Brandwave

DigitalOcean vs Kinsta:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, DigitalOcean had more branded searches than Kinsta among web hosting providers worldwide. DigitalOcean had about 550,000 branded searches, while Kinsta had 27,100. DigitalOcean made up 4.2% of all web hosting provider searches we track, and Kinsta accounted for 0.21%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about web hosting providers, Kinsta appeared in three of the five answers and DigitalOcean in one. Kinsta was mentioned before DigitalOcean in three out of four answers that named either.

Among web hosting providers worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

DigitalOcean, about 20 searches for every 1 for Kinsta

DigitalOcean 550K searchesKinsta 27.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kinsta, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, DigitalOcean in 1

Kinsta in 3 of 5DigitalOcean in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kinsta, named ahead of DigitalOcean in 3 of 4 answers

Kinsta first in 3DigitalOcean first in 1

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Top web hosting providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kinsta was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. DigitalOcean was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kinsta was listed before DigitalOcean in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Hostinger1st
  2. SiteGround2nd
  3. Cloudways3rd
  4. Bluehost4th
  5. Kinsta5th
  6. Namecheap6th
  7. DreamHost7th
  8. GoDaddy8th
  9. DigitalOcean9th
  10. Vercel–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Hostinger5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SiteGround4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cloudways4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kinsta3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Namecheap2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bluehost2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DreamHost2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • GoDaddy1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DigitalOcean1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Vercel0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about web hosting providers

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is DigitalOcean or Kinsta more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for DigitalOcean and Kinsta by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten web hosting providers we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

DigitalOcean and Kinsta among web hosting providers worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for DigitalOcean, Kinsta. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGoDaddyHostingerVercelNamecheapDigitalOceanSiteGroundBluehostCloudwaysDreamHostKinsta
Oct 202533.6%35.9%11.2%9.3%4.1%2.3%1.9%0.68%0.68%0.31%
Nov 202533.3%36.1%11.3%9.3%4.2%2.3%1.9%0.69%0.69%0.25%
Dec 202533.4%36.2%11.3%9.3%4.2%2.3%1.9%0.69%0.56%0.25%
Jan 202634.1%35.7%11.8%9.6%3.5%2.4%1.6%0.58%0.48%0.21%
Feb 202631.1%32.9%15.8%10.6%3.9%2.6%1.7%0.64%0.52%0.23%
Mar 202631.9%33.4%16.5%9%4.1%2.2%1.5%0.67%0.45%0.24%
Apr 202626.5%33.3%20.5%11.3%3.4%2.2%1.5%0.68%0.45%0.2%
May 202628.1%35.2%17.7%9.7%4.3%1.9%1.6%0.72%0.48%0.21%
Jun 202630.2%31.6%19.1%10.4%3.8%2.1%1.4%0.63%0.51%0.23%
Jul 202630%31.7%19.1%10.5%3.8%2.1%1.4%0.63%0.52%0.23%
Aug 202627.8%29.7%21.9%12.1%3.6%2%1.6%0.59%0.48%0.22%
Sep 202632.3%28.5%21%9.4%4.2%1.9%1.5%0.57%0.46%0.21%

How has the DigitalOcean and Kinsta comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • DigitalOcean was ahead of Kinsta in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DigitalOcean’s share of searches among web hosting providers worldwide moved from 4.1% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 550K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kinsta’s share of searches among web hosting providers worldwide moved from 0.31% to 0.21%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.2K to 27.1K.

How did search popularity change for web hosting providers worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, DigitalOcean gained share of searches among web hosting providers worldwide, from 3.6% to 4.2%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kinsta worldwide fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 33.2K to 27.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DigitalOcean’s and Kinsta’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

DigitalOcean

1 branded search term

  • digitalocean

Kinsta

2 branded search terms

  • hosting kinsta
  • kinsta

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among web hosting providers

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