Legacy Default
AWS / Azure
Powerful and globally mature, but often more cloud than smaller teams need and a weaker sovereignty story for Europe-first procurement.
Comparison
Scaleway vs AWS / Azure
French sovereign cloud provider with European data centers and iliad backing. — a detailed comparison to help European teams evaluate the switch.
European Alternative
Scaleway
French sovereign cloud provider backed by the iliad Group with European data-center infrastructure and a strong sovereignty narrative.
Paris, France EU
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison
How Scaleway compares to AWS / Azure on key dimensions.
| Dimension | AWS / Azure | Scaleway |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | US-based | Paris, France |
| Jurisdiction | US law | France |
| Hosting Region | Global / US default | France and broader European regions |
| Ownership story | Global hyperscaler | French cloud provider within the iliad Group |
| Sovereignty posture | Broad compliance tooling but weaker local identity | Explicit European sovereign cloud positioning |
| Data center footprint | Massive worldwide coverage | Europe-first footprint with French core regions |
| Team fit | Broadest platform, highest complexity | Better for teams that want focused European cloud operations |
Key capabilities of Scaleway
- Instances, storage, databases, Kubernetes, serverless, and AI services
- French sovereign cloud positioning with iliad Group backing
- Data centers in France and wider European regional expansion
- Strong fit for public-sector and sovereignty-led procurement paths
- Cloud-native product lineup rather than legacy hosting packaging
Compliance Note
Scaleway describes itself as a French sovereign cloud provider, part of the iliad Group, and documents infrastructure hosted in France and European data-center regions as part of its sovereignty positioning.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scaleway a good replacement for AWS / Azure?
French sovereign cloud provider with European data centers and iliad backing. Scaleway is headquartered in Paris, France with data hosted in France and broader European regions, providing clearer GDPR compliance for European teams.
Where is Scaleway hosted?
Scaleway operates from France and broader European regions under France jurisdiction, keeping data within European legal frameworks.
Is Scaleway open source?
Scaleway is a managed service.
Pairings
Tools that work well with Scaleway
Complement your European stack with these pairings.
Collaboration
CryptPad
Encrypted documents, polls, whiteboards, kanbans, and shared workspaces for teams that want privacy-first collaboration.
Surveys & Feedback
Formbricks
Website, in-app, and link surveys for teams that want a modern feedback stack with open-source control options.
Collaboration
Nextcloud
File sync, document collaboration, chat, and calendar capabilities with strong deployment control.