Scaleway vs AWS
Considering a switch from AWS to a European alternative? Scaleway offers full GDPR compliance and EU-only data hosting without the legal uncertainties that come with US-based services. Here's how they compare on features, pricing, and data protection.
Quick Overview
Scaleway
EU- Headquarters
- Paris, FR
- Pricing
- From €7/mo (usage-based)
- Open Source
- No
AWS
USAmazon Web Services is a comprehensive cloud computing platform by Amazon offering over 200 services including compute, storage, databases, and machine learning from data centers worldwide.
The Case for Scaleway
- Scaleway stores all data exclusively in France, Netherlands, Poland, under European jurisdiction. Unlike AWS, which is subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702, Scaleway cannot be compelled by foreign governments to hand over your data.
- Scaleway offers a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that is fully aligned with GDPR Article 28. There is no legal ambiguity about data transfers or adequacy decisions — your data processor is European, and the law that governs it is European.
Why Switch to Scaleway?
Concerns with AWS
- US CLOUD Act jurisdiction
- Complex data residency configurations required for EU compliance
- FISA Section 702 surveillance risk
- US government access to data even in EU regions
Scaleway Compliance
GDPRISO 27001SOC 2DPA
- Headquarters
- Paris, FR
- Data Centers
- FR, NL, PL
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Categories
Scaleway vs AWS — FAQ
Is AWS GDPR compliant?
AWS may offer GDPR compliance features and EU data residency options, but as a US-headquartered company, it remains subject to the US CLOUD Act and FISA Section 702. These laws can compel US companies to hand over data regardless of where it is stored. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides some safeguards, but its predecessors (Safe Harbor and Privacy Shield) were both invalidated by the European Court of Justice. Scaleway, as a European company, is not subject to these US laws at all.
How does Scaleway compare to AWS in features?
Scaleway offers Virtual instances, Bare metal servers, GPU instances, Managed Kubernetes, and 6 more features. While AWS's ecosystem may be larger due to its market position, Scaleway covers the core functionality that most teams need. The trade-off is typically between breadth of integrations (AWS) and data sovereignty with regulatory certainty (Scaleway).
Can I migrate from AWS to Scaleway?
Yes. Most European software providers, including Scaleway, offer migration tools or documentation to help you transition from US-based services. Under GDPR Article 20, you have the right to data portability — meaning AWS must provide your data in a machine-readable format. The migration process varies in complexity depending on your data volume and integrations, but for most teams it can be completed within a few days to a few weeks.