cloud instances simply- virtual mechines on the cloud
When we talk about running applications or websites, one of the most common options is a cloud instance—basically a virtual machine you rent from a cloud provider.
Different providers have their own branding:
- On AWS, it’s called an EC2 instance.
- On DigitalOcean, it’s a Droplet.
- On Google Cloud, it’s a Compute Engine VM.
- On Microsoft Azure, it’s just called a Virtual Machine (VM).
- On Linode (now Akamai), it’s a Linode Instance.
- On Vultr, it’s also called an Instance.
- On Oracle Cloud, you’ll hear Compute Instances.
So, all different names, but the concept is the same: a cloud-hosted virtual machine where you can run your workloads.
Now, let’s talk pricing perspective.
👉 A small entry-level VM in the cloud usually costs around $5 to $10 per month. For example:
- DigitalOcean’s base Droplet starts at $5/month.
- AWS free tier gives you some hours for free, but after that, a t2.micro or t3.micro is about $8 to $10/month.
- Google Cloud and Azure have similar low-end pricing, though they often give free credits for new users.
But here’s the catch—**cloud costs scale quickly**. If you need more CPU, memory, or bandwidth, your monthly bill can jump from $10 to $50, $100, or even thousands depending on usage.
Now compare this with self-hosting:
- If you buy a decent dedicated server or even a powerful mini PC at home—say for $500—you could run multiple VMs on it for years, with only electricity and internet as ongoing costs.
- For example, a $500 machine lasting 3 years works out to around $14/month, plus electricity (maybe another $5–10/month). That can give you way more resources than a $5–10 cloud instance.
So why do people still choose cloud over self-hosting?
- Scalability: You can instantly upgrade or downgrade resources in the cloud.
- Availability: Data centers have redundant power and internet, so uptime is far better than home setups.
- Global reach: You can deploy close to your users—whether in the US, Europe, or Asia.
In short:
- Cloud instances = flexibility + convenience, but higher recurring cost.
- Self-host = cheaper long-term, but needs setup, maintenance, and a reliable connection.
