PPlatformAppStores

DigitalOcean Marketplace

Cloud

DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. · Cloud & infra marketplaces

Best for: Vendors of self-hosted or open-source software offering fast 1-Click deployment to developers and SMBs.

Overview

DigitalOcean Marketplace is a distribution channel for deployable software on DigitalOcean's cloud, aimed at developers and small-to-mid businesses rather than enterprise procurement. Its core unit is the 1-Click App: a pre-built, hardened virtual-machine (Droplet) image or Kubernetes configuration that automates package installation, firewall rules, and setup so a customer can launch a working stack in a single click. There are three listing categories — Droplet 1-Click Apps, Kubernetes 1-Click Apps, and SaaS Add-Ons.

The billing model is infrastructure-centric: most 1-Click Apps are free to list and the customer simply pays DigitalOcean for the underlying compute they run, making cost usage-based on infrastructure rather than a per-license fee. This makes the marketplace especially strong for open-source and self-hosted software distribution. Vendors build a golden image on a build Droplet, then submit it through the Vendor Portal for review; DigitalOcean provides open-source image-validation tooling that enforces cleanup and security requirements before a listing goes live. Deployment for end users is API- and token-driven, fitting DigitalOcean's developer-first positioning.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Sign up as a vendor and create an account on the DigitalOcean Vendor Portal, accepting the Marketplace vendor terms
  2. 2Build a 1-Click Droplet image (Packer with the DigitalOcean builder is recommended) or package a Kubernetes 1-Click app
  3. 3Run DigitalOcean's image validation tooling (marketplace-partners scripts) to confirm the image passes required tests
  4. 4Prepare listing content, install/usage docs, and pricing (many are free/BYOL)
  5. 5Submit the final image and listing through the Vendor Portal for DigitalOcean review, then publish once approved

Key APIs & SDKs

DigitalOcean Vendor Portal
Packer (DigitalOcean builder)
marketplace-partners image validation tools
DigitalOcean API
1-Click Apps framework (Droplet and Kubernetes)

Integration types

Embedded app
Connector

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: PAT
  • Also supports: OAuth 2.0, API key
  • Security review: Required
  • Vendors submit a prepared image to the Marketplace team; images must pass DigitalOcean's validation and cleanup checks before listing.
  • The Marketplace team reviews the submitted image/app against Marketplace requirements via the Vendor Portal, and DigitalOcean may reject any submission at its discretion; a specific SLA is not published.
  • DigitalOcean API enforces documented per-hour request caps; the deployed app's runtime is governed by the chosen Droplet/Kubernetes size.
Auth docs Store policies

Monetization

Free
Usage-based
Paid app
Onboarding
None to list a 1-Click App
Commission
1-Click Apps: customer pays for underlying compute; paid SaaS add-on terms vary
Merchant of Record
DigitalOcean bills the customer for underlying infrastructure

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Simple, developer-friendly 1-Click deployment model
  • Open, scriptable image build/validation flow with public tooling
  • Reaches DigitalOcean's large base of startups, SMBs, and individual developers
  • Low barrier to entry for open-source and self-hosted software

Cons

  • Primarily image/self-hosted 1-Click apps rather than a full transactable SaaS billing platform
  • Smaller, less enterprise-oriented buyer base than the hyperscaler marketplaces
  • Monetization options are more limited