UpCloud vs Exoscale

Both UpCloud and Exoscale are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the cloud hosting & iaas space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.

Quick Overview

UpCloud

Headquarters: Helsinki, FI
Pricing: From €5/mo (usage-based)
Open Source: No

Exoscale

Headquarters: Lausanne, CH
Pricing: From €5/mo (usage-based)
Open Source: No

Key Differences

UpCloud uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month, while exoscale uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
Data residency differs: UpCloud hosts data in Finland, Germany, Netherlands, GB, Spain, Poland, while Exoscale hosts in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
Exoscale holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. UpCloud does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter for enterprise procurement requirements.
Each product has unique strengths: UpCloud offers High-performance cloud servers and MaxIOPS storage technology, while Exoscale provides Compute instances and Managed Kubernetes (SKS). Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.

Feature Comparison

Feature	UpCloud	Exoscale
Name	UpCloud	Exoscale
Pricing	From €5/mo (usage-based)	From €5/mo (usage-based)
Free Tier
GDPR
ISO 27001
Open Source
Headquarters	Helsinki, FI	Lausanne, CH
Data Centers	FI, DE, NL, GB, ES, PL	CH, DE, AT, BG
High-performance cloud servers
MaxIOPS storage technology
Managed databases
Managed Kubernetes
Object storage
Load balancers
SDN networking
100% uptime SLA
API and CLI tools
Customizable server configurations
Compute instances
Managed Kubernetes (SKS)
DNS
Block storage
Private networks
API
CLI
EU data sovereignty

Pricing Comparison

UpCloud

From €5/mo (usage-based)

pay-as-you-go

Exoscale

From €5/mo (usage-based)

usage-based

Compliance Comparison

UpCloud

GDPRDPA

Exoscale

GDPRISO 27001SOC 2DPA

Get Started

Try UpCloud

High-performance European cloud infrastructure

Visit UpCloud

Try Exoscale

Swiss cloud infrastructure with full EU data sovereignty

Visit Exoscale

How to Choose

Your procurement requires ISO 27001 certification

Choose Exoscale

UpCloud vs Exoscale — FAQ

What is the main difference between UpCloud and Exoscale?

Both UpCloud and Exoscale are European cloud hosting & iaas solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: UpCloud uses pay-as-you-go pricing while Exoscale uses usage-based. UpCloud is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, while Exoscale is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.

Which is more affordable, UpCloud or Exoscale?

UpCloud uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month, while exoscale uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month. Pricing models differ (pay-as-you-go vs. usage-based), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.

Are both UpCloud and Exoscale GDPR compliant?

Yes. Both UpCloud and Exoscale are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. Additionally, Exoscale holds ISO 27001 certification. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.