Quick answer
Koyeb - Koyeb wins for most builders who want to ship and run an app on a free tier, while Gcore wins if you specifically need object storage or Kubernetes control-plane access with low or no fixed monthly spend.
How the free tiers compare
These free tiers solve different problems. Koyeb is the more complete app platform: you get serverless compute, Postgres, domains, bandwidth, logs, metrics, deploy tooling, autoscaling, and a clear upgrade path from a free embedded credit into fixed paid plans. That makes it better for a builder trying to launch an API, web app, or inference service with minimal infrastructure work. Gcore is narrower but useful if your workload is storage-heavy or you want Kubernetes without paying for the control plane. Its Object Storage starts at €0/mo and includes free inbound traffic and free CDN egress, which is attractive for asset hosting, backups, and origin storage. The tradeoff is that Gcore’s most useful parts are consumption-based and the free tier is less of an all-in-one app environment than Koyeb.
Gcore vs Koyeb free tier, side by side
| GcoreFTV 41 | KoyebFTV 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free compute / control planeGcore’s free value is in the free Managed Kubernetes control panel and PAYG storage, not a compute credit. | N/A | $10 included compute on Pro |
| Object storageGcore has the clear storage free-start here. | PAYG €0/mo for Fast AI Workloads and Standard General Purpose | N/A |
| Bandwidth / trafficKoyeb includes a substantial bandwidth allowance; Gcore’s storage traffic is the notable free piece. | Incoming traffic free; outgoing traffic to CDN free | 1 TB/month included |
| PostgresKoyeb includes serverless Postgres in the free tier. | N/A | 5 hours/month at $0/hr; 1 GB storage; 0.25 vCPU; 1 GB RAM |
| Services / usersThese are Koyeb free-plan limits from the plan sheet. | N/A | Up to 100 services; up to 10 users |
| RegionsGcore advertises infrastructure footprint; Koyeb states explicit free-region access. | Cloud footprint includes 50+ cloud locations, 210+ CDN POPs, 120+ IXPs, 14,000+ peering partners | 7 regions in the US, EU, and Asia |
After you outgrow the free tier
Gcore and Koyeb both move to usage-linked billing, but in different ways. Gcore’s paid path is per resource: Kubernetes workers are billed like virtual instances or bare metal, Object Storage is billed by storage and requests, and FaaS is region-priced by GB-second. Koyeb’s next step is simpler at the top level: Pro is $29/mo plus compute, Scale is $299/mo plus compute, and Enterprise is custom. For small-team builders, Koyeb is usually easier to budget because the plan fee is fixed; Gcore can be cheaper for storage-heavy or lightly used workloads, but costs vary with consumption.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Gcore | Koyeb |
|---|---|---|
| light app with low runtime usageKoyeb’s Pro includes $10 compute, but the plan fee is still $29/mo before overages. | Varies by usage | $29/mo +compute |
| 1M GB-seconds of serverless executionGcore lists region-based FaaS pricing; Koyeb does not provide comparable serverless per-GB-second rates in the input. | €2.77-€5.17 est. | N/A |
| object storage with incoming uploads and CDN deliveryGcore’s storage has free inbound traffic and free CDN egress, but requests still cost extra. | €0/mo base, plus €0.03 per 10,000 write requests | N/A |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Gcore when…
- You want to deploy a web app, API, or inference service without assembling extra pieces.
- You need built-in Postgres, domains, logs, metrics, and autoscaling in one place.
- You expect to stay under the included bandwidth and compute credit for small production usage.
- You want a straightforward upgrade to a fixed-price Pro plan if the free credit runs out.
Pick Koyeb when…
- You mainly need S3-compatible object storage for assets, backups, or static file delivery.
- You want Kubernetes and only need the managed control panel, while paying separately for workers.
- Your workload benefits from free inbound storage traffic and free CDN egress from object storage.
- You are okay with usage-based billing for storage or FaaS instead of a bundled app platform.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Koyeb is the better free-tier choice because it bundles deployment, compute, database, networking, and observability into one place. You can prototype or run a small production service without stitching together separate infrastructure products. Gcore is the better pick when your need is narrower, especially object storage or Kubernetes control-plane access, and you want consumption-based pricing instead of a fixed platform fee. If you are choosing one default starting point, Koyeb is the safer bet.
Read the full listings: Gcore and Koyeb. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.