Amazon RDS vs DigitalOcean Droplets

Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases meets the vps that makes cloud hosting feel like a breeze, not a hurricane of complexity. Here's our take.

Amazon RDS

Nice Pick

Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases. It's like having a DBA on retainer, but cheaper and less opinionated.

Pros

• Automates backups, patching, and scaling, so you can focus on your app instead of babysitting servers
• Supports multiple engines like PostgreSQL and MySQL, making it easy to switch or standardize
• Built-in high availability with Multi-AZ deployments, because downtime is for amateurs

Cons

• Costs can sneak up on you with instance sizes and storage, especially if you forget to turn things off
• Limited control over the underlying OS and some database settings, which can be frustrating for power users

DigitalOcean Droplets

The VPS that makes cloud hosting feel like a breeze, not a hurricane of complexity.

Pros

• Simple, predictable pricing with no hidden fees
• One-click app installations and pre-configured stacks
• Scalable resources with easy vertical and horizontal upgrades
• User-friendly interface and extensive documentation

Cons

• Limited advanced features compared to AWS or Azure
• No built-in managed services like databases or serverless functions

The Verdict

Use Amazon RDS if: You want automates backups, patching, and scaling, so you can focus on your app instead of babysitting servers and can live with costs can sneak up on you with instance sizes and storage, especially if you forget to turn things off.

Use DigitalOcean Droplets if: You prioritize simple, predictable pricing with no hidden fees over what Amazon RDS offers.

The Bottom Line

Amazon RDS wins

Managed databases for people who'd rather not manage databases. It's like having a DBA on retainer, but cheaper and less opinionated.