Software · head to head
Hetzner Cloud vs Packer
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Hetzner Cloud cost-Optimized plans are shown as currently unavailable; Packer packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence
- They diverge on capability: Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Packer covers Image building.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Hetzner Cloud and Packer actually diverge.
| Attribute | Hetzner Cloud | Packer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | usage-based | open-source |
| Platforms | Web, Api, Cli | Linux, Windows, Mac |
| Founded | 1997 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Packer
- Image building
- Multi-platform support
- Provisioners
- Builders
- Post-processors
- Variables
- Data sources
- Validation
Both cover
- Terraform
- Ansible
- Docker
- 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 Packer
- European hosting with data held in Germany or Finlandnot Packer
- Workloads with heavy egress, where included traffic mattersnot Packer
- Self-hosting applications away from the hyperscalersnot Packer
Packer
- Building identical machine images for multiple clouds from one templatenot Hetzner Cloud
- Baking golden AMIs and VM images into a CI pipelinenot Hetzner Cloud
- Creating immutable infrastructure artifacts consumed by Terraformnot 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
Packer
- Packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence
- The Additional Use Grant forbids offering Packer to third parties on a hosted or embedded basis in a paid product that competes with IBM's paid versions of Packer
- Each version converts to the MPL 2.0 Change License only four years after that version is first published, and the Change Date is set separately per version
- Alternative licensing for uses outside the grant must be arranged with the licensor rather than taken under the public licence
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
Packer
Free- Open SourceFree
- Multi-platform image building
- Template-driven
- Provisioner support
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 Packer if
- You need image building.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Mac.
- You also want multi-platform support.
Questions people ask
- Is Hetzner Cloud or Packer better?
- Neither clearly leads. Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and Packer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Hetzner Cloud or Packer?
- Hetzner Cloud starts at Free and Packer at Free.
- Does Hetzner Cloud or Packer run on more platforms?
- Hetzner Cloud runs on Web, Api, Cli. Packer runs on Linux, Windows, Mac.
- 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 Packer is typically brought in for.
- What can Hetzner Cloud do that Packer cannot?
- Hetzner Cloud covers Cloud servers, Block storage, Object storage, Load balancers. Packer covers Image building, Multi-platform support, Provisioners, Builders. Both handle Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Cloud deployment.
Related pages
More on Hetzner Cloud
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