Hetzner Cloud vs DigitalOcean?
Hetzner wins on price and resources, while DigitalOcean gives you a simpler developer experience and ready-made managed products. This comparison settles which option fits your current stage.
Developer simplicity and first-class documentation
Hetzner Cloud is cheaper in 3 of 4 comparable price tiers, with an average gap of 32% versus DigitalOcean.
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 | DigitalOcean | Price | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry 1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM · 25 GB
Blogs and personal sites | CPX12 1 vCPU · 2 GB · 40 GB
| $11.03 | Basic 1 GB 1 vCPU · 1 GB · 25 GB
| $6 | DigitalOcean Gap 46% |
| Serious start 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 80 GB
WordPress and light apps | CPX22 2 vCPU · 4 GB · 80 GB
| $18.75 | Basic 2 vCPU / 4 GB 2 vCPU · 4 GB · 80 GB
| $24 | Hetzner Cloud Gap 22% |
| Growth 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 160 GB
Production apps and databases | CPX32 4 vCPU · 8 GB · 160 GB
| $33.66 | Basic 4 vCPU / 8 GB 4 vCPU · 8 GB · 160 GB
| $48 | Hetzner Cloud Gap 30% |
| Scale 8 vCPU · 16 GB RAM · 320 GB
High traffic and multiple workloads | CPX42 8 vCPU · 16 GB · 320 GB
| $65.67 | Basic 8 vCPU / 16 GB 8 vCPU · 16 GB · 320 GB
| $96 | Hetzner Cloud Gap 32% |
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
DigitalOcean: Basic 2 vCPU / 4 GB — $24
Growth · Production apps and databases
Hetzner Cloud: CPX32 — $33.66
DigitalOcean: Basic 4 vCPU / 8 GB — $48
Scale · High traffic and multiple workloads
Hetzner Cloud: CPX42 — $65.67
DigitalOcean: Basic 8 vCPU / 16 GB — $96
“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 | DigitalOcean |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
| Cheapest paid plan | $6.06 | $6 |
| Data centers | Germany, Finland, Singapore, United States | 11 regions across North America, Europe and Asia |
| Currency | EUR | USD |
| Backups | +20% | +20% |
| Extra IPv4 | €0.5 / mo | $4 / mo |
| Traffic overage | €1 / TB | $10 / 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
DigitalOcean
- Easiest platform for beginners launching servers
- Documentation and guides among the best in the field
- Production-ready managed products
Points to watch
- Prices significantly higher than Hetzner
- Limited traffic and expensive overage
- Backups add 20% to the bill
FAQs about this comparison
What most readers ask before choosing between providers.
Which is cheaper: Hetzner Cloud or DigitalOcean?
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: Contabo is cheaper — Cloud VPS 4 (4 vCPU, 8 GB) at $6.07
At the 2 vCPU / 4 GB tier: Vultr is cheaper — Cloud Compute 2 vCPU / 4 GB (2 vCPU, 4 GB) at $20
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.