Softwr

Cloud · head to head

Render vs Scaleway

Render logo

Render

Cloud

A modern cloud platform for the next generation

From
Free
Rated
-
Scaleway logo

Scaleway

Cloud

European cloud for developers

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Render the free Hobby workspace is limited to 25 services and 5 GB of bandwidth; Scaleway no free tier or trial period mentioned on homepage
  • They diverge on capability: Render covers Web services, Scaleway covers Virtual Instances.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Render and Scaleway actually diverge.

Attributes where Render and Scaleway differ
AttributeRenderScaleway
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb, Api, Cli
Founded20191999

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 Render

  • Web services
  • Static sites
  • Background workers
  • Postgres database
  • Redis database
  • Scheduled jobs
  • Environment variables
  • Custom domains

Only in Scaleway

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

Both cover

  • Docker
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Render

  • Deploying web services, static sites and cron jobs from a Git repository without managing serversnot Scaleway
  • Running managed Postgres and Redis alongside application servicesnot Scaleway
  • Preview environments per pull request for small teamsnot Scaleway

Scaleway

  • Web hostingnot Render
  • Container orchestrationnot Render
  • Development environmentsnot Render
  • Data storagenot Render

Where each one falls short

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

Render

  • The free Hobby workspace is limited to 25 services and 5 GB of bandwidth
  • Every paid plan charges the workspace fee plus compute on top, so $25 per month for Pro is a floor rather than a total
  • SAML SSO and SCIM require the Scale plan at $499 per month
  • HIPAA-compliant workspaces, inbound IP rules and advanced RBAC roles are Scale plan features
  • Organization-level audit logs require Scale; Pro provides only workspace audit logs
  • Contractual uptime SLAs, support response SLAs and a technical account manager are Enterprise only, and Enterprise is custom priced with no published rate
  • Included bandwidth is 25 GB on Pro and 1 TB on Scale, with usage beyond that billed separately

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

Render

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 web service
    • 1 static site
    • Shared CPU
  • Starter$7/month
    • Unlimited services
    • Dedicated CPU
    • 2GB RAM

Scaleway

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Render if

  • You need web services.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want static sites.

Choose Scaleway if

  • You need virtual instances.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.

Questions people ask

Is Render or Scaleway better?
Neither clearly leads. Render 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, Render or Scaleway?
Render starts at Free and Scaleway at Free.
Does Render or Scaleway run on more platforms?
Render runs on Web, Api. Scaleway runs on Web, Api, Cli.
Can I use Render for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Render best used for?
Render is most often used for deploying web services, static sites and cron jobs from a git repository without managing servers, running managed postgres and redis alongside application services, preview environments per pull request for small teams. Of those, deploying web services, static sites and cron jobs from a git repository without managing servers and running managed postgres and redis alongside application services are not what Scaleway is typically brought in for.
What can Render do that Scaleway cannot?
Render covers Web services, Static sites, Background workers, Postgres database. Scaleway covers Virtual Instances, Bare Metal, Kubernetes Kapsule, Object Storage. Both handle Docker, Cloud deployment, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Render: What is Render's pricing?

Render's pricing details are not disclosed on the public pricing page. The site references workspace plans, compute services, and features but does not display specific costs. Users must visit the pricing page directly or contact Render for detailed information.

Source
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

Other head to heads