Droplet Concepts

Generated on 11 Sep 2026

DigitalOcean Droplets are Linux-based virtual machines (VMs) that run on top of virtualized hardware. Each Droplet you create is a new server you can use, either standalone or as part of a larger, cloud-based infrastructure.

Copy page as Markdown View page as Markdown

Choosing the Right CPU Droplet Plan

An in-depth comparison of v5 Droplet configurations and bundled CPU Droplet plans, including hardware, shared and dedicated CPUs, and guidance for choosing the right configuration.

Spot GPU Droplets vs On-Demand GPU Droplets

Differences between spot and on-demand GPU Droplet capacity tiers, including pricing, availability, and reclamation, to help you choose the tier that suits your workload.

Considerations when Downsizing to a Smaller Droplet

Recommendations for downsizing Droplets, including making backups, manging DNS records and IP addresses, and migrating files.

Autoscale Pool Concepts

Conceptual and technical details on Droplet autoscale pools, like what happens during scaling events, how the size of the pool is calculated, and when to scale.

Droplets Glossary

This glossary defines DigitalOcean-specific terms related to Droplets.

We can't find any results for your search.

Try using different keywords or simplifying your search terms.