Software · head to head
Hetzner Cloud vs Contabo
The short version
- Only Hetzner Cloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Hetzner Cloud cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable; Contabo fully unmanaged infrastructure requires all setup and maintenance by customer
- They diverge on capability: Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Contabo covers VPS Hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hetzner Cloud and Contabo actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hetzner Cloud | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | €4.5/month |
| Pricing model | usage-based | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Cli | Linux, Windows |
| Founded | 1997 | 2003 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Hetzner Cloud
- Cloud servers
- Block storage
- Object storage
- Load balancers
- Networks
- Firewalls
- Floating IPs
- Backups
Only in Contabo
- VPS Hosting
- Dedicated Servers
- Object Storage
- Snapshots
- DDoS Protection
- Custom ISO
- Multiple Locations
- SSD Storage
Both cover
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Firewall
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Hetzner Cloud
- Low-cost virtual servers for development and testingnot Contabo
- European hosting with data held in Germany or Finlandnot Contabo
- Workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic mattersnot Contabo
- Self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalersnot Contabo
Contabo
- Web hostingnot Hetzner Cloud
- Game serversnot Hetzner Cloud
- Development environmentsnot Hetzner Cloud
- VPN serversnot Hetzner Cloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Hetzner Cloud
- Cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable
- The shared-resource tiers are positioned for variable usage and development rather than sustained production workloads
- Regions are limited to Germany, Finland, the United States and Singapore, so latency to other markets is a real constraint
- The uptime guarantee is 99.9 percent, below what the large hyperscalers offer on comparable services
- Support is 24/7 by email, without a phone channel
Contabo
- Fully unmanaged infrastructure requires all setup and maintenance by customer
- No formal SLA with financial compensation for downtime violations
Pricing, plan by plan
Hetzner Cloud
Free- CX11$3.29/month
- 1 vCPU
- 1GB RAM
- 25GB SSD
- CX21$6.59/month
- 2 vCPU
- 4GB RAM
- 40GB SSD
Contabo
€4.5/month- Cloud VPS$4.5/month
- 4 vCPU
- 8 GB RAM
- 100 GB SSD
- Cloud VDS$39/month
- Dedicated cores
- 24 GB RAM
- 180 GB NVMe
- Dedicated Server$149/month
- AMD CPU
- 64 GB RAM
- 1 TB NVMe
Which should you pick?
Choose Hetzner Cloud if
- You need cloud servers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Cli.
- You also want block storage.
Choose Contabo if
- You need vps hosting.
- You work on Linux, Windows.
- You also want dedicated servers.
Questions people ask
- Is Hetzner Cloud or Contabo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and Contabo at €4.5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hetzner Cloud or Contabo?
- Hetzner Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Hetzner Cloud and €4.5/month for Contabo.
- Does Hetzner Cloud or Contabo run on more platforms?
- Hetzner Cloud runs on Web, Api, Cli. Contabo runs on Linux, Windows.
- Can I use Hetzner Cloud for free?
- Yes. Hetzner Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Contabo starts at €4.5/month.
- What is Hetzner Cloud best used for?
- Hetzner Cloud is most often used for low-cost virtual servers for development and testing, european hosting with data held in germany or finland, workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic matters, self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalers. Of those, low-cost virtual servers for development and testing and european hosting with data held in germany or finland are not what Contabo is typically brought in for.
- What can Hetzner Cloud do that Contabo cannot?
- Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Block storage, Object storage, Load balancers. Contabo covers VPS Hosting, Dedicated Servers, Object Storage, Snapshots. Both handle Docker, Kubernetes, Firewall, Cloud deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Contabo: What is the base pricing for Contabo VPS?
Contabo Cloud VPS starts at EUR 4.50 per month (approximately $4.95 USD) with 4 vCPU cores and 8 GB RAM. Prices scale up to EUR 39+ per month for dedicated performance VPS with higher specs.
SourceContabo: Does Contabo raise prices at renewal?
No. Unlike many hosting providers, Contabo does not increase renewal prices. The promotional price you get at sign-up is locked in for future renewals.
SourceContabo: What data center locations does Contabo offer?
Contabo operates 9 global data center regions including multiple EU locations, US East/Central/West Coast, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.
SourceContabo: Does Contabo provide managed services?
No. Contabo VPS is fully unmanaged. You handle all setup, security patching, and system maintenance. Managed hosting adds 2 hours per month of dedicated support for a fee.
SourceContabo: What is Contabo's uptime guarantee?
Contabo maintains a 99.996% uptime guarantee across all plans. The platform includes unlimited traffic and free DDoS protection.
Source