The companies behind dataforest and Google Cloud
dataforest is a German hosting company and Google Cloud is Google'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.
Google Cloud
Google has offered cloud services since 2008. Today you can build almost any application on the platform.
Broad portfolio
Many managed services in one place, from databases and Kubernetes to AI.
Regions worldwide
Data centers around the world, close to your users.
Strong in data and AI
Services such as BigQuery and Vertex AI for analytics and machine learning at large scale.
Large capacity
You can add a lot of compute and specialist hardware such as GPUs and TPUs at short notice and release it again.
When to choose dataforest and when Google Cloud
It comes down to whether you run your own software on servers or use services that Google 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.
Google Cloud is the better fit today if you …
- use managed services such as BigQuery, Cloud Run or Vertex AI,
- need load balancers, autoscaling or private networks,
- run servers on several continents,
- want to build on your team's Google Cloud experience.
Seed features
Every Seed includes up to 20 TB of traffic a month, while Google Cloud includes 200 GiB in the Standard Tier.
Three Seed lines
Entry and Standard have shared vCPUs for small services and variable load. Performance has dedicated vCPUs for sustained load.
On Google Cloud: Many machine families, from E2 to compute- and memory-optimized types.
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 Google Cloud: Startup scripts through instance metadata.
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 Google Cloud: Preconfigured images from the Google Cloud 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 Google Cloud: Bring your own system as an imported image.
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 Google Cloud: Snapshots and the Backup and DR service, 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 Google Cloud: VPC firewall rules and basic DDoS protection for public IPs included, advanced protection with Cloud Armor Enterprise.
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 cheapest Compute Engine VM of the same class 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. Compute Engine: on-demand prices in the europe-west3 region (Frankfurt) for Linux, 730 hours, with the automatic sustained use discount for N2, storage as Standard Persistent Disk (HDD), traffic in the Standard Tier, converted at €1 = $1.1225 (October 2, 2026). Where Google offers several options, we use the cheaper one. Without Committed Use Discounts, as these require a 1- or 3-year commitment. We do not include starting credits for new customers ($300 for 90 days at Google). Google Cloud and Compute Engine are trademarks of Google LLC.
Sources, accessed October 4, 2026:dataforest cloud: Seed configuratorGoogle Cloud: E2 and N2 pricingGoogle Cloud: Persistent Disk pricingGoogle Cloud: Network Service Tiers pricingGoogle Cloud: IP address pricingGoogle Cloud: E2 shared-core machinesGoogle Cloud: Dynamic resource managementGoogle Cloud: Persistent Disk typesGoogle Cloud: Free TrialGoogle Cloud: Spot VMsECB: 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 e2-standard-2
- 24/7
- 0.5 TB of traffic
On Compute Engine, about three quarters of the cost is the server and one quarter 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 e2-medium
- 2 weeks
- 0.2 TB of traffic
Google bills by the second and we bill by the hour. Over two weeks, that hardly makes a difference. Spot VMs make Google up to 91% cheaper, but Google can stop them at any time.
Per month, rounded, incl. 19% VAT and one IPv4 address per server. Assumptions: region europe-west3, on-demand prices for Linux, storage as Standard Persistent Disk (HDD) at Seed size, Standard Tier traffic minus the 200 GiB Google grants free per month. Own cloud 730 hours, test environment 336 hours. Exchange rate and date as above.
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 and set it against the cheapest Compute Engine VM of the same class. For Entry and Standard that is E2, for Performance with dedicated vCPUs it is N2, because Google allocates E2 vCPUs dynamically. Where Google offers several options, such as for traffic or storage, we use the cheaper one.
Why is the comparison based on the Standard Tier?
Standard is the cheaper of Google's two network tiers and includes 200 GiB of traffic a month. Premium is the default, but we use Standard so that Google doesn't look more expensive than it needs to.
Google Cloud: Network Service TiersWhy aren't Committed Use Discounts included?
Committed Use Discounts 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, Google grants up to 55% off, but a Seed is still cheaper in every pair. For n2-highmem-2 we already include the automatic sustained use discount, while E2 gets none.
Google Cloud: Committed use discountsGoogle Cloud: Sustained use discountsHow are dollar prices converted to euros?
Google Cloud publishes prices in US dollars excluding tax, while we publish ours in euros including VAT. In the price overview we convert Compute Engine 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. Google Cloud belongs to Google LLC, headquartered in the USA, so US law such as the CLOUD Act also applies to Google, even if your data is in Frankfurt. For strict requirements, there are sovereign offerings run by partners such as T-Systems.
CLOUD Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2713T-Systems: Sovereign Cloud powered by Google CloudHow does billing work?
We bill Seeds by the hour, while Compute Engine bills by the second after the first minute. 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 Google Cloud 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 Google Cloud 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.
