Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a market leader in the cloud world for a reason. It's highly intuitive, scalable and flexible – a service that can get results regardless of your expertise level.

But in the cloud as in eCommerce, Amazon isn't the be-all and end-all. There are, in fact, many unsung heroes of the cloud world that offer equally valuable services.

Yes, there are fellow giants Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform and IBM Cloud. But we want to shine a light on some of the lesser-known cloud providers – those companies that deserve a bit more exposure.

So without further ado, here are 10 of the best alternatives to AWS for business use.

1. Kamatera

Kamatera is a global cloud services platform provider that works with startups, app developers, international enterprises and SMBs.

Already, you can see one advantage of using its cloud infrastructure and managed cloud services. It can work for you no matter how big or small you are. This is partly down to its easy scalability and partly down to its pricing structure.

Users can seamlessly switch between more than 100 Linux distributions and quickly set up VMs for any operating system.

In short, it's a cost-effective alternative to AWS that delivers the goods.

2. Linode

Now part of Akamai's Connected Cloud offering, Linode provides virtual private servers, Linux VMs and tools for app development and deployment.

It's a shoo-in for diverse application staging – and despite its technical specificity, it's pretty user-friendly. It's versatile, easy to manage and has a robust security posture.

In terms of cost, it runs on a pay-as-you-go system, with prices going up as you add more features.

Linode also offers a managed service, taking over cloud infrastructure management so you can focus on all the other things on your agenda.

3. Vultr

Vultr is a cloud hosting platform that can be used on any OS to run web applications and DevOps.

Users have a choice – they can leverage the company's dedicated servers or use their own bare metal servers.

With its 17 data centres and transparent payment system, it's a worthy competitor to Amazon. However, it may not be the platform of choice for businesses with especially complex network requirements.

4. DigitalOcean

If you're a small- or medium-sized business, you may find the cloud world a little alienating at times. It seems to be stuck in the fast lane, catering only to dynamic enterprises with bounteous resources.

This is where a cloud provider like DigitalOcean comes in. It's simpler and more user-friendly than some of its competitors, making it ideal for businesses with more limited resources.

This comes at a cost, of course, in the form of lower coverage than AWS. Nevertheless, it can form a worthy part of any cloud transformation journey.

5. Cloudways

Cloudways is not so much an alternative to AWS as a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) that lets you manage cloud deployments from bigger providers.

Its elevator pitch would go something like this: are you sold on AWS's offerings but overwhelmed by its plethora of dashboards and control panels? Let Cloudways simplify the process for you.

That's both its beauty and its blemish. It makes the AWS user experience more manageable while keeping you tied to the big dog.

6. ZStack Cloud Enterprise

Chinese firm ZStack has introduced its Cloud Enterprise solution: an API interface that lets you unify the management of public and private clouds.

With its one-click deployment and seamless multi-management, it's built for the age of interconnection.

7. Tencent Cloud

Despite its name, Tencent Cloud is worth far more than a dime. It's the largest internet company in China, serving as the engine for products like QQ and WeChat.

As cloud providers go, it's easy to deploy, cost-effective and reliable. However, it has been criticised for not making integration as easy as deployment. Nevertheless, Tencent is a powerful offering for any enterprise.

8. Kinsta Cloud Hosting

Kinsta is an enterprise-grade cloud hosting platform. In a market where Amazon dwarfs most of its competitors, it has one striking selling point: it has a more flexible and integrated approach to web hosting.

You see, with Amazon, you need to run a bunch of different services and then sync them all with Amazon Lightsail. Kinsta, on the other hand, lets you do it all from a single dashboard. Not only that – it's faster than Lightsail.

So if you need to up your hosting game, Kinsta could be the one for you.

9. Alibaba Cloud

OK, so Alibaba isn't exactly a wallflower. If anything, it's the strongest competitor to AWS, Azure, Google and IBM today.

It's also perhaps the closest you'll get to an AWS-style provider without going with Amazon itself. Like Amazon, it's rooted in eCommerce, making it a strong alternative for online retailers of all shapes and sizes.

Its competitive pricing gets you a range of managed services, AI and ML features and data analytics. It's a strong offering from one of AWS's few viable rivals and for that reason alone is worth checking out.

10. VMware Cloud

VMware is to virtualisation what Michelangelo was to sculpture: a true master with the CV to prove it.

Its cloud solution is built for both hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, which are increasingly the norm in today's digital landscape. It's also possible to use VMware Cloud on AWS, bringing those hybrid or multi-cloud environments to AWS.

Finally, you can use VMware Cloud to build and deploy cloud-native apps while keeping everything super-secure with NSX.

Are you looking for consultancy or cloud migration services related to VMware? At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we're experts in the full VMware SDDC stack. Get in touch today to find out more.