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For SaaS startups, the top cloud providers are: AWS (Amazon Web Services) - The market leader with the most comprehensive service offerings. It's popular among startups because of its mature ecosystem, extensive documentation, and AWS Activate program that provides credits for early-stage companies. Best if you need maximum flexibility and plan to scale significantly. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Strong for data analytics, machine learning, and containerized applications. Offers competitive pricing and excellent Kubernetes support. The Google for Startups Cloud Program provides substantial credits. Good choice if your product is data-intensive or AI-focused. Microsoft Azure - Ideal if you're building on Microsoft technologies or need strong enterprise integration. Azure also has a startup program with credits. Particularly relevant if your target customers use Microsoft products. Digital Ocean - Increasingly popular with early-stage startups for its simplicity and transparent pricing. Less feature-rich than the big three, but much easier to get started. Good for MVPs and straightforward applications. Render/Railway/Fly.io - Modern platforms that abstract away infrastructure complexity. These are gaining traction for their developer experience and can be excellent for getting to market quickly, though you may eventually need to migrate as you scale. Most SaaS startups begin with AWS or GCP due to their startup credit programs, extensive services, and ability to scale. The choice often depends on your team's existing expertise, specific technical requirements, and whether you qualify for startup programs that can offset costs during your early stages.