Where it fits
DigitalOcean offers both a server route and a managed deployment route. Droplets give a team a Linux virtual machine to configure. App Platform builds and runs applications with more of the runtime handled by DigitalOcean. Spaces and managed databases can sit alongside either approach.
How pricing works
Droplet plans have resource sizes and included transfer amounts; additional products are separate charges. App Platform components, database capacity, backups and storage should be counted as part of the same application budget. A free static-site option is different from a paid always-running backend.
Choosing a setup
DigitalOcean is a useful middle ground for teams comparing a conventional VPS with a managed application platform. The decision comes down to server administration, deployment needs and the database setup, rather than treating every product as another Droplet.
