DigitalOcean vs Supabase
DigitalOcean vs Supabase compared for European indie developers and small startups. Pricing, EU jurisdiction, GDPR posture — and why Runsite (an EU-registered PaaS in Frankfurt) is worth a look.
// digitalocean problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every DigitalOcean frustration, solved.
DigitalOcean problem
"I have to manage the server myself"
Droplets require SSH access, OS updates, security patches, nginx config, and manual deployment.
Runsite solution
Fully managed PaaS
Push to GitHub, auto-build, auto-deploy. SSL, scaling, and maintenance handled for you.
DigitalOcean problem
"DigitalOcean is a US company"
Your data is subject to US jurisdiction even on Amsterdam droplets.
Runsite solution
EU entity, EU law
Runsite is registered in the EU. Your data is governed by European privacy laws.
DigitalOcean problem
"$200 trial credit runs out"
DigitalOcean's trial is generous but temporary. After 60 days, you pay for everything.
Runsite solution
Permanent free tier
No trial period. No credit card. Build and deploy at zero cost, forever.
// comparison
Runsite vs DigitalOcean
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment Method | ✓ Git push, auto-build | Manual server setup |
| Server Management | ✓ Fully managed | ✗ You manage everything |
| EU Data Centers | ✓ Frankfurt (eu-central) | ✓ Amsterdam, Frankfurt |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | ✗ US company |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | ✗ $200 trial credit |
| Basic Droplet | €5/mo (managed) | $6/mo (unmanaged) |
| SSL Certificates | ✓ Automatic | Manual setup |
// the other side
What about Supabase?
Supabase gives you a great PostgreSQL BaaS. But free projects pause after 7 days, and it's a US company. Runsite gives you always-on EU hosting.
// supabase problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Supabase frustration, solved.
Supabase problem
"My free project got paused"
Supabase pauses free-tier projects after 7 days of inactivity. Your demo, side project, or staging environment goes offline.
Runsite solution
Always-on free tier
Runsite's free tier doesn't pause. Your app runs 24/7, even if nobody visits for a month.
Supabase problem
"$25/project for Pro is expensive"
Running 3 projects on Supabase Pro costs $75/mo. The jump from free (with pausing) to paid is steep.
Runsite solution
Managed PostgreSQL from €5/mo
Standard PostgreSQL with auto-backups for €5/mo. Add a web service for €5/mo. Total: €10/mo.
Supabase problem
"Edge Functions can't be pinned to EU"
Supabase Edge Functions run on Deno Deploy. You can't control which region processes your requests.
Runsite solution
EU-only compute
Your containers run in our Frankfurt (eu-central) region. Every request is processed in Europe under EU law.
// comparison
Runsite vs Supabase
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier Availability | ✓ Always on, never pauses | ✗ Pauses after 7 days inactivity |
| Deploy Custom Apps | ✓ Any Docker container | ✗ BaaS only (Edge Functions) |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity | ✗ US company (San Francisco) |
| PostgreSQL | ✓ From €5/mo | ✓ From $25/mo (Pro) |
| Edge Functions Region | ✓ EU pinned | ✗ Deno Deploy, no EU pinning |
| Auth + Realtime | Bring your own | ✓ Built-in (GoTrue, Realtime) |
| Auto-Generated APIs | Bring your own | ✓ REST + GraphQL from schema |
| Open Source | Closed source | ✓ Open source (Apache 2.0) |
// why consider runsite
Beyond DigitalOcean and Supabase
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While DigitalOcean and Supabase default to US markets, Runsite is built exclusively for European developers. Frankfurt (eu-central) region, EU entity, EU jurisdiction — no transatlantic transfers.
Real GDPR Compliance
EU-registered entity. Your data is governed by European law. No US jurisdiction, no CLOUD Act.
Predictable Pricing
No per-invocation charges, no surprise bills. Fixed plans with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts.
Common Questions
FAQ
Which is better for EU hosting, DigitalOcean or Supabase?
Neither DigitalOcean nor Supabase is EU-native. Both are US-headquartered and route the majority of traffic through US data centers. For genuine EU data residency, an EU-registered platform like Runsite is the safer choice — a Frankfurt (eu-central) region under EU jurisdiction, no transatlantic transfers, no CLOUD Act exposure.
Which has the better free tier, DigitalOcean or Supabase?
Free tiers on both DigitalOcean and Supabase change frequently and often include compute or bandwidth caps that expire after a trial period. If a permanent free tier matters, evaluate the current terms on each provider before committing.
Is DigitalOcean or Supabase GDPR-compliant?
Both can be configured to support GDPR-compliant workloads via Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), but as US entities they remain subject to the CLOUD Act. For workloads where US jurisdiction is a hard blocker, an EU-headquartered provider is required.
What is the cheapest way to deploy a side project — DigitalOcean or Supabase?
Pricing on both DigitalOcean and Supabase can scale unpredictably with traffic or build minutes. Hard spending caps are not available on either platform. Predictable monthly pricing with usage caps is a differentiator to look for elsewhere.
// explore alternatives
Try the European Alternative
Skip the DigitalOcean vs Supabase debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →