The companies behind dataforest and AWS
dataforest is a German hosting company and AWS is Amazon's cloud division. Both rent out virtual servers, and this page compares only those.
dataforest cloud
We have been running servers for our customers on our own hardware and in our own network since 2009. In the dataforest cloud, you create your own cloud servers. We call them Seeds.
100% made in Germany
Your contract is with dataforest GmbH, based in Essen, Germany, under German law.
Quick to set up
Create an account and choose a Seed. A few minutes later, your first Seed is running.
In-house support
Our support is part of the team that builds and runs the platform. We're here for you every day from 9 am to midnight German time.
A say in new features
Your feedback goes straight to the team that decides on new features. We announce them in our changelog.
AWS
Amazon Web Services launched in 2006 and now offers more than 200 services. You can build almost any application with them.
Broad portfolio
Managed services in one place, from databases and Kubernetes to AI.
Regions worldwide
Data centers around the world, close to your users.
Large ecosystem
Many partners offer consulting and training, and plenty of engineers bring AWS experience.
Large capacity
You can add a lot of compute and specialist hardware such as GPUs at short notice and release it again.
When to choose dataforest and when AWS
It comes down to whether you run your own software on servers or use services that AWS manages for you. We keep building out the dataforest cloud.
dataforest is the better fit if you …
- run websites, shops, databases or containers yourself,
- serve a lot of outbound traffic, such as downloads or media,
- want to get started right away,
- want a German provider and personal support.
AWS is the better fit today if you …
- use managed services such as databases, Kubernetes or AI platforms,
- need load balancers, autoscaling or private networks,
- run servers on several continents,
- want to build on your team's AWS experience.
Seed features
Every Seed includes up to 20 TB of traffic a month, while AWS includes 100 GB per account.
Three Seed lines
Entry and Standard have shared vCPUs for small services and variable load. Performance has dedicated vCPUs for sustained load.
On AWS: Hundreds of instance types in many families, from burstable to bare metal.
Explore SeedsSetup with cloud-init
Add a cloud-init configuration for packages, users and services when you create a Seed. It runs on first boot.
On AWS: User data with cloud-init when the instance launches.
Read the guideOne-click applications
When you create a Seed in the console or through the API, you can pick an application from our catalog. The Seed sets it up on first boot.
On AWS: Preconfigured AMIs from AWS Marketplace, some with vendor license fees.
Browse applicationsISO catalog
Attach an ISO from our catalog and install the operating system of your choice yourself in the web console.
On AWS: Bring your own system with VM Import or a custom AMI.
Read the guideBackups and snapshots
You can add daily backups and snapshots at extra cost. We keep each backup for seven days, even after you delete the Seed. Before updates, you save the current state with a snapshot.
On AWS: EBS snapshots and AWS Backup, also billed separately.
Read the changelogFirewalls and DDoS protection
Assign stateful firewalls to individual Seeds or whole tags. We protect every public IPv4 address with basic DDoS protection at no extra cost.
On AWS: Security groups and network ACLs, with AWS Shield Standard included.
Read the changelogA Seed comes with everything that matters for running your server. And it costs far less.
See the pricesComparable specs, significantly cheaper
From each Seed line we take the smallest matching size and set it against the EC2 instance with the same number of vCPUs and the same memory. Storage is the same size, and we price a full month of continuous use.
All prices incl. 19% VAT. EC2: on-demand prices in the eu-central-1 region for Linux, 730 hours, storage as EBS gp3, converted at €1 = $1.1225 (October 2, 2026). Without Savings Plans and Reserved Instances, as these require a 1- or 3-year commitment. We do not include starting credits for new customers (up to $200 for 6 months at AWS). R7i is memory-optimized. AWS and Amazon EC2 are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources, accessed October 4, 2026:dataforest cloud: Seed configuratorAWS: EC2 On-Demand pricing and data transferAWS: EBS pricingAWS: IPv4 address pricingAWS: 100 GB free data transferAWS: T3 baseline performanceAWS: R7i instancesAWS: Lightsail pricingAWS: Lightsail baseline performanceAWS: Free TierAWS: Spot InstancesECB: US dollar reference rate
Monthly cost of two typical setups
Your own cloud for the team
A Nextcloud server holds a small team's files, calendars and contacts and runs around the clock. It sends about 0.5 TB of outbound traffic a month.
- 1 × Standard S or t3a.large
- 24/7
- 0.5 TB of traffic
On EC2, about two thirds of the cost is the server and one third is traffic.
More about your own cloudTest environment for a project
Three small servers run for two weeks of testing and are deleted afterwards. There is hardly any traffic.
- 3 × Entry M or t3.medium
- 2 weeks
- 0.2 TB of traffic
AWS bills by the second and we bill by the hour. Over two weeks, that hardly makes a difference. Spot Instances make AWS up to 90% cheaper, but AWS can stop them at any time.
Per month, rounded, incl. 19% VAT and one IPv4 address per server. Assumptions: region eu-central-1, on-demand prices for Linux, storage as EBS gp3 at Seed size, internet traffic minus the 100 GB AWS grants free per account and month. Own cloud 730 hours, test environment 336 hours. Exchange rate and date as above.
Lightsail compared
Lightsail is AWS's simple server offering. Its bundles have fixed monthly prices and include storage and traffic, but not the choice and services of EC2. Like T3 instances, the standard bundles run at a baseline, which is 20% of the CPU for Medium-4GB. They get more only while their burst capacity lasts. A comparable Seed costs far less here too.
Per month, incl. 19% VAT. Lightsail: monthly prices of the Linux bundles in the eu-central-1 region without a public IPv4 address (IPv6-only), converted at €1 = $1.1225 (October 2, 2026). Seeds also without an IPv4 address. The Lightsail bundles include twice the storage of the Seeds and cannot be chosen smaller. Amazon Lightsail is a trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Frequently asked questions
How are the comparison pairs chosen?
From each Seed line we take the smallest size with the same number of vCPUs and the same memory as the EC2 instance. Like T3 and T3a, Entry and Standard have shared vCPUs, but without CPU credits or extra charges for higher usage. Performance has dedicated vCPUs for sustained load around the clock, which is why we compare it with R7i.
What do CPU credits on T3 mean?
T3 instances run with a baseline, 20% per vCPU for t3.medium. The instance covers short spikes above it with banked CPU credits at no extra cost. If it runs above the baseline for a sustained period, AWS bills the extra performance in the default Unlimited mode.
AWS: Unlimited modeWhy aren't Savings Plans included?
Savings Plans and Reserved Instances require a 1- or 3-year commitment. You can delete a Seed at any time, so we compare prices without commitment on both sides. With three years and full prepayment, the instances compared here cost about 60% less, but a Seed is still cheaper in every pair.
AWS: Savings Plans pricingHow are dollar prices converted to euros?
AWS publishes prices in US dollars excluding tax, while we publish ours in euros including VAT. In the price overview we convert EC2 prices to euros at the European Central Bank reference rate and show both prices incl. 19% VAT.
What happens if I need a lot of CPU all the time?
Then Performance is the right line. Entry is designed for low CPU load, Standard for load that varies over the day. Performance has dedicated vCPUs and delivers full performance even under sustained load.
Which law applies to my data?
dataforest is a German company, so German and European law apply to us. AWS belongs to Amazon.com, Inc., headquartered in the USA, so US law such as the CLOUD Act also applies to AWS, even if your data is in Frankfurt. For strict requirements, AWS offers the separate AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
CLOUD Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2713AWS European Sovereign CloudHow does billing work?
We bill Seeds by the hour, while EC2 bills by the second. You can pay by credit card, PayPal or SEPA direct debit. On the first of each month we invoice the previous month's services and collect the amount automatically.
Can I move from AWS to dataforest cloud?
Yes. We have two guides for Linux servers, one for the recommended move with a fresh installation and one that takes over your entire system.
Move a Linux serverMove without reinstallingWhat if I want to move to AWS later?
You can, at any time. A Seed is a regular Linux server, and the applications from our catalog run as ordinary software that is not tied to our platform. You take your data with you using standard tools such as rsync or as a disk image.
