ZDNET's 2026 cloud hosting guide names AWS top pick

ZDNET updated its cloud hosting guide for 2026 in a January revision and selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its top pick for cloud hosting.

ZDNET praises AWS for its comprehensive range of services, global network of data centers, and pay-as-you-go pricing, saying the platform can serve businesses of all sizes and scale resources up or down. The guide also notes AWS has launched an AWS European Sovereign Cloud in response to demand for EU data sovereignty.

Other top picks in the guide include Google Cloud Platform for scalability and data tools such as Kubernetes Engine and BigQuery (plus AI offerings like Vertex AI and Gemini 3); DigitalOcean as a budget-friendly option with preconfigured droplets and transparent pricing; Microsoft Azure for enterprise customers and integration with Microsoft products; Cloudways for managed hosting across multiple providers; and OVHCloud for highly customizable, GDPR-focused hosting.

ZDNET recommends readers weigh factors such as reliability, pricing and scalability, security, ease of use, available integrations and customer support when choosing a provider. The guide also notes free tiers and trial periods exist but are typically limited, and that AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform remain the largest providers in the market.

Key Topics

Tech, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Digitalocean, Microsoft Azure, Cloudways