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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Hetzner Cloud vs IBM Cloud

Hetzner Cloud logo

Hetzner Cloud

Cloud & Infrastructure

Affordable cloud servers in Europe

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Cloud & Infrastructure

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hetzner Cloud cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable; IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • They diverge on capability: Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hetzner Cloud and IBM Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Hetzner Cloud and IBM Cloud differ
AttributeHetzner CloudIBM Cloud
PlatformsWeb, Api, CliLinux, Windows, Api, Cli
Founded19972013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cloud & Infrastructure).

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 IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Bare Metal
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • API Gateway
  • Jenkins

Both cover

  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud deployment

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 IBM Cloud
  • European hosting with data held in Germany or Finlandnot IBM Cloud
  • Workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic mattersnot IBM Cloud
  • Self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalersnot IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot Hetzner Cloud
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot 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

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

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

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

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.
Hetzner Cloud review

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.
IBM Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Hetzner Cloud or IBM Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and IBM Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hetzner Cloud or IBM Cloud?
Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and IBM Cloud at Free.
Does Hetzner Cloud or IBM Cloud run on more platforms?
Hetzner Cloud runs on Web, Api, Cli. IBM Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
Can I use Hetzner Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 IBM Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Hetzner Cloud do that IBM Cloud cannot?
Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Block storage, Object storage, Load balancers. IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Bare Metal, Cloud Foundry, Watson AI. Both handle Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes.
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