Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
6.7/10Oracle's public cloud platform, offering pay-as-you-go compute, Kubernetes, serverless functions, managed databases and storage, mainly for enterprises and developers.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is Oracle's public cloud. It covers flexible virtual machines on AMD, Intel and Arm Ampere shapes, a managed Kubernetes service called OKE, OCI Functions for serverless code, Object and Block Storage, load balancers, and managed databases. The databases include Autonomous AI Database, MySQL HeatWave and NoSQL. Resource Manager runs Terraform stacks to manage infrastructure as code. OCI Functions is built on the open source Fn Project, so functions written in Java, Python, Node, Go, Ruby or C# can be tested locally before you deploy them. Pricing is usage-based with no fixed plans. Every account gets an Always Free tier and new accounts start with a $300 trial credit. The Always Free tier covers two small AMD micro VMs, Arm A1 capacity, 200 GB of block storage, two Autonomous Databases, and 10 TB of outbound data transfer a month. Oracle cut the free Arm A1 allowance in half in June 2026, from 4 OCPUs and 24 GB to 2 OCPUs and 12 GB, and gave no public announcement. Oracle's E5 launch post priced flexible compute at about $0.03 per OCPU-hour plus $0.002 per GB of memory per hour. Check the current rates on Oracle's price list. OCI suits enterprises already running Oracle Database or Oracle applications, and developers who want a large free allowance. Its main limitation is complexity and support. Reviewers describe networking setup (VCNs and routing) as harder than on AWS and support as slow. Free-only accounts get no Oracle Support and no SLA, idle free instances can be reclaimed, and capacity for popular shapes is not guaranteed.
Our Rating
Who Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is best for
Good fit
Reviewers note strong integration with Oracle Database and Oracle applications and a deep set of enterprise security tools.
The Always Free tier gives developers real Linux VMs with root access, Kubernetes and serverless, though Arm capacity can be scarce.
It covers networking, IAM, Vault and Terraform-based Resource Manager, but reviewers describe setup as complex.
Less suited
Free credits and 10 TB of free egress keep costs down, but there is no support on free accounts and capacity is uncertain.
Reviewers find setup complexity and console usability harder than simpler hosting providers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large permanent free tier with Arm VMs, 200 GB of block storage, two Autonomous Databases and 10 TB of monthly egress.
- 10 TB of outbound data transfer a month at no charge, which reviewers praise next to typical hyperscaler egress fees.
- Strong fit for Oracle Database and Oracle application workloads, with Autonomous Database and MySQL HeatWave offered as managed services.
- Flexible VM shapes let you set OCPU and memory independently.
- OCI Functions runs on the open source Fn Project, so you can develop locally and avoid some lock-in.
Cons
- Oracle halved the free Arm A1 allowance in June 2026 without a public announcement.
- Free instances can be reclaimed when idle, and Arm capacity in a home region is often unavailable.
- Reviewers on PeerSpot and G2 describe technical support as slow and sometimes automated.
- Networking setup (VCNs, routing, hybrid connectivity) is described as more complex than on AWS.
- Sign-up requires a card and phone number, and Trustpilot users report repeated card rejections.
Key Features
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Pricing
Always Free
- 20 GB object storage
- No Oracle Support or SLA
- 200 GB block volume, 5 backups
- 2 AMD micro VMs (1/8 OCPU, 1 GB each)
- MySQL HeatWave single node with 50 GB
- 1 flexible and 1 network load balancer
- 10 TB outbound data transfer per month
- 2 Autonomous AI Databases (20 GB each)
- Arm A1: 2 OCPUs and 12 GB total (since June 2026)
Free Trial
- $300 trial credit
- Paid-style object storage allowance
- Falls back to Always Free if not upgraded
Pay As You Go
- Always Free resources stay free
- Usage-based billing per service
- Higher service limits than free accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. New accounts get a $300 trial credit and also receive the Always Free resources, which never expire.
Without an upgrade, the account moves to an Always Free-only state. Object storage above 20 GB is deleted, and A1 resources above the free limits are disabled.
No. Free-only accounts rely on community forums and have no SLA. You need a paid account for Oracle Support.
Java, Python, Node, Go, Ruby and C#. You can also use a custom Dockerfile or GraalVM through container image-based functions.
Yes. OCI Resource Manager runs Terraform-based stacks, and the Always Free tier includes up to 100 stacks.
Outbound TCP port 25 is blocked by default, and you must request an exemption. The Email Delivery service includes 3,000 free emails a month.
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