alwaysdata
Paris hosting with a free plan and unlimited sites, databases and mailboxes per account, running PHP, Python, Node.js, Ruby and Java
Quick Overview
| Company | ALWAYSDATA (SARL) |
|---|---|
| Category | PaaS Platforms |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - France (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Multiple languages and versions per site, SSH access, MariaDB/MySQL and PostgreSQL, mailboxes, scheduled tasks and daemons, Let's Encrypt SSL, automatic backups, API |
| Pricing | Free €0; Plus from €5 per month excl. VAT (30 days free); Max from €369 per month excl. VAT |
| Best For | Agencies and individuals hosting several small sites, apps and mailboxes on one account |
| Replaces | Heroku hobby apps, Render static and web services |
Detailed Review
alwaysdata sits between classic web hosting and a PaaS. An account holds as many websites, databases and mailboxes as you like, and each site picks its own language and version, from PHP and Python to Node.js, Ruby and Java.
Its legal notice shows a free shared PaaS environment for personal use as well as paid managed and dedicated offers.
Three Offers on One Ladder
Free gives 1 GB of SSD, 256 MB of RAM and a quarter CPU for personal use at €0 with no time limit. Plus is the managed public cloud from €5 per month excluding VAT, starting at 50 GB of SSD, 1 GB of RAM and 1 CPU, with a 30-day trial.
Max is a private server from €369 per month, with 16 GB of RAM and 8 CPUs as the entry configuration and 24/7 support.
Unlimited Is the Selling Point
Databases (MariaDB, MySQL and PostgreSQL with several extensions), mailboxes with aliases, anti-spam and webmail, and automatic backups for files, emails and databases are included without quotas.
Scheduled tasks and background daemons run alongside the sites, and SSL certificates are issued automatically through Let's Encrypt.
Support by People, in Office Hours
The company advertises human customer service that answers during office hours, or around the clock on Max.
It also publishes an open-source page, a transparency page and certification information for buyers who need paperwork.
Limitations to Consider
The pages read describe hosting accounts managed through a console, SSH and an API, and do not describe a Git-push build pipeline, preview environments or autoscaling. The free plan is for personal use. Round-the-clock support comes only with the Max offer, which starts at €369 a month. The server location is not stated on the pages read. For a Git-driven workflow, Clever Cloud is closer.
Who Should Use alwaysdata
Web agencies, freelancers and small companies in France and nearby that host several multi-language sites and mailboxes and prefer a low, predictable bill over a deployment pipeline.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free plan without a time limit
- Unlimited websites, databases and mailboxes
- Language and version chosen per site
- SSH access on every plan
- Managed and private-server offers on one ladder
Cons
- No Git-push pipeline described
- Free plan only for personal use
- 24/7 support limited to Max
- Data centre location not stated
Alternatives to alwaysdata
Other European paas platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Scalingo
France · Strasbourg git-push PaaS with HDS and SecNumCloud options
Zerops
Czech Republic · Prague developer cloud on its own hardware, billed per minute
Sliplane
Germany · Berlin Docker hosting with unlimited apps per flat-priced server
Upsun
France · Paris platform with a full environment for every branch
See all European paas platforms or compare them directly against Heroku hobby apps on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the pricing page describes the Free offer as valid without a time limit, for personal use, with 1 GB of SSD, 256 MB of RAM and a quarter CPU.
The home page lists PHP, Python, Java, Node.js and Ruby, and says you pick the language and version for each site.
ALWAYSDATA, a SARL with a share capital of €200,000 registered with the Paris trade register under number 492 893 490.