Contabo vs Scaleway: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Contabo and Scaleway comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Scaleway wins this matchup. Contabo is our overall VPS & Cloud Infrastructure pick. Alibaba Cloud MCP is our free VPS & Cloud Infrastructure pick. Pick Contabo if you need cloud & vps hosting.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Contabo
Affordable cloud VPS, dedicated servers, and GPU options
Best for you if:
- • You want low effective monthly price versus resources offered, especially on longer terms
- • You want no setup fee charged on any contract length
Scaleway
European cloud infrastructure provider
Best for you if:
- • You want european cloud
- • You want good pricing
| At a Glance | Scaleway | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $5.28/moCloud VPS 4 (24-month term) | $1.83/monthSTARDUST1 |
Best For | Cloud & VPS Hosting | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | - | 4.3/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Contabo or Scaleway?
Choose Contabo if
Affordable cloud VPS, dedicated servers, and GPU options
- You want low effective monthly price versus resources offered, especially on longer terms
- You want no setup fee charged on any contract length
- Your work is cloud & vps hosting-shaped, not cloud & infrastructure-shaped
Choose Scaleway if
European cloud infrastructure provider
- You want european cloud
- You want good pricing
- Budget matters ($1.83/month vs $5.28/mo)
- Your work is cloud & infrastructure-shaped, not cloud & vps hosting-shaped
| Feature | Contabo | Scaleway |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.3/5 132 reviews |
| Categories | Cloud & VPS HostingVPS & Cloud Infrastructure | Cloud & InfrastructureHosting & Deployment |
In-Depth Analysis
Contabo
Affordable cloud VPS, dedicated servers, and GPU options
Contabo's cloud VPS pricing is exceptionally generous for the specs, with the Cloud VPS 4 at EUR5.28/mo on a 24-month term delivering 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM, and 100GB SSD, far below typical market rates for similar configurations.
Watch out
US region adds EUR1.26 to EUR1.86/mo surcharge
Strengths
- +Low effective monthly price versus resources offered, especially on longer terms
- +No setup fee charged on any contract length
- +Unlimited traffic and security features (firewall, DDoS protection) included as standard
Weaknesses
- -Pricing is EUR-only on the vendor's own site, with no USD option shown even on the US-locale page
- -Lowest advertised price requires committing to a longer term; monthly billing costs noticeably more
- -Deploying in a US region adds a latency-based monthly surcharge on top of the base price
Key features
Scaleway
European cloud infrastructure provider
Scaleway's pricing, particularly with the STARDUST1 at $1.83/month and DEV1-S at $7.99/month, appears very competitive and generous for basic cloud infrastructure.
Watch out
Managed service add-ons
Strengths
- +European cloud
- +Good pricing
- +Good bare metal
- +GDPR compliant
- +Active development
Weaknesses
- -Less features than AWS
- -Smaller ecosystem
- -Documentation gaps
- -Support varies
- -Learning curve
Key features
Pricing: Contabo vs Scaleway
| Plan | Contabo | Scaleway |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $5.28 Cloud VPS 4 (24-month term) | $1.83 month STARDUST1 |
| Tier 2 | $7.2 Cloud VPS 6 (24-month term) | $7.99 month DEV1-S |
| Tier 3 | $13.44 Cloud VPS 8 (24-month term) | $21 month GP1-XS |
| Tier 4 | $24 Cloud VPS 12 (24-month term) | N/A |
| Tier 5 | $35.52 Cloud VPS 16 (24-month term) | N/A |
| Tier 6 | $47.04 Cloud VPS 18 (24-month term) | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Contabo pricing and Scaleway pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Scaleway
Want the highest-rated option?
Scaleway is rated 4.3/5. Contabo has no ratings yet.
Go with: Scaleway
Value user reviews?
Contabo: no ratings yet. Scaleway: 132 reviews (4.3/5).
Go with: Scaleway
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Contabo is a cloud & vps hosting tool. Scaleway is in cloud & infrastructure. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Scaleway is rated 4.3/5; Contabo has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Scaleway
- Our pick for this comparison
Contabo
- Better fit for cloud & vps hosting
The Bottom Line
Scaleway wins this matchup. Contabo is our overall VPS & Cloud Infrastructure pick. Alibaba Cloud MCP is our free VPS & Cloud Infrastructure pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Contabo or Scaleway better?
Scaleway is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Contabo and Scaleway used for?
Contabo: Affordable cloud VPS, dedicated servers, and GPU options. Scaleway: European cloud infrastructure provider.
What does Contabo cost vs Scaleway?
Contabo is a paid tool. Scaleway is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.