Softwr

Cloud · head to head

IBM Cloud vs Scaleway

IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Cloud

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Scaleway logo

Scaleway

Cloud

European cloud for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only; Scaleway no free tier or trial period mentioned on homepage
  • They diverge on capability: IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Scaleway covers Virtual Instances.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IBM Cloud and Scaleway actually diverge.

Attributes where IBM Cloud and Scaleway differ
AttributeIBM CloudScaleway
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Api, CliWeb, Api, Cli
Founded20131999

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cloud).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • API Gateway
  • Jenkins
  • HIPAA

Only in Scaleway

  • Virtual Instances
  • Kubernetes Kapsule
  • Object Storage
  • Serverless Functions
  • Managed Databases
  • Container Registry
  • Load Balancer
  • Packer

Both cover

  • Bare Metal
  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • SOC2
  • ISO27001
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot Scaleway
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot Scaleway

Scaleway

  • Web hostingnot IBM Cloud
  • Container orchestrationnot IBM Cloud
  • Development environmentsnot IBM Cloud
  • Data storagenot IBM Cloud

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

Scaleway

  • No free tier or trial period mentioned on homepage
  • Specific pricing requires navigating to individual product category pages
  • Base pricing starts at 4.99 EUR per month but varies significantly by service type

Pricing, plan by plan

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

Scaleway

Free
  • DEV1-S$7.99/month
    • 2 vCPU
    • 2GB RAM
    • 20GB SSD

Which should you pick?

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want cloud foundry.
IBM Cloud review

Choose Scaleway if

  • You need virtual instances.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli.
  • You also want kubernetes kapsule.
Scaleway review

Questions people ask

Is IBM Cloud or Scaleway better?
Neither clearly leads. IBM Cloud starts at Free and Scaleway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IBM Cloud or Scaleway?
IBM Cloud starts at Free and Scaleway at Free.
Does IBM Cloud or Scaleway run on more platforms?
IBM Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli. Scaleway runs on Web, Api, Cli.
Can I use IBM Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IBM Cloud best used for?
IBM Cloud is most often used for running containerized and vm workloads on ibm's public cloud, building on watson apis and ibm middleware as managed services. Of those, running containerized and vm workloads on ibm's public cloud and building on watson apis and ibm middleware as managed services are not what Scaleway is typically brought in for.
What can IBM Cloud do that Scaleway cannot?
IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Cloud Foundry, Watson AI, Blockchain. Scaleway covers Virtual Instances, Kubernetes Kapsule, Object Storage, Serverless Functions. Both handle Bare Metal, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Scaleway: Does Scaleway have a free tier?

Scaleway does not mention a free tier or trial period on its pricing or homepage. Users must select specific services to see rates.

Source
Scaleway: What is Scaleway's pricing model?

Scaleway uses transparent, usage-based pricing that varies by service. Different categories (bare metal, compute, AI, storage, network) have separate pricing. Dedibox servers start at 4.99 EUR per month.

Source
Scaleway: How does Scaleway billing work?

Scaleway emphasizes transparent, predictable billing where customers know exactly what they'll pay. Users must select products and view pricing within each category.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on IBM Cloud

More on Scaleway

Keep looking

Other head to heads