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Scalable Compute Instances for modern cloud workloads


Managing virtual machines at scale can be challenging without the right cloud infrastructure. Exoscale’s Compute Instances are designed to make deploying and managing virtual machine (VM) instances simple, efficient, and reliable. Whether you’re running a single VM instance or orchestrating complex workloads, our platform gives you full control with instant provisioning, built-in security, and predictable performance.

From containerized applications on Hosted & Managed Kubernetes (SKS) to GPU powered workloads such as AI, machine learning and HPC, Exoscale supports modern cloud architectures. Hosted in privacy-focused European data centers with GDPR compliance, our platform is built for developers, startups, and enterprises that demand infrastructure that scales — without compromising data sovereignty.

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Why choose Exoscale Compute Instances

Fast Provisioning, Minimal Overhead

Fast Provisioning, Minimal Overhead

Start Compute Instances instantly with minimal setup. Whether through UI, CLI, or API, getting your environment ready takes just a few seconds.

Privacy-Focused European Infrastructure

Privacy Focused European Infrastructure

All compute instances run in ISO-certified European data centers. Stay fully compliant with GDPR and keep your data under sovereign control.

Built In Security and Full User Control

Built-In Security and Full User Control

Each VM instance is deployed with hardened defaults, including SSH key access and customizable security groups . Define rules, isolate networks, and manage access confidently.

Flexible Scaling Options

Flexible Scaling Options

Resize virtual machine instances or use instance pools to match changing workloads. Scale manually or with automation tools like Terraform or Kubernetes.

Clear, Predictable Pricing

Clear, Predictable Pricing

Simple pay-as-you-go pricing with no surprises: only pay for what you use, calculate your price, and keep resources billed by the second.

Run modern workloads with flexible Compute Instances

For Business Leaders – Run with Confidence and Compliance


Run your cloud native applications with confidence and compliance. Exoscale keeps your business operating securely across Europe, combining GDPR alignment, transparent pricing, and reliable performance. Build trust with your customers knowing your data stays under sovereign control while your digital services scale seamlessly with demand.

For Technical Leaders – Build Reliable, Scalable Systems


Design reliable, scalable systems without vendor lock-in. Exoscale Compute Instances give you the flexibility to create high performance environments, from distributed APIs and analytics clusters to GPU powered AI workloads. Connect services securely, automate deployment pipelines, and evolve your infrastructure on your own terms.

For Developers & Engineers – Create, Test, and Ship Without Limits


Turn ideas into running code in seconds. With Exoscale Compute Instances, you can launch and manage environments for development, testing, or CI/CD pipelines in seconds using CLI, API, or Terraform. Automate deployments, experiment freely, and scale seamlessly from first commit to live release.

Key features of our Compute Instances

Combine Compute Instances with other Exoscale products

Extend your infrastructure with services built to work seamlessly alongside compute instances. From managed Kubernetes to storage and databases, everything integrates with minimal configuration effort.

object-storage

Simple Object Storage

Use a highly scalable and S3-compatible storage solution for unstructured data. Ideal for storing backups, logs, static assets, or media, fully integrated with Exoscale regions and access-controlled via API.

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Block Storage

Block Storage

Attach flexible, high-performance volumes to your VM instances for persistent data, fast I/O, and scalable capacity. Ideal for databases, log storage, and container environments.

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Kubernetes

Scalable Kubernetes Service

Deploy containerized applications on a production ready Kubernetes cluster in under two minutes. Use SKS as the control layer for your virtual machine instances, with support for CLI, API, Terraform, and other DevOps tools.

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Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing for Compute Instances

Exoscale offers five instance families to meet a wide range of performance and resource needs:

Instance type Description
Standard Instances Offer a balanced ratio of CPU and memory, suitable for web applications, lightweight databases, and general purpose workloads.
CPU Optimized Instances Provide higher compute power per core, ideal for batch processing, CI pipelines, or compute heavy services.
Memory Optimized Instances Include more RAM per core at an efficient cost, perfect for in memory databases, analytics, or caching.
Storage Optimized Instances Feature larger local disks, reducing per GB cost for storage intensive workloads such as log processing or backup targets.
GPU Instances Equipped with NVIDIA A30, V100, A5000, 3080ti, or A40 GPUs and are purpose built for machine learning, rendering, or other GPU accelerated tasks.

With Exoscale, you only pay for what you use, no hidden fees, no lock in. Our Compute instances in Europe are billed by the second, giving you full control over your cloud budget, whether you’re running a single VM or scaling across environments.

Instances come in predefined sizes, allowing you to launch virtual machine instances with the right combination of vCPU and RAM. Configurations range from 1 core and 512 MB RAM to high-performance setups with up to 288 cores and 960 GB.

Choose from a Wide Selection of Officially Supported Templates
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Trusted by Engineers Across Europe.

When running mission critical production workloads in the cloud, a partner you can rely on makes all the difference. Our customer success engineers have helped hundreds of customers from all over Europe migrate, run and scale production workloads on Exoscale.

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Explore more Exoscale services

Extend your infrastructure with complementary offerings that help you achieve higher availability, better performance, and expert support for any workload. Exoscale has the right service to support your project’s growth.

Database as a Service (DBaaS)

Database as a Service (DBaaS)

Simplify data management with managed databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Kafka, OpenSearch, Valkey, and Grafana, designed to seamlessly integrate with your applications.

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GPU Cloud Computing

GPU Cloud Computing

Built for compute heavy workloads like machine learning, data processing, and scientific simulations. Easily integrate GPU nodes into your Kubernetes clusters for accelerated performance where it matters most.

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Support Plans

Support Plans

Get the help you need to run your infrastructure with confidence through flexible support plans, designed to provide expert guidance, faster response times, and dedicated assistance tailored to your business.

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Get started with our Compute Instances tutorials

Launch, manage, and optimize your VM instances quickly with Exoscale’s practical guides. Explore our resources to make the most of your cloud environment.

Quick start your Compute Instances

Launch your first virtual machine instance in minutes with this step-by-step guide, ideal for getting up and running on Exoscale fast.

How-To guides for Compute Instances

Discover practical how-to articles that walk you through deployment, configuration, optimization, and management of your virtual machines on Exoscale.

Frequently Asked Questions about Compute Instances

What are compute instances?

Compute instances are virtual machines running in the cloud that provide dedicated CPU, memory, and storage resources. They allow you to deploy applications, host services, or run workloads without managing physical servers.

How much does a compute instance cost at Exoscale?

Pricing is based on instance type and size, billed per second. Options range from lightweight configurations to high-performance setups with 288 vCPUs and 960 GB RAM. Local SSD and block storage are billed separately.

What types of virtual machine instances can I run?

You can choose from Standard, CPU Optimized, Memory Optimized, Storage Optimized, and GPU backed VM instances, each designed for specific workload profiles.

Are virtual machine instances suitable for production workloads?

Yes. They support features like private networking, live migration, and instance pools, making them ideal for resilient production deployments across European zones.

Can I use custom images or automation tools?

Yes. Upload your images or use automation tools like Terraform, Ansible, or Cloud-Init to provision virtual machines consistently and at scale.