You want globally distributed microVMs
Fly.io is built to run your app close to users in many regions at once. If low latency worldwide and edge placement are core to your product, Fly.io is a strong choice.
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redu.cloud vs Fly.io
Fly.io runs your app as microVMs across the globe, with you at the controls. redu is a real cloud your AI agent operates end to end, on a machine it can SSH into and fix.
Quick takeglobal microVMs vs an agent-native cloud
Fly.io wins on global distribution and low-level control. redu wins when you want your agent to operate the cloud and managed databases wired for you.
Detailed comparison
How redu.cloud compares with Fly.io in 2026
The core difference is a lower-level global microVM platform versus a full cloud your agent operates and can SSH into.
Category
Fly.io
redu.cloud
Primary focus
A globally distributed microVM platform. You deploy your app as Fly Machines across many regions, with per-second billing and control over where instances run. It is powerful and lower level, so you configure and operate more yourself.
A real cloud your AI agent operates: virtual machines, managed PostgreSQL and Redis, private networks, backups, and autoscaling clusters, plus a native MCP server for agent control.
AI agent / MCP (2026)
Official flyctl MCP server (experimental), started with fly mcp server. It exposes flyctl to an agent, so it can manage apps, Fly Machines, volumes, secrets, certs, logs, and status, and can provision machines on Fly. It is scoped to Fly resources and deploys to Fly.
Native MCP server that spans the whole stack. Point your agent at a project and it provisions the VM and a managed database, deploys the app, wires DNS and TLS, and can SSH in to operate and fix it. Any MCP client works, Claude Code is the example.
Real machine and SSH
Fly Machines are real microVMs and you can open a shell with fly ssh console. Operating the box, background daemons, and day-two fixes are on you through the CLI.
Real VMs. Your agent can SSH in to run commands, read logs, and fix a broken deploy in place, then commit the fix back to your repo.
Data location
Fly.io runs across many global regions, including European ones such as Amsterdam, but the model is global and US-origin, so European hosting is a choice you configure rather than the default.
Hosted in the EU, in a German data centre, and GDPR-aligned.
Managed databases
Managed Postgres (MPG) is a first-class product with HA, backups, and connection pooling, from about $38/month, plus an older unmanaged Postgres app you run yourself. Managed Redis is offered through Upstash. You provision and wire these as separate steps from your app.
Managed PostgreSQL and Redis, provisioned alongside your app and auto-wired, with DATABASE_* env injected so the connection is ready when the app boots.
Pricing (2026)
Pay-as-you-go, billed per second. Shared machines start around $2/month and performance machines with dedicated CPU run higher, from roughly $32/month. Managed Postgres starts around $38/month. Volumes are $0.15/GB per month, egress is about $0.02/GB in North America and Europe, and a card is required with no free tier.
Per-resource, hourly pricing. Servers from about £8.50/month up to £70, most apps on a £20 to £35 server, storage at £0.07/GB. New accounts start on a free tier.
Deploy flow
Install flyctl, run fly launch, and deploy with a Dockerfile or an auto-generated image, then manage regions and scaling through the CLI and fly.toml.
Point your agent at the repo and it deploys over the MCP, or use the REST API directly for a deploy-ready repo.
Proof, not claims: watch an AI agent deploy real infrastructure on redu, then SSH in and fix a live deploy, at redu.cloud/deploys.
When Fly.io is better
Fly.io is the stronger choice when you want globally distributed microVMs with low-level control.
Fly.io is powerful and infra-capable. For a team that wants edge placement across many regions and fine-grained control, it is a genuinely strong platform.
You want lower-level control
Fly Machines, volumes, and networking give you fine-grained control over how and where your app runs. For teams that want to tune placement, scaling, and configuration themselves, that control is valuable.
You are comfortable operating more yourself
Fly.io is powerful and infra-capable, and it expects you to configure the CLI, images, and database setup. If you enjoy that level of control, the platform rewards it.
When redu.cloud is better
redu.cloud is built for teams that want a real cloud their agent operates.
A lower-level platform is powerful until you want your agent to operate it, managed databases wired for you, and one place for the whole stack. redu gives you all three.
Your AI agent operates the whole stack
Both ship an MCP server. Fly.io's flyctl MCP wraps its CLI to manage Fly apps, machines, and volumes. redu's MCP goes wider: your agent provisions a VM and a managed database, deploys your app, wires DNS and TLS, and can SSH in to keep it running, all from one place.
A real machine your agent can SSH into
Both give you a real machine with SSH. On redu your agent does the operating: it SSHes in, finds why something is failing, fixes it in place, and pushes the fix back to your repo.
Managed databases wired for you
redu provisions managed PostgreSQL and Redis alongside your app and injects the connection env automatically. Fly.io has capable managed data too, with Managed Postgres and Upstash Redis, but you provision and wire them as separate steps from your app.
Your app is hosted in the EU by default
redu runs on production infrastructure in a German data centre, so your data stays in European jurisdiction without extra configuration. Fly.io is a global, US-origin platform.
Pricing
Estimate costEstimate your real cost before choosing.
Per-second usage billing can be hard to predict. Use the redu.cloud pricing calculator to estimate compute, managed databases, and storage in one place.
FAQ
redu.cloud vs Fly.io questions
Practical answers for teams comparing Fly.io with redu.cloud in 2026.
Is redu.cloud a good Fly.io alternative?
Yes, if you want an agent-native cloud with managed databases wired for you and an app deployed and operated for you, rather than a lower-level global microVM platform. Fly.io remains a strong choice for globally distributed apps.
Does Fly.io host in the EU?
Fly.io runs across many global regions and includes European ones such as Amsterdam, but its model is global and US-origin, so European placement is something you configure. redu runs production infrastructure in a German data centre, so your data stays in the region by default.
Can my AI agent deploy to redu the way I use Fly.io?
Both have an MCP server. Fly.io ships an official flyctl MCP (experimental) that lets an agent manage Fly apps, machines, and volumes. redu goes further: any MCP-capable agent (Claude Code is the common example) can provision a VM and a managed database, deploy your app, and SSH into the machine to operate and fix it, all on one cloud.
How does redu pricing compare with Fly.io?
Fly.io is pay-as-you-go billed per second, with shared machines from around $2/month, performance machines from roughly $32/month, volumes at $0.15/GB, and metered egress. redu uses per-resource hourly pricing, with servers from about £8.50/month and a free tier for new accounts. The right choice depends on your workload shape.
Does Fly.io have SSH like redu?
Yes. Fly Machines are real microVMs and you can open a shell with fly ssh console. The difference is that redu is agent-native, so your agent does the SSH work: it deploys the app, then SSHes in to operate and fix it, rather than leaving that to you.
Start today
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Point your agent at a project, get a live URL on a free, always-on server with Postgres, and decide using your own workload.
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