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AWS vs UpCloud: Is Zero-Knowledge Your Safer Bet?

Explore how Finland's UpCloud challenges US-based AWS with zero-knowledge encryption, offering a secure cloud storage solution for privacy-conscious users.

Last updated: March 13, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to UpCloud?

What You Gain

Better privacy compliance, EU-based servers

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

AWS has more advanced features and integrations

AWS has more features
Bottom Line

Switch if privacy is priority; stay if you need advanced features

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇫🇮FI

GDPR protected

Pricing

AWS

freemium

UpCloud

freemium

Migration
Hard difficulty~Several days to a week, depending on data volume and complexity

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaAWSUpCloud
Server Location
US (AWS), EU (optional)EU (UpCloud)
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
OptionalOptional
Data Portability
Full exportFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

AWS is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. UpCloud is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
AWS logo

AWS

🇺🇸

AWS

VS
Switching to
UpCloud logo

UpCloud

🇫🇮

UpCloud

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

ISO 27001
GDPR Compliant
EU-hosted

Reasons to Switch

  • UpCloud offers predictable pricing with no hidden fees.
  • Servers hosted in EU ensure GDPR compliance for data.
  • ISO 27001 certification ensures strong security practices.
  • Faster server deployment with UpCloud's MaxIOPS storage.

Things to Consider

  • !AWS offers more integrated machine learning services.
  • !Migration to UpCloud may require significant effort.
  • !UpCloud lacks AWS's extensive global server network.
Migration difficulty:
Hard
~Several days to a week, depending on data volume and complexity

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Hard
Time Estimate
~Several days to a week, depending on data volume and complexity

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Plan migration timeline and backup all data

2

Set up UpCloud with custom configuration

3

Migrate in phases, test thoroughly at each step

Other alternatives to AWS

Ready to make the switch?

Start using UpCloud today and take control of your data privacy.