I'm in the process of choosing the right hosting solution for a website where users can upload about 100 pictures each day. Since it'll mainly focus on user-generated images, I need recommendations for cloud storage that's easily scalable. My developer suggested going with DigitalOcean, but I'm a bit confused by their pricing options. Should I go for Droplets or Kubernetes? Additionally, I'm open to other alternatives as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
DigitalOcean is a solid choice. Consider using their DigitalOcean Spaces, which is similar to S3, for your image storage. It’s optimized for handling large amounts of uploads, though it doesn't optimize your images automatically. Make sure to manage your storage costs effectively because they can add up, especially with user-generated content.
For your setup, the hosting choice isn't as important as selecting the right image host. If possible, compress images before storing and avoid proxying images through your app. Direct uploads to storage with presigned URLs are recommended. Think about using AWS S3, Cloudflare R2, or Backblaze for more optimized processes.
For this kind of project, I'd go with Amazon S3 for images, as it's designed for handling a lot of uploads. You could keep your app on a small DigitalOcean Droplet or even use their App Platform for easier scaling and management. Don't stress too much about Kubernetes unless your project really needs it.
I’d recommend using Railway for hosting and S3 for image storage. If you want alternatives, Cloudflare Pages paired with their R2 storage is quite cost-effective too. They offer unlimited data transfer when hosted through their infrastructure.
Based on my experience with Bunny.net for a large project, it’s incredibly reliable for image hosting. So if you're looking for a stable option, definitely consider them.
Related Questions
Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate Setup Guide
How To Effectively Monetize A Site With Ads