The verdict in three sentences
Hosting in the EU is no longer a comfort option but a compliance requirement: the US CLOUD Act lets Washington access data held by US providers, even when stored in Europe. In 2026, sovereign hosting on OVH or Scaleway costs 20 to 80 EUR/month, and migrating off a US cloud is priced at 2,000 to 6,000 EUR. Well planned, the DNS cutover fits within under 15 minutes of downtime.
OVH / Scaleway vs US cloud: the 2026 comparison
The choice is not just about price: it is the applicable jurisdiction that matters for GDPR. An EU host falls under European law; a US host stays subject to the CLOUD Act regardless of datacenter location.
| Criterion | OVH / Scaleway (EU) | US cloud (AWS/GCP) |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | EU law / GDPR | CLOUD Act applies |
| Monthly cost (VPS/instance) | 20 - 80 EUR | 25 - 120 EUR |
| Datacenter location | France (Gravelines, Paris) | EU possible but US company |
| DPA clause | GDPR-compliant | To negotiate, SCCs required |
| Transfer outside EU | None | Risk via parent company |
| Local-language support | Yes | Variable |
| Data egress | Often included | Billed per GB |
The egress line item is a US cloud trap: billed per GB, it inflates the real bill well beyond the headline rate. On OVH/Scaleway it is usually included or capped.
Costing the migration and downtime
A well-run hosting migration involves almost no interruption if you prepare the DNS cutover in advance by lowering the TTL.
| Migration step | Duration | 2026 cost (EUR) | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit + inventory | 0.5 d | 400 - 800 | 0 |
| EU server provisioning | 0.5 d | 300 - 600 | 0 |
| Data + DB copy | 1-2 d | 700 - 2,000 | 0 |
| Lower DNS TTL (48 h before) | - | included | 0 |
| DNS cutover + checks | 0.5 d | 400 - 900 | < 15 min |
| Tests + signed DPA | 0.5 d | 400 - 1,200 | 0 |
| Indicative total | 3-5 d | 2,000 - 6,000 | < 15 min |
The key to minimal downtime: lower the DNS TTL to 300 seconds 48 hours before cutover, sync the database one last time, then point the domain. Visitors switch over gradually with no visible outage.
Sovereignty and the DPA clause
GDPR requires a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with every technical sub-processor, including the host. With an EU host, this clause is standard and involves no transfer outside the EU. With a US host, you need Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and an impact assessment, because the parent company stays exposed to the CLOUD Act. For a CFO or DPO, repatriating hosting removes this legal risk at a stroke.
Mini case study
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Laurent, CFO of a consulting firm in Dublin, hosts his site and client database on a US cloud at 95 EUR/month, egress included. His DPO flags a CLOUD Act risk on sensitive data. Migration to a Scaleway VPS at 45 EUR/month is quoted at 4,200 EUR, downtime 12 minutes on a Sunday evening. Direct saving: 600 EUR/year on hosting, and above all a legal risk neutralised ahead of a compliance audit. The GDPR-compatible DPA is signed at cutover, securing the next public tender.
FAQ
Is a datacenter in Europe enough for GDPR compliance?
No. If the host is a US company, the CLOUD Act applies even with a European datacenter. Compliance requires a host governed by EU law.
How long will my site be unavailable?
Under 15 minutes if you lower the DNS TTL 48 h before and sync the database just before cutover. Often the interruption is imperceptible to visitors.
How much does sovereign hosting cost in 2026?
Between 20 and 80 EUR/month depending on power on OVH or Scaleway, egress usually included. It is often cheaper than the US cloud once egress is counted.
What is a DPA clause and why is it mandatory?
It is the data processing agreement required by GDPR with every sub-processor, including the host. With an EU host it is standard and involves no transfer outside the EU.
Will I lose performance by leaving the US cloud?
No, quite the opposite for a European audience: an EU server cuts latency. A CDN can complement it for an international audience.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your current host, data volume and compliance constraints: we will quote the sovereign migration and the DNS plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
