CreditStack

Digitalocean

DigitalOcean Open Source Credits

$60 – $20K in credits
Apply via Digitalocean → See FAQ ↓

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Up to $20K/year in DigitalOcean credits for open source projects with OSI licenses.

DigitalOcean hands out $60–$20K annually in cloud credits to FOSS projects. You need an OSI-approved license, active community engagement, and ideally a Code of Conduct. Beyond credits, you get direct access to their open source team and co-marketing support. The tier you land depends on project maturity and impact—early-stage projects typically start lower. Credits cover compute, storage, and databases, but read the fine print on what's excluded. Application is straightforward but approval can take weeks. This is genuinely useful if your project has real users and you're serious about infrastructure costs.

3 tiers

Tier 1

Testing

Tier for projects with 100+ GitHub stars

$60

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Application difficulty: Easy Benefits: Standard Duration: 1 year

Benefits

  • $60/year DigitalOcean credit
  • Direct access to DigitalOcean’s Open Source team
  • Promotion via DigitalOcean social channels

Eligibility

  • Open source with OSI-approved license
  • 100+ stars on GitHub

How to apply

  1. 1

    Complete the Online Form

    Provide project details and licensing info

    Apply Now →
Apply for Testing →

Tier 2

Staging

Tier for projects with 500+ GitHub stars

$250

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Application difficulty: Medium Benefits: Strong Duration: 1 year

Benefits

  • $250/year DigitalOcean credit
  • Co-marketing opportunities
  • Promotion via DigitalOcean social channels

Eligibility

  • Open source with OSI-approved license
  • 500+ stars on GitHub

How to apply

  1. 1

    Complete the Online Form

    Provide project details and licensing info

    Apply Now →
Apply for Staging →

Tier 3

Production

Tier for projects with 10,000+ GitHub stars

$20K

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Application difficulty: Medium Benefits: Exceptional Duration: 1 year

Benefits

  • Up to $20,000/year in DigitalOcean credit
  • Promotion via DigitalOcean social channels
  • Case studies, user stories, and event participation
  • Direct access to DigitalOcean’s Open Source team

Eligibility

  • Open source with OSI-approved license
  • 10,000+ stars on GitHub

How to apply

  1. 1

    Complete the Online Form

    Provide project details and licensing info

    Apply Now →
Apply for Production →

Pros

  • ✓ Up to $20K annually in usable cloud credits with no equity or repayment required
  • ✓ Direct relationship with DigitalOcean's open source team for technical support and guidance
  • ✓ Co-marketing opportunities and public recognition as a sponsored project

Cons

  • ✗ Requires OSI-approved license—proprietary or custom licenses won't qualify
  • ✗ Approval timeline is 2–4 weeks; credits don't backdate to application date
  • ✗ Annual renewal requires demonstrated continued community engagement and active use

Frequently asked questions

What are DigitalOcean Credits for Open Source?
DigitalOcean offers grants of credits to open source projects to help with their development, infrastructure, and testing needs.
Why does DigitalOcean offer open source credits?
We want to give back to the open source ecosystem we participate in and depend on.
What are the grants for and how long do they last?
Grants are for credit toward DigitalOcean services such as VMs, storage, databases, App Platform, etc. Each grant is based on the project’s needs, lasts one year, and can be renewed by reapplying.
What open source projects are eligible to apply?
Any project with an OSI-approved license that meets the star criteria and demonstrates community engagement can apply.
What if my project doesn't have an OSI-approved license?
You may not be ready for sponsorship. Explore available OSI-approved licenses to ensure your project qualifies.
What if my project doesn't have a Code of Conduct?
We still consider projects without one, but highly encourage adopting a Code of Conduct to foster a healthy, inclusive community.
How do I apply?
Fill out and submit the online application form. We typically review and notify applicants within 7-10 business days.
When will I be notified of the decision on my application?
We strive to notify all applicants of our decision within 7-10 business days.
Will I be notified when it's time to renew?
Yes. You will receive reminder emails starting 65 days before your current credit grant expires.
Am I guaranteed renewal if I've received support in the past?
No. Each renewal is reviewed on a case-by-case basis; you must reapply to continue receiving credits.

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Tags

#cloud #open-source
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