👍 What we like
- ✓OVHcloud offers the lowest entry price for VPS at ~€3.50/month
- ✓OVHcloud holds the exclusive SecNumCloud certification for high sovereignty
- ✓Infomaniak guarantees 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality
- ✓All three providers ensure data stays within European or Swiss jurisdictions
- ✓Scaleway provides a modern, developer-focused cloud-native ecosystem
👎 What to watch
- ✕Infomaniak is based in Switzerland, which is outside the EU legal framework
- ✕OVHcloud's ecosystem can feel overwhelming due to its vast product range
- ✕Scaleway's entry-level instances are slightly more expensive than OVHcloud
- ✕Infomaniak does not offer standalone VPS, bundling them with other offers
📑 Contents ▾
- 01 Comparison Table: OVHcloud vs Scaleway vs Infomaniak in 2026
- 02 The managed option: PlanetHoster
- 03 Sovereignty and GDPR: The Core Issue
- 04 Price and Performance
- 05 Ecosystem and Managed Services
- 06 Ecology: Infomaniak’s Differentiating Argument
- 07 Use Cases: Who Should Choose What?
- · Administration, local authority, sensitive data subject to ANSSI requirements
- · Modern DevOps team seeking sovereign cloud
- · Maximum privacy and ecological commitment
- · Leaving Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace for a European solution
- · Versatile web hosting at the best price
- 13 Verdict: Three Sovereigns for Three Profiles
- 14 FAQ
- · What is the difference in sovereignty between these three players?
- · Which is best suited for a French administration?
- · Since Infomaniak is in Switzerland, is it GDPR compliant?
- · Which is the most ecological?
- · Can I leave Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 with these providers?
- 20 Related Topics
The question of digital sovereignty is no longer a debate for specialists in 2026. Between the US Cloud Act, legal uncertainties surrounding transatlantic data transfers, and increasingly strict GDPR requirements, hosting your data in Europe with a provider subject exclusively to European law has become a primary criterion for businesses, local authorities, and developers concerned with compliance.
Three players embody this sovereign alternative in France and Europe: OVHcloud, the French hosting giant; Scaleway, the cloud subsidiary of the Iliad group with a modern, developer-oriented positioning; and Infomaniak, the Swiss host renowned for its ethics, ecology, and rigor regarding privacy. All three escape US extraterritorial law and host your data in European data centers.
But sovereignty does not automatically mean compromising on performance or price. We compared the three on the criteria that truly matter: the guarantee of sovereignty and GDPR compliance, price-to-performance ratio, service ecosystem, and ecological footprint. Here is our comparison between OVHcloud, Scaleway and Infomaniak.
Comparison Table: OVHcloud vs Scaleway vs Infomaniak in 2026
| Criterion | OVHcloud | Scaleway | Infomaniak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country / Jurisdiction | France (EU) | France (EU) | Switzerland (Non-EU, GDPR equivalent) |
| Data Centers | France, Poland, Canada, etc. | France (Paris), Netherlands, Poland | Switzerland (Geneva) |
| Entry VPS / Instances | ~€3.50 ex-VAT/month | ~€4 ex-VAT/month (DEV) | Included in cloud/web offers |
| Sovereignty | SecNumCloud (dedicated offers) | EU Sovereign | Strict Swiss Sovereignty |
| Anti-DDoS Protection | Included | Included | Included |
| S3 Object Storage | Yes | Yes | Yes (Swiss Backup, kDrive) |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes (Kapsule) | Yes |
| Energy / Ecology | Water cooling, low PUE | Efficient data centers | 100% renewable, carbon neutral |
| Consumer Ecosystem | Web, VPS, Dedicated, Domains | Developer cloud-native | Mail, kDrive, kSuite, Web |
| Ideal For | Versatility, large volumes | Developers, cloud-native | Privacy, ecology, office suite |
Indicative prices May 2026 ex-VAT. All three guarantee European hosting out of reach of US extraterritorial law.
The managed option: PlanetHoster
If you would rather not run everything yourself, PlanetHoster offers managed VPS and web hosting, with infrastructure in Europe and Canada. See PlanetHoster plans
Sovereignty and GDPR: The Core Issue
This is the reason for this comparison, so let’s dive into the details.
OVHcloud is the reference French player and the only one offering offers certified SecNumCloud, the ANSSI label that represents the highest level of sovereignty requirement in France (immunity from extraterritorial law, hosting and operations exclusively by European personnel). For an administration, local authority, or company handling sensitive data, this is a decisive argument that no American hyperscaler can offer. OVHcloud hosts in France (Roubaix, Gravelines, Strasbourg) and other countries, allowing you to choose the precise location.
Scaleway is also a French sovereign player, a subsidiary of the Iliad (Free) group. Its data centers are in France (Paris) and Europe (Netherlands, Poland). Scaleway promotes a sovereign cloud designed natively for developers, with full GDPR compliance and a clear commitment to non-submission to the Cloud Act. It is the most technologically modern sovereign choice.
Infomaniak is Swiss. Switzerland is not in the EU, but its data protection law is recognized as offering a level of protection equivalent to the GDPR, and it is notoriously strict. Infomaniak hosts exclusively in Switzerland, in its own data centers in Geneva, and subcontracts nothing outside Switzerland. For those wanting maximum privacy and a jurisdiction renowned for its independence, Infomaniak is arguably the most radical of the three regarding data protection.
Sovereignty Verdict: OVHcloud for SecNumCloud certification and the French public market, Infomaniak for maximum privacy in Swiss jurisdiction, Scaleway for a modern and complete EU sovereign cloud.
Price and Performance
OVHcloud offers the widest range and the most aggressive entry prices. An entry-level VPS starts around €3.50 ex-VAT/month for 2 vCPUs and 4 GB of RAM. Its catalog covers shared hosting, VPS, Public Cloud (on-demand instances), dedicated servers (Scale, Advance, High Grade ranges) and bare metal. It is the most versatile player, capable of supporting everything from small sites to massive infrastructure. Performance is solid, with anti-DDoS protection included by default, a major asset for exposed services.
Scaleway positions itself slightly higher in price, but with a cloud designed for developers. DEV and PRO Instances, Elastic Metal (on-demand bare metal), managed Kubernetes Kapsule, serverless, and object storage form a coherent cloud-native ecosystem. The performance of recent instances is excellent, and the console/API experience is one of the most pleasant on the European market. Scaleway is also known for its very competitive cold storage offers (C14 / Glacier) for archiving.
Infomaniak does not quite play in the same category: its core business is web hosting, mail, and the collaborative suite. Its Public Cloud (OpenStack-based) and Jelastic Cloud offers exist and are competitive, but Infomaniak really shines in managed web hosting, storage (kDrive), mail, and sovereign office software (kSuite, an alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace). The value for money on these services is remarkable, with rare transparency.
Price/Performance Verdict: OVHcloud for the best entry price and versatility, Scaleway for modern developer cloud, Infomaniak for web hosting and sovereign office software.
Ecosystem and Managed Services
OVHcloud offers the most complete catalog: managed databases, Kubernetes, S3-compatible object storage, load balancers, VMware, and even AI and HPC solutions. It is the player covering the most use cases, from individuals to large enterprises.
Scaleway bets on a high-quality cloud-native ecosystem: Kapsule (managed Kubernetes), managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis), serverless functions and containers, object storage, and MLOps-oriented tools. Terraform integration is excellent. It is the most pleasant platform for a modern DevOps team seeking sovereignty.
Infomaniak stands out with its sovereign office and collaborative suite: kDrive (alternative to Google Drive/Dropbox), kSuite and kMeet (video conferencing), a privacy-respecting mail service, and Swiss Backup for backups. For a company wanting to leave Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace in favor of an ethical European solution, Infomaniak offers the most complete offer of the three.
Ecology: Infomaniak’s Differentiating Argument
In 2026, the carbon footprint of the cloud is a real selection criterion, and this is an area where the three have different approaches.
Infomaniak is the most advanced and transparent. The host operates on 100% renewable energy, declares itself carbon neutral, recovers heat from its data centers to heat buildings and homes in Geneva, and does not air-condition its rooms (free cooling). This is an ambitious and documented ecological policy that makes it the reference choice for organizations sensitive to their environmental impact.
OVHcloud relies on its proprietary water cooling, which significantly reduces energy consumption, and displays PUE (data center energy efficiency) among the best in the industry. The company manufactures its own servers to optimize their lifespan.
Scaleway has made notable efforts with high-energy-efficiency data centers and commitments to reduce its footprint, without communicating as strongly as Infomaniak on this front.
Ecology Verdict: Infomaniak dominates clearly, OVHcloud follows with its water cooling, Scaleway is progressing.
Use Cases: Who Should Choose What?
Administration, local authority, sensitive data subject to ANSSI requirements
OVHcloud, for its SecNumCloud certified offers, the highest level of sovereignty recognized in France.
Modern DevOps team seeking sovereign cloud
Scaleway. Kapsule Kubernetes, serverless, object storage, pleasant API and console, all in French jurisdiction. The best sovereign developer experience.
Maximum privacy and ecological commitment
Infomaniak. Strict Swiss jurisdiction, 100% renewable, carbon neutral. The ethical choice par excellence.
Leaving Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace for a European solution
Infomaniak, with kSuite, kDrive, kMeet and its mail service. The most complete sovereign collaborative suite.
Versatile web hosting at the best price
OVHcloud, for its wide catalog, aggressive entry prices, and included anti-DDoS protection.
Verdict: Three Sovereigns for Three Profiles
All three guarantee what matters most here: your data stays in Europe, out of reach of US extraterritorial law, in GDPR compliance. The difference lies in the positioning.
OVHcloud is the choice for versatility and certified sovereignty. The widest catalog, lowest entry prices, included anti-DDoS protection, and, above all, unique SecNumCloud offers for public actors and the most sensitive data. It is the sovereign Swiss Army knife, from individuals to large administrations.
Scaleway is the choice for the sovereign developer. Modern cloud-native, managed Kubernetes, serverless, object storage, and an API/console experience among the best in Europe, all in French jurisdiction. If you are building modern infrastructure without sacrificing sovereignty, this is it.
Infomaniak is the choice for privacy and ecology. Strict Swiss jurisdiction, 100% renewable hosting and carbon neutral, and a sovereign collaborative suite (kSuite, kDrive, mail) that makes it the best ethical alternative to Microsoft and Google. For those who place privacy and the environment at the top of their priorities, Infomaniak is unbeatable.
Our recommendation: OVHcloud for certified sovereignty and versatility, Scaleway for sovereign developer cloud, Infomaniak for privacy, ecology, and office software. None of the three expose you to the Cloud Act: that is already the essential victory against American hyperscalers.
FAQ
What is the difference in sovereignty between these three players?
OVHcloud and Scaleway are French, therefore in the EU and subject only to European law; OVHcloud additionally offers offers certified SecNumCloud by ANSSI. Infomaniak is Swiss: outside the EU but with a data protection law recognized as equivalent to the GDPR and a jurisdiction renowned for being very protective. All three escape the US Cloud Act.
Which is best suited for a French administration?
OVHcloud, thanks to its SecNumCloud certified offers, which meet the strictest ANSSI requirements regarding sovereignty and often constitute a prerequisite for public contracts handling sensitive data.
Since Infomaniak is in Switzerland, is it GDPR compliant?
Yes. Switzerland benefits from an adequacy decision and its data protection law (nLPD) is recognized as offering a level of protection equivalent to the GDPR. Hosting with Infomaniak is compliant for processing data from European residents, with the added benefit of a jurisdiction renowned for its independence.
Which is the most ecological?
Infomaniak, clearly: 100% renewable energy, claimed carbon neutrality, heat recovery, and free cooling. OVHcloud follows with its water cooling and good PUEs. Scaleway is progressing but communicates less on this aspect.
Can I leave Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 with these providers?
Yes, primarily with Infomaniak and its kSuite suite (mail, kDrive, kMeet, collaborative editing), designed as a direct sovereign alternative. OVHcloud also offers messaging and collaboration solutions. This is one of the concrete levers for regaining sovereignty for an organization.