Paperspace, now part of DigitalOcean, has been a familiar name in the GPU cloud space for years. Originally an independent startup focused on making GPU computing accessible to individuals and small teams, Paperspace was acquired by DigitalOcean in 2023 — bringing its GPU infrastructure under one of the most recognized names in cloud hosting. The platform offers virtual machines with NVIDIA GPUs aimed at machine learning workflows, though the integration with DigitalOcean’s broader ecosystem is still evolving.
Why DigitalOcean (Paperspace) stands out
Paperspace built its reputation on simplicity. Before the current wave of GPU cloud startups, it was one of the few places where an individual researcher could spin up a GPU machine without navigating enterprise sales calls or complex billing. The Gradient platform (Paperspace’s managed ML layer) offered notebook-first workflows that appealed to data scientists who just wanted to train models without wrestling with infrastructure. Now backed by DigitalOcean’s resources and global network, the platform has the potential to scale in ways the original startup couldn’t.
Pros
- Backed by DigitalOcean — a well-funded, publicly traded company with a strong track record in developer-friendly cloud
- Clean, approachable interface that prioritizes simplicity over knob-twiddling
- Gradient notebooks provide a managed ML environment without manual server setup
- Established brand with years of community trust in the ML space
Cons
- Post-acquisition integration is ongoing — some features and pricing tiers remain in flux
- GPU selection is currently limited compared to dedicated GPU cloud providers
- Feature set trails competitors: no Kubernetes orchestration, no spot/preemptible instances, no SOC 2 compliance listed
- API and Docker support are not yet confirmed in the current offering
- Persistent storage options are unclear in the current state of the platform
Getting started
- Visit Paperspace and create an account (or log in with your existing DigitalOcean credentials)
- Navigate to the Machines or Gradient section depending on whether you want a raw VM or a managed notebook
- Select a GPU-enabled machine type from the available options
- Configure your storage and networking preferences
- Launch your instance and connect via the web console or SSH
The bottom line
Paperspace is in a transitional period. The DigitalOcean acquisition gives it serious backing, but the platform hasn’t yet delivered on the full promise of that merger. If you’re already in the DigitalOcean ecosystem and want GPU access without jumping to a new provider, it’s worth evaluating. For power users who need broad GPU selection, spot pricing, or enterprise compliance features, the current offering may feel thin.
Best for: DigitalOcean users looking to add GPU workloads without leaving their existing cloud provider, and solo researchers who value simplicity over extensive GPU variety.