Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apache CloudStack VS Exoscale

Compare Apache CloudStack VS Exoscale and see what are their differences

Apache CloudStack logo Apache CloudStack

CloudStack is an open source cloud computing software for creating, managing, and deploying infrastructure cloud services.

Exoscale logo Exoscale

Simple. Sovereign. Sustainable.
  • Apache CloudStack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-31
  • Exoscale Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Exoscale Block storage interface at Exoscale
    Block storage interface at Exoscale //
    2025-04-06

European cloud platform for your applications, safe data storage and heavy computations. Complete IaaS at your fingertips: VMs, Object Storage, GPU, K8s, DBaaS.

Apache CloudStack

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Exoscale

$ Details
paid โ‚ฌ5.0 / Monthly (Micro instance)
Platforms
Cloud
Release Date
2011 October

Apache CloudStack features and specs

  • Open Source
    Apache CloudStack is open source, meaning there is no licensing cost and the community can contribute to its development, which fosters innovation and adaptation.
  • Hybrid Cloud Capability
    It supports hybrid cloud environments, allowing for integration with public cloud providers and providing flexibility in managing diverse resources.
  • Scalable
    CloudStack is designed to handle large deployments, making it suitable for scaling from small to very large cloud deployments.
  • Multi-Hypervisor Support
    Supports multiple hypervisors like VMware, KVM, and XenServer, providing freedom to choose the underlying virtualization technology.
  • Robust API
    Offers a comprehensive and robust API, which facilitates automation and integration with other systems and tools.

Possible disadvantages of Apache CloudStack

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its vast array of features and complex architecture, it can be challenging for newcomers to grasp and configure efficiently.
  • Community Support
    While there is a community for support, it might not be as extensive or responsive as commercial solutions with dedicated support.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial cloud platforms, Apache CloudStack may lack certain advanced features or cutting-edge integrations.
  • Upgrading Complexity
    Upgrading existing deployments can be complex and may require significant planning to ensure smooth transitions without downtime.
  • Customization Challenges
    Although highly configurable, customizing CloudStack for specific needs might require deep expertise and can be resource-intensive.

Exoscale features and specs

  • Data Privacy
    Exoscale is based in Switzerland, which has stringent data protection and privacy laws that benefit users seeking enhanced data privacy.
  • European Presence
    Provides multiple data centers across Europe, which is beneficial for businesses needing to comply with data residency requirements.
  • Scalability
    Offers scalable cloud solutions suitable for rapidly growing businesses or for handling variable workloads.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Designed with an intuitive interface that makes managing and deploying cloud resources easier for users.
  • Performance
    Exoscale is known for high performance and reliability, which is crucial for business-critical applications.

Analysis of Exoscale

Overall verdict

  • Exoscale is a solid choice for those seeking a cloud provider that prioritizes data protection and privacy while delivering reliable performance. Its features and compliance with European regulations make it a competitive option in the cloud services market.

Why this product is good

  • Exoscale is considered a good cloud infrastructure provider due to its user-friendly interface, robust security features, and reliable performance. It caters specifically to European data protection requirements and offers a range of services including compute, storage, and applications management. The platform's focus on privacy and compliance makes it appealing to businesses operating within or catering to the European market.

Recommended for

  • Startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) based in Europe
  • Organizations with stringent data privacy and compliance needs
  • Developers and enterprises looking for a user-friendly cloud platform
  • Companies needing scalable and reliable cloud infrastructure solutions

Apache CloudStack videos

Apache CloudStack - Storage - Snapshots - Code Review

More videos:

  • Review - #14 | #ACSarchives: Apache CloudStack | Storage, Snapshots & Code Review
  • Tutorial - Apache Cloudstack Tutorial: What is Apache Cloudstack Part - 2

Exoscale videos

Exoscale - Automation Introduction

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apache CloudStack and Exoscale)
Cloud Computing
49 49%
51% 51
VPS
46 46%
54% 54
Cloud Infrastructure
34 34%
66% 66
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Apache CloudStack and Exoscale.

What makes your product unique?

Exoscale's answer:

Exoscale differentiates through European data sovereigntyโ€”Swiss-based with data centers exclusively in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia and Bulgaria). It emphasizes GDPR compliance, Swiss data protection laws, and a simple, developer-friendly UX without the complexity of hyperscalers.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Exoscale's answer:

  • Data stays in Europe under strict privacy laws (key for regulated industries)
  • Transparent, predictable pricing without hidden egress fees
  • Simpler interface compared to AWS/Azure/GCP complexity
  • Strong focus on IaaS essentials (compute, storage, Kubernetes) rather than 200+ services. Product focus rather than โ€œeverythingโ€: the company message consistently targets a curated set of cloud-native building blocks, optimized for teams that want to move fast without excessive platform complexity.
  • Open-source leaning and interoperable interfaces (e.g., S3-compatible object storage; Kubernetes; OpenAPI-aligned API v2), which reduces lock-in risk.
  • Local support in European time zones

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Exoscale's answer:

European SMBs, startups, and enterprises with data residency requirementsโ€”particularly in fintech, healthcare, government, and SaaS sectors needing GDPR-compliant infrastructure without US cloud act exposure.

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Apache CloudStack should be more popular than Exoscale. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apache CloudStack mentions (6)

  • Linux from the user's perspective - Part1: Installing Linux
    Xen + CloudStack - you'll know if you need it. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Continuing the Search: Open-Source Alternatives to AWS Services
    You can try https://cloudstack.apache.org which has a great UI, CLI, APIs, tooling (Ansible, Terraform etc.) and support for CloudStack Kubernetes Service and CAPC (https://cluster-api-cloudstack.sigs.k8s.io/). CloudStack is also supported by AWS EKS-A. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Common OpenSource Cloud OS
    CloudStack is cloud computing software for creating, managing, and deploying public as well as private IaaS clouds. It uses several hypervisors such as KVM, vSphere, and XenServer/XCP for virtualization. It supports some key features such as hypervisor agnostic, snapshot management, usage metering, built-in HA for hosts and VMs. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2022)
    ShapeBlue | Remote (Europe/Asia/Flexible timezones) | Dev and QA engineers | Full time | https://shapeblue.com Hi all, ShapeBlue is a remote-only 100% employee-owned international business ( more on this on https://www.shapeblue.com/shapeblue-has-become-an-employee-owned-business/ ). We are hiring devs and QA engineers to work on opensource Apache Cloudstack ( see https://cloudstack.apache.org ... - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • what do they use, or how do they do it..
    The big providers like AWS, GCP, Azure, all have fully custom solutions for the whole infrastructure. But there exist a number of open source projects which give you the ability to setup the basics (compute, storage, networking) on your own. A few such infrastructure projects I'm aware of: * Cloudstack * Openstack * Eucalyptus. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

Exoscale mentions (2)

  • A developer's guide to deploy applications on Kubernetes
    IMPORTANT: I use the Scalable Kubernetes Service (SKS) from Exoscale (Switzerland) in the tutorial, but if you don't want to spend money on this, you can follow along with a local k3d cluster. Simply follow the instructions at the bottom of "The Cluster" section. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
  • March Cloud Native Romandie Meetup
    Next Pierre-Yves Ritschard and Mathieu Corbin from Exoscale presented SKS, a Kubernetes as-a-Service, operating the userโ€™s cluster on their behalf and taking care of the underlying infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apache CloudStack and Exoscale, you can also consider the following products

OpenStack - OpenStack software controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a datacenter, managed through a dashboard or via the OpenStack API.

Linode - We make it simple to develop, deploy, and scale cloud infrastructure at the best price-to-performance ratio in the market.

XenoNode - XenoNode is one of the leading cloud solutions providers that have employed the best cloud services providers to ensure the quality performance all with peace of mind at very affordable pricing.

DigitalOcean - Simplifying cloud hosting. Deploy an SSD cloud server in 55 seconds.

OVH Cloud - OVHcloud provides cloud solutions to meet all of your IT needs. With cutting edge cloud technology, come view our solutions by industry or use case.

Microsoft Azure - Windows Azure and SQL Azure enable you to build, host and scale applications in Microsoft datacenters.