Owner, Biller, and Member, each with specific access permissions which enhance clarity and control. Team owners have extensive permissions to manage membership, while there is no limit to the number of members or roles, allowing for scalable team management. Contabo, on the other hand, allows users to authorize others for specific permissions, but does not offer detailed predefined user roles like DigitalOcean. Instead, it focuses on allowing individual users to manage their personal information and security settings.

DigitalOcean offers a comprehensive user interface tailored for team management. The platform enables team owners to invite new members, monitor membership status and roles, and see sign-in methods, all through an intuitive interface. In contrast, Contabo’s user management tools are integrated into its Control Panel, which also manages various server-related activities. While its interface is user-friendly and integrates essential functions, it lacks the dedicated team-oriented management tools seen in DigitalOcean.

Access control measures differ between the two providers. DigitalOcean ensures effective access management by delineating distinct roles, which helps in efficiently managing a growing user base. The platform allows team owners to have full control over team membership without any limitations, ensuring seamless scalability. Contabo focuses on individual user controls, such as activating two-factor authentication and authorizing specific permissions. It mandates two-factor authentication for all users, enhancing security but does not provide the same level of role-specific access control as DigitalOcean.

DigitalOcean user roles table:

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: A feature-rich platform with extensive support options, intuitive user experience, and competitive pricing.

DigitalOcean and Contabo both offer various support options but differ significantly in their approach and availability. DigitalOcean provides email support, a 24/7 ticketing system, and an active community alongside comprehensive documentation and tutorials. For premium users, live chat support is also available. Contabo, on the other hand, includes phone support during weekdays, extensive knowledge base articles, and managed service upgrades but lacks 24/7 support and live chat.

The user experience with DigitalOcean is more streamlined, featuring an easy registration process and intuitive control panel. Contabo’s support system is functional but somewhat restricted by limited hours and varying response times. DigitalOcean’s higher score reflects its wider range of support options and user-friendly interface, positioning it as the more versatile hosting provider.

Digital Ocean vs Contabo: User feedback

DigitalOcean consistently garners praise for its simplicity, user-friendly interface, and transparent pricing, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced developers. Users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable performance, and excellent customer support, highlighting features like one-click deployment and robust documentation. However, there are some minor criticisms, including a limited variety of server configurations compared to larger providers and occasional slow customer support response times. Despite these drawbacks, DigitalOcean is highly regarded for its cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and overall reliability, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses and startups.

Contabo offers affordable and powerful VPS plans, which are particularly beneficial for running demanding software and complex tasks. Several users have praised the reliability, stability, and cost-effectiveness of the service, highlighting its great value for money. However, frequent downtime, limited customer support, and a somewhat outdated control panel have been significant points of concern. Some users have experienced slow response times and unresolved service requests, suggesting areas for improvement in customer service and operational transparency.

Digital Ocean vs Contabo: FAQ