DigitalOcean Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
DigitalOcean pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $40 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
DigitalOcean's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- $5 free credits monthly
- Core cloud services
- Limited resources
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 1GB RAM
- 1 vCPU
- 25GB SSD
- Per-second billing
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 1GB RAM or 1 vCPU
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- DigitalOcean branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Droplet (Basic) Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Droplet (Basic) $4/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 3 included | 4+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | DigitalOcean branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Learning and testing | Small applications |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is DigitalOcean free?
Yes, DigitalOcean offers a forever free plan with 3 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in DigitalOcean's free plan?
DigitalOcean's free plan includes: $5 free credits monthly, Core cloud services, Limited resources. Key limits include basic usage caps.
03 What's NOT included in DigitalOcean's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 1GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 25GB SSD, Per-second billing. You'll also have DigitalOcean branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from DigitalOcean's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 1GB RAM or 1 vCPU, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $4/month.
05 Is DigitalOcean's free plan really free forever?
Yes, DigitalOcean's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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