Sustainable Substitutes for AWS

A monopolistic cloud computing platform with high outage rates.

Reasons to avoid AWS

Avoid AWS due to its lack of transparency in its pricing models and regarding supposed GDPR compliance. Amazon and the oligarch behind it support Trump's agenda and using AWS contributes to the wealth accumulation.

Migrate to a European alternative with high sustainability standards and without compromised user data.

Ethical and Sustainable AWS Alternatives

Hetzner

Hetzner is a German affordable, high-performance hosting provider based in the EU.

Hetzner publishes sustainability reports and energy usage data, promoting transparency and accountability.
Hetzner does not use third-party cookies or trackers, ensuring user privacy.
Hetzner is fully GDPR-compliant, with transparent data processing agreements and robust technical/organizational measures to protect user data.
Hetzner repurposes waste heat and designs servers for minimal energy use and longevity.
Hetzner powers its data centers with 100% renewable energy (hydropower in Germany, wind power in Finland) and invests in self-generated solar energy.
Hetzner achieves a PUE of 1.13 through innovative cooling and custom-built, low-power servers.
Hetzner is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.
Website

Infomaniak

Infomaniak is a Swiss hosting provider with strong privacy protections and GDPR compliance.

Infomaniak is fully GDPR-compliant, with transparent data processing agreements and robust technical/organizational measures to protect user data.
Infomaniak offsets 200% of CO2 emissions and invests in local renewable energy projects and community initiatives.
Infomaniak publishes detailed sustainability reports and energy usage data, promoting transparency and accountability.
Infomaniak does not use third-party cookies or trackers, ensuring user privacy.
Infomaniak extends server lifespans to 15 years and repurposes waste heat to warm nearby buildings, minimizing e-waste and energy waste.
Infomaniak powers its data centers with 100% renewable energy (60% hydropower, 40% solar/small hydro) and aims to generate 50% of its electricity by 2030.
Infomaniak achieves a PUE of 1.06 through innovative cooling (outside air only) and custom-built, low-power servers.
Website

OVHCloud

OVHcloud is a French cloud hosting provider with a strong focus on privacy and data sovereignty.

OVHCloud is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.
OVHCloud targets 100% low-carbon energy (mostly nuclear though) for data centers by 2025, with 92% already achieved.
OVHCloud does not collect or sell user data, ensuring privacy and security.
OVHCloud provides tools like the Environmental Impact Tracker to help customers understand and reduce their carbon footprint.
OVHCloud offers dedicated and private cloud solutions, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
OVHCloud commits to data privacy and does not use third-party cookies or trackers.
OVHCloud repurposes industrial buildings for data centers and focuses on circular economy practices to minimize e-waste.
Website

The 5 main issues with AWS

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Amazon lacks transparency in its pricing schemes and how user data from AWS is used and shared. Amazon claims to abide to GDPR, but the US CLOUD act stands in direct conflict with this claim.The Register: Even Netflix struggles to identify and understand the cost of its AWS estate (2024)Wire: What the CLOUD Act Really Means for EU Data Sovereignty (2025)

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

Amazon collects vast amounts of user data, throughout its ecosystem and uses it for targeted advertisement. Recent data breaches amplify the concerns.Source: Heise: GDPR infringement: Luxembourg court confirms record fine for Amazon (2025)

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

AWS belongs to Amazon, one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and wealth accumulation of oligarchs. NPR: How 5 Tech Giants Have Become More Like Governments Than Companies (2017)

AI Bloat - Service has unnecessary or harmful AI features.

Amazon has had huge lay-offs recently. It's built increasingly on AI tools which seems to have caused downtimes already. Source:The Guardian: Amazon’s cloud "hit by two outages caused by AI tools last year" (2026)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Amazon and Jeff Bezos support Donald Trumps agenda.Source: EthicalConsumer.org: The relationship between Amazon and Trump: profiting from power (2025)