Platform.sh →
Simpler Deploys, Same EU Compliance
Platform.sh (Upsun) is EU-based and enterprise-grade. But at €30-60+/mo minimum, it's not built for indie developers. Runsite is.
Best Platform.sh alternative: quick answer
The best Platform.sh alternative depends on your stack, but for EU-based indie developers and small startups, Runsite is the strongest option: GDPR-compliant hosting in Frankfurt (eu-central), predictable EUR pricing with hard spending caps, and a permanent free tier that needs no credit card. Unlike Platform.sh, your data never leaves the EU or falls under the US CLOUD Act, so compliance is the default rather than a configuration step.
// comparison
Runsite vs Platform.sh
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff, just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Platform.sh |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Cost | €5/mo | ~€30-60+/mo (project fee + compute) |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent, no credit card | ✗ 15-day trial only |
| Pricing Model | ✓ Fixed plans | Per-hour compute + disk + backup fees |
| EU Entity | ✓ EU-registered | ✓ French company (SAS) |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ Full compliance | ✓ Full compliance |
| Multi-Environment | Coming soon | ✓ Git branch = environment |
| Configuration | ✓ Zero-config or Dockerfile | Platform-specific YAML |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + Telegram alerts | ✗ Usage-based billing |
Pricing and feature details verified June 2026. Always confirm current rates on Platform.sh’s official pricing page.
// in-depth comparison
Platform.sh vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Platform.sh gets the jurisdiction right and the price wrong. It is one of the few PaaS providers that is genuinely European, a French SAS company (now rebranding as Upsun) with EU data centers and real GDPR compliance. The git-branch-to-environment workflow is elegant, multi-app support is mature, and the infrastructure cloning feature is unique in the industry.
Then the bill arrives. A simple application runs €30-60+/month once you add the project fee to compute charges. The 15-day trial is too short for serious evaluation, and the configuration leans on platform-specific YAML files that do not port anywhere else.
Runsite tells the same EU compliance story, also an EU entity with EU-only data centers, but at a 10x lower entry point of €5/mo, with a permanent free tier and zero-config or Dockerfile-based deploys. Developers who value Platform.sh's EU credentials yet find the pricing prohibitive for side projects, MVPs, or early-stage startups get the same jurisdictional guarantees for a fraction of the cost, with simpler configuration.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
10x Cheaper Entry Point
Platform.sh/Upsun charges €9/project + compute fees. A simple app costs €30-60+/mo. Runsite starts at €5/mo.
Permanent Free Tier
Platform.sh offers a 15-day trial. Runsite gives you a permanent free tier: no credit card, no expiry.
Zero-Config Deploys
Platform.sh requires platform-specific YAML files. Runsite auto-detects your stack or uses your Dockerfile.
// platform.sh problems → runsite solutions
Common Platform.sh frustrations. Sound familiar?
Every Platform.sh frustration, solved.
Platform.sh problem
"€30+/mo for a simple app"
Platform.sh/Upsun charges a project fee plus per-hour compute, disk, and backup costs. Even small apps are expensive.
Runsite solution
€5/mo, all included
Web service with compute, SSL, and monitoring for €5/mo. Add PostgreSQL for €5/mo. No hidden fees.
Platform.sh problem
"15-day trial is not enough"
Platform.sh gives you 15 days to evaluate. After that, you're on usage-based billing with no free option.
Runsite solution
Free tier forever
Prototype and test as long as you need. No countdown, no credit card, no pressure to convert.
Platform.sh problem
"Platform YAML config is verbose"
Platform.sh requires .platform.app.yaml, services.yaml, and routes.yaml with platform-specific syntax.
Runsite solution
Push code, we figure it out
Runsite auto-detects your stack. Or bring a Dockerfile: standard tools, no proprietary config.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live, in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central // same platform, other angles
Keep exploring
EU Hosting Without Enterprise Pricing
Same EU compliance. A fraction of the cost.
Start Free on Runsite →