DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) vs Google for Startups Cloud Program (2026): Which Is Better for Startups?
Both are cloud credits for startups. Here is how DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) and Google for Startups Cloud Program compare on what a startup gets, who qualifies and how to apply, and which one we would pick.
DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch)
12 months of DigitalOcean credits, 15 months of free support and partner perks for startups that raised $10M or less.
7.0 /10
Pricing: Free to join
Pros
- Open without a partner (choose "Other")
- 15 months of free Standard support
- Simple, predictable platform
Cons
- Credit amount is not published and depends on your partner
- Core credits exclude GPUs and third-party AI models
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Up to $2,000 in Google Cloud credits pre-funding, or up to $200,000 ($350,000 for AI-first startups) once VC-funded.
9.0 /10
Pricing: Up to $350k in credits & perks
Pros
- No partner code needed for the Scale tier
- Up to $350,000 for AI-first startups
- Extras such as Workspace, Maps and support credits
Cons
- Start tier is only $2,000
- Year 2 covers just 20% of usage
DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) vs Google for Startups Cloud Program at a glance
| DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) | Google for Startups Cloud Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 7.0 / 10 | 9.0 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| What you get | Free to join | Up to $350k in credits & perks |
| Who qualifies | Raised $10M or less, company website and matching email, new to DigitalOcean credits; service businesses excluded; AI-native startups prioritised. | Start: founded within 24 months, MVP, plans to raise VC. Scale: pre-seed/seed within 5 years or Series A within 12 months, founded within 5 years, under $5,000 of prior Google Cloud credits. |
| Partner code needed | No | No |
| Steps it helps with | claim startup credits, host and deploy, build your mvp | claim startup credits, host and deploy, build your mvp, choose your ai coding stack |
| Who it is for | Pre-seed, Seed stage, Bootstrapped, VC-backed only, AI startups, SaaS | Pre-seed, Seed stage, Series A+, VC-backed only, AI startups, SaaS |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | digitalocean, hatch, cloud credits | google cloud, gcp, cloud credits |
Our pick
Google for Startups Cloud Program edges it with a score of 9.0 versus 7.0. Google for Startups Cloud Program is the better fit if you value: no partner code needed for the scale tier, up to $350,000 for ai-first startups. Choose DigitalOcean Startups (Hatch) instead if you need: open without a partner (choose "other"), 15 months of free standard support. Many startups can claim both: see credits by value.
Other cloud credits for startups to consider
Full ranking →
AWS Activate 🎁 ProgramFree
Up to $5,000 in AWS credits if you are self-funded, or up to $200,000 with an Activate Provider Org ID.
🔥 Up to $5,000 (Founders) or up to $200,000 (Portfolio, with Activate Provider Org ID) in AWS creditsCloudflare for Startups 🎁 ProgramFree
$10,000 in Cloudflare credits if bootstrapped, $100,000 or $350,000 if funded by an affiliated partner.
🔥 $10,000 (bootstrapped), $100,000 or $350,000 (partner-funded) in Cloudflare credits for one yearMicrosoft for Startups (Azure credits) 🎁 ProgramFree
Azure credits from $200 up to $150,000, with higher tiers unlocked by progress or an Investor Network referral code.
🔥 Up to $150,000 in Azure Startup credits (higher tiers via Investor Network referral code)OVHcloud Startup Program 🎁 ProgramFree
Up to $12,000 (Start) or $120,000 (Scale) in OVHcloud public cloud credits for 12 months, plus free engineer time.
🔥 Up to $12,000 (Start) or $120,000 (Scale) in OVHcloud US public cloud credits for 12 months