Top cloud providers in Europe

Updated: Jan 16, 2026 10 min read

Key takeaways

European cloud providers hold about 15% of the market, with hyperscalers still leading at around 70%.
Local cloud providers are gaining relevance, especially in sectors where data sovereignty and jurisdiction control are non-negotiable.
Top European-relevant cloud providers include IONOS Cloud, OVHcloud, Serverspace, Hetzner, UpCloud, Contabo, DigitalOcean, Rackspace, Microsoft Azure, and AWS.

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When I look at the European cloud market, the story is pretty clear. The global hyperscalers still run the show with roughly 70% of the market, while European providers sit at around 15%. And honestly, given the scale of their investment, the number of their data centers, and the depth of their service portfolios, this dominance is hardly surprising.

That said, I see the role of European cloud platforms beginning to grow. Not a surge, not a market-reshaping leap – rather a gradual increase in attention from enterprises that operate in heavily regulated sectors or handle sensitive data where proximity and jurisdiction really matter.

Why the European cloud matters more than ever

So why are some of these European clouds becoming more important?
A few reasons jump out at me:

Companies care more about data sovereignty, and they want to be more technologically independent, especially with rising concerns about exposing data to non-EU jurisdictions.
Regulatory pressure is increasing, and local providers tend to adapt faster to European compliance frameworks.

At the same time, let’s keep our feet on the ground: in the foreseeable future, the global hyperscalers will stay dominant. Their scale gives them better pricing, richer services, and all the AI and high-performance infrastructure that European providers just can’t match yet.

What to consider when choosing a cloud provider in Europe for your business

Choosing a cloud provider for your business is a bit like choosing a partner. You need someone who’s reliable, scalable, and will stick with you through the ups and downs. Here’s what you should keep in mind when making your pick.

Data sovereignty & compliance

In Europe, GDPR isn’t just a nice-to-have. That means your cloud provider must comply with strict data protection regulations. It’s imperative that your data stays within EU jurisdiction and is protected by local laws. Look for providers that operate in the EU with clear, transparent data sovereignty policies, and make sure they have certifications like ISO 27001 to back up their security claims.

Service offerings & scalability

Not all businesses are the same, so neither should your cloud provider be. Whether you’re running a small website or a massive enterprise application, you’ll need a provider that can scale with you. From basic cloud hosting to complex infrastructure services like managed Kubernetes or bare-metal servers, the best cloud providers offer flexible, scalable solutions that grow with your business. You don’t want to be stuck with a provider that can’t handle your needs as you expand.

Security & reliability

Security is non-negotiable, especially when it comes to the cloud. Your provider should offer more than just the basics: look for things like end-to-end encryption, strong DDoS protection, and backup services. A high uptime record is also important, as downtime is expensive and disruptive. A good provider should have your back with 24/7 support and disaster recovery options in place to ensure your business stays up and running no matter what.

Pricing models

Pricing can make or break your decision. Some providers offer pay-as-you-go plans, and some offer monthly subscriptions. It matters because they shape how “in control” you actually feel once your workloads hit the cloud. A clear, honest model gives you the confidence to grow without holding your breath every time the monthly invoice lands. It helps you predict costs, understand what you’re really paying for, and catch small inefficiencies before they turn into embarrassing budget conversations.

Customer support

The reality is, you will run into issues with your cloud services. Whether it’s a simple question or a major technical issue, you need a provider with responsive, 24/7 support. A knowledgeable support team that’s quick to resolve problems will save you time and headaches in the long run. After all, your business can’t afford to wait for tech help when things go wrong.

Location of data centers

Data storage location matters for both performance and compliance. You’ll want a provider with multiple data centers across Europe to ensure low latency and high availability. Providers with regional data centers also give you a level of redundancy, making sure your data is always accessible, even if something goes wrong at one location.

Not sure which provider fits your needs?

The leading European cloud providers

Cloud providers that made our list:

IONOS CLOUD
OVHcloud
Serverspace.io
Hetzner
UpCloud
Contabo
Digital Ocean
Rackspace
Microsoft Azure
AWS

IONOS Cloud

IONOS Cloud has quietly become one of the most trusted European alternatives with 31 operated data centers. IONOS Cloud provides secure, high-performance infrastructure that scales with ease across different business sizes and technical demands.

Location: Germany

Why it stands out:

ISO 27001 certified
Climate-neutral infrastructure
24/7 support
Transparent pricing

Best for: Businesses looking for a reliable, scalable cloud infrastructure with a focus on security and sustainability.

OVHcloud

OVHcloud is a French-based cloud and hosting provider, with multiple data centres across Europe (and beyond). It offers a wide spectrum of services: public cloud, private cloud/bare-metal, dedicated servers, VPS, and traditional web hosting.

Location: France

Why it stands out:

Keeps all your data under full EU jurisdiction
Scalable infrastructure
Competitive pricing
24/7 support
Disaster Recovery as a Service

Best for: Enterprises needing GDPR-compliant, flexible, and cost-effective cloud infrastructure.

Serverspace

Serverspace is a growing Netherlands-based cloud provider focused on fast deployment and simple management. Its automated setup and vStack architecture deliver solid performance without adding operational complexity. This makes it a practical choice for developers and small teams who want reliable infrastructure with predictable costs.

Location: the Netherlands

Why it stands out:

Instant server deployment
Transparent pricing with a pay-as-you-go model
Innovative hyper-converged and high-performance vStack platform

Best for: Businesses looking for a reliable, scalable cloud infrastructure with a focus on security and sustainability.

Hetzner

Hetzner is a popular cloud hosting provider known for delivering high-performance services at some of the most competitive prices in the industry. Whether you’re running a small website or an extensive application, Hetzner offers reliable, scalable cloud solutions that meet the needs of developers, small businesses, and mid-sized companies.

Location: Germany

Why it stands out:

GDPR-compliant data centers
Scalable services
Strong uptime record
DDoS protection

Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses and developers who need reliable and scalable hosting at an affordable price

UpCloud

UpCloud is a cloud provider known for its focus on delivering high-performance infrastructure. With its proprietary MaxIOPS storage technology, UpCloud promises some of the fastest cloud performance available today, making it an excellent choice for performance-critical workloads such as high-traffic websites, real-time applications, and data-intensive tasks.

Location: Finland

Why it stands out:

MaxIOPS storage technology
Developer-friendly
Zero‑cost outbound data transfer
High availability & redundancy

Best for: Businesses that need high-performance cloud infrastructure.

Contabo

Contabo is a Germany-based provider that focuses on affordable cloud and VPS hosting. It’s popular among developers, freelancers, and small businesses looking for value. The company offers generous resources for its pricing and keeps performance solid with scalable setups and data centers spread across multiple regions.

Location: Germany

Why it stands out:

Among the most affordable cloud options in Europe
24/7 human agents and self-help resources
99.996% uptime
GDPR-compliant data centers

Best for: Companies with budget constraints needing reliable hosting

DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is a cloud infrastructure provider popular for its simplicity, scalability, and developer-focused services. With its intuitive interface and flat-rate pricing, DigitalOcean allows developers and small businesses to deploy, manage, and scale applications quickly.

Location: USA, with European regions

Why it stands out:

Clean UI and exceptional developer experience
Transparent pricing
Quick deployment
Compliance with regulations like GDPR
Trusted by startups, SaaS builders, and dev teams

Best for: startups and SMBs needing easy-to-use cloud resources

Rackspace

Rackspace Technology is a leading multicloud provider known for its ability to manage and optimize cloud infrastructures across multiple platforms. With its expertise in custom cloud strategies, Rackspace is trusted by enterprises to tailor migration, security, and governance solutions.

Location: USA, with European presence

Why it stands out:

Multi-cloud expertise across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
24/7 expert support
Custom cloud strategies for migration

Best for: Enterprises seeking hands-on cloud management and multi-cloud flexibility.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is one of the world’s leading cloud platforms, trusted by enterprises for its performance, security, and deep integration with Microsoft products. With over 60 data centers across Europe, it’s a top choice for organizations that need scale and compliance in equal measure.

Location: USA, with European presence

Why it stands out:

Connects effortlessly with Microsoft ecosystems.
Azure Arc and Stack let you manage on-premises and cloud resources from a single place.
Built-in analytics, machine learning, and automation capabilities.

Best for: Enterprises invested in Microsoft ecosystems and hybrid deployments.

AWS

AWS is the most established cloud platform, offering a massive global infrastructure and a wide range of services. Its European regions provide strong performance, compliance options, and high availability for demanding workloads. Companies choose AWS for its flexibility, scalability, and ability to support everything from small projects to enterprise-level systems.

Location: USA, with European presence

Why it stands out:

Unmatched range of services (e.g., storage to AI, IoT, and advanced analytics)
AWS Free Tier allows users to explore AWS services at no cost, making it easier for companies to evaluate the platform before committing financially.
Simplified startup and management

Best for: Large enterprises and tech-forward businesses requiring global scale.

Cloud provider	Data sovereignty & compliance	Key services
IONOS Cloud	EU-based data centers GDPR-first ISO 27001 certified	Cloud Servers, SSD storage Object & Network File Storage SSH Key Manager, DevCenter resources
OVHcloud	GDPR ISO 27001	Compute, storage, networking (IaaS, PaaS) Bare-metal servers, Hybrid Cloud VPS, DDoS protection
Serverspace	EU-based data centers GDPR-compliant ISO 27001 certified	Cloud instances, storage, and backups Low-latency, API access
Hetzner	SOC 2 GDPR-compliant EMAS / ISO 14001	Virtual machines Bare-metal servers Cloud Storage
UpCloud	EU-regulated GDPR	Cloud hosting, block storage Private IPs, VPC
Contabo	EU data centers GDPR	VPS, Cloud instances, object storage High-performance options, transparent pricing Dedicated servers
DigitalOcean	EU data centers GDPR	Droplets (VMs) Managed Kubernetes Managed databases Block and object storage with scalable options.
Rackspace	Follows hosting partner's jurisdiction	Multi-cloud solutions Managed hosting and cloud infrastructure Cloud migration and data management. Managed services for security, performance, and backup
Microsoft Azure	EU Data Boundary completed (2025) GDPR ISO 27001	VMs, Managed Kubernetes (AKS) AI services, Synapse Analytics Azure Active Directory
AWS	GDPR ISO 27001	EC2, S3 storage, Lambda EKS (Kubernetes) SageMaker (AI) CloudFront CDN, RDS, DynamoDB, etc.

Wrapping up

After looking at all the options on the table, the picture becomes much clearer. Europe’s cloud scene isn’t about replacing the hyperscalers, at least not anytime soon, but it is about giving businesses real alternatives that fit the way things work here. Companies now have space to choose based on what genuinely matters to them. Some teams will lean toward the global platforms for their scale and AI capabilities. Others will gravitate toward European players because sovereignty and jurisdiction carry real weight in their industry.

In the end, there’s no single “best” cloud provider in Europe. There’s only the cloud provider that matches your priorities right now. And if you need experts to help you make that choice and build a solution that actually supports your growth, Innowise is here to guide you.

Nikita Verbovikov

Head of Node.js Department

With a strong foundation in backend development, Nikita Verbovikov leads the Node.js department at Innowise. He shapes the technical decisions, oversees project delivery, and makes sure the solutions built by his team meet both technical standards and business goals.

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