Hetzner Cloud vs Contabo?
Both are German and both push prices down, but each has a different philosophy: Hetzner for balanced performance, Contabo for the most memory and storage for your money.
Huge specifications at a seemingly impossible price
Contabo is cheaper in 4 of 4 comparable price tiers, with an average gap of 61% versus Hetzner Cloud.
The verdict is based on four standard price tiers and base plan prices in USD. Add your actual backup, traffic, and license needs for a more accurate picture.
Price tier comparison
For each tier we pick the cheapest plan that meets the minimum specs. Green marks the cheaper option in that tier.
This page shows the minimum-requirements mode. For exact equal-spec pricing see equal-specs comparison .
| Tier | Hetzner Cloud | Price | Contabo | Price | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry 1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM · 25 GB
Blogs and personal sites | CPX12 1 vCPU · 2 GB · 40 GB
| $11.03 | Cloud VPS 4 4 vCPU · 8 GB · 100 GB
| $6.07 | Contabo Gap 45% |
| Serious start 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 80 GB
WordPress and light apps | CPX22 2 vCPU · 4 GB · 80 GB
| $18.75 | Cloud VPS 4 4 vCPU · 8 GB · 100 GB
| $6.07 | Contabo Gap 68% |
| Growth 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 160 GB
Production apps and databases | CPX32 4 vCPU · 8 GB · 160 GB
| $33.66 | Cloud VPS 6 6 vCPU · 12 GB · 200 GB
| $8.28 | Contabo Gap 75% |
| Scale 8 vCPU · 16 GB RAM · 320 GB
High traffic and multiple workloads | CPX42 8 vCPU · 16 GB · 320 GB
| $65.67 | Cloud VPS 12 12 vCPU · 48 GB · 400 GB
| $27.60 | Contabo Gap 58% |
Comparison tiers set a minimum spec level; the chosen plan may give you more than that minimum, in which case the price is not a like-for-like comparison. Check the specs column or use the equal-specs page. Plans the provider lists as unavailable for new orders are excluded. Prices are converted to USD at an estimated rate and exclude taxes or add-ons.
Which provider fits your case?
The same comparison gives a different answer depending on project size.
Serious start · WordPress and light apps
Hetzner Cloud: CPX22 — $18.75
Contabo: Cloud VPS 4 — $6.07
Growth · Production apps and databases
Hetzner Cloud: CPX32 — $33.66
Contabo: Cloud VPS 6 — $8.28
Scale · High traffic and multiple workloads
Hetzner Cloud: CPX42 — $65.67
Contabo: Cloud VPS 12 — $27.60
“No matching plan” means the provider does not offer a plan covering this tier's minimum in our current data.
Side details that make the difference
Beyond the monthly price: flexibility, extra costs, and free tiers.
| Item | Hetzner Cloud | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 9.6/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Cheapest paid plan | $6.06 | $6.07 |
| Data centers | Germany, Finland, Singapore, United States | Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, India, Australia |
| Currency | EUR | EUR |
| Backups | +20% | +15% |
| Extra IPv4 | €0.5 / mo | €3 / mo |
| Traffic overage | €1 / TB | €3 / TB |
| Free tier | None | None |
Hetzner Cloud
- Among the lowest price per GB of RAM on this list
- 20 TB of monthly traffic in European locations
- Excellent NVMe performance and a fast network
Points to watch
- Limited fully managed options
- No phone or live chat support
- Prices exclude European VAT
Contabo
- The most RAM for the price in its class
- 32 TB of monthly traffic
- Large storage options at a low price
Points to watch
- CPU performance can be less consistent
- One-time setup fees may apply
- Support experience is slower than competitors
FAQs about this comparison
What most readers ask before choosing between providers.
Which is cheaper: Hetzner Cloud or Contabo?
Does the comparison use the same specs?
Does the price include backups and extra traffic?
Which is better to start with?
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More comparisons
Widen the comparison before finalizing your decision.
At the 2 vCPU / 4 GB tier: Hetzner Cloud is cheaper — CPX22 (2 vCPU, 4 GB) at $18.75
At the 2 vCPU / 4 GB tier: Hetzner Cloud is cheaper — CPX22 (2 vCPU, 4 GB) at $18.75
At the 2 vCPU / 4 GB tier: Contabo is cheaper — Cloud VPS 4 (4 vCPU, 8 GB) at $6.07
Compare for your project's size
Preset tiers are only a starting point. Enter your actual CPU, RAM, and traffic needs, add backups and licenses, and see the real invoice for every provider.