# Cohesivity vs DigitalOcean App Platform

DigitalOcean App Platform: “The simpler way to launch your apps.”

DigitalOcean is a real cloud: Droplets, Kubernetes, managed databases, object storage in Spaces, and App Platform sitting on top to make deploys simple. It even has a public MCP server now, spanning nine of its services. The catch for someone just starting is that the App Platform free tier covers static sites only, and everything runs behind a DigitalOcean account.

Cohesivity does not have a static-only free tier or an account gate. Its coding agent provisions a full backend, database, storage, auth, hosting, and AI, over one HTTP API, and the project runs for 72 hours before you claim it. DigitalOcean gives you a broad cloud you sign into and assemble. The difference is the signup, and that the free path here provisions a whole backend rather than a static site.

side by side

## Cohesivity and DigitalOcean App Platform, on the points that differ

__Comparison of Cohesivity and DigitalOcean App Platform__
|                | Cohesivity                                                                        | DigitalOcean App Platform                                                     |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| free to start  | Free $0 provisions a full backend, no card, no signup. Runs 72 hours, then claim. | A free App Platform tier for static sites only, with a DigitalOcean account.  |
| signup         | None. The agent provisions, then you claim the project.                           | A DigitalOcean account before you deploy or provision anything.               |
| what it is     | A backend (database, storage, auth, hosting, AI) provisioned by the agent.        | A broad cloud: App Platform, Droplets, Kubernetes, managed databases, Spaces. |
| who sets it up | Your coding agent, over one HTTP API.                                             | You, in the DigitalOcean console (a remote MCP covers several services).      |
| billing        | Plus $20, Pro $100, one shared balance.                                           | Paid plans per app, database, and resource.                                   |

where Cohesivity fits

- The free path provisions a backend, not just a static site. DigitalOcean's free App Platform tier hosts static content. Cohesivity's free plan stands up a database, storage and the rest.
- No account first. The agent provisions with no signup, and you claim the project when it works, rather than creating a DigitalOcean account before you start.
- One API instead of a console of separate products. The agent provisions the database, storage, auth and hosting together, with the keys managed for you.

when DigitalOcean App Platform is the better call

Pick DigitalOcean if you want a full cloud you control. Droplets, Kubernetes, managed databases, and object storage give you room to run almost anything, well past what a provisioned backend covers.

Pick DigitalOcean if you need general-purpose compute or infrastructure that a higher-level backend does not expose, and you are comfortable operating it yourself.

The split is scope and layer. DigitalOcean is a broad cloud you sign into and assemble. Cohesivity is a backend the agent provisions with no account. If you need the full range of a cloud provider, DigitalOcean has it.

questions

### Is Cohesivity a DigitalOcean App Platform alternative?

For the backend, yes. Cohesivity provisions a database, storage, auth, hosting and AI over one API with no signup and a full free tier. DigitalOcean App Platform is part of a broad cloud you sign up for, whose free tier covers static sites only. They overlap on hosting; they differ on signup and what the free path provisions.

### Is Cohesivity's free tier really a whole backend?

Yes. Cohesivity's Free plan provisions a database, storage, auth and hosting with no card and no signup, and a project runs 72 hours before you claim it. DigitalOcean's free App Platform tier is static-site hosting.

### Do I need a DigitalOcean-style account to start?

No. Cohesivity provisions with no account. DigitalOcean requires a signup, though it offers a remote MCP server for agent access to several of its services once you have one.

### Can my agent provision the backend on its own?

Yes. The agent provisions the database, storage, hosting and the rest with HTTP calls, with no console step.

related comparisons

DigitalOcean details verified 2026-07-22 from digitalocean.com, including its static-only free App Platform tier and public MCP server. Cohesivity details from its own docs. Pricing and tiers change, so check current terms with each provider.

Try it against DigitalOcean App Platform.

Copy the onboarding prompt and your agent stands up the backend in seconds.