DigitalOcean
Developer-friendly cloud with predictable pricing on droplets.
Alternatives · 2026
Alternatives to Hetzner
European cloud and dedicated server provider with low prices.
5 hand-curated alternatives from MintedSaaS's directory. See the Hetzner listing →
Hetzner is a Berlin-based infrastructure provider offering virtual private servers, dedicated servers, and cloud compute resources at prices significantly lower than major US-based competitors. It's particularly strong in Europe, where its data centers provide low latency for regional deployments, and appeals to developers, small startups, and cost-conscious DevOps teams who prioritize predictable billing and straightforward pricing tiers over feature breadth.
People reach for Hetzner when they need to minimize infrastructure spend without sacrificing reliability. Common workflows include hosting web applications, databases, and Kubernetes clusters on VPS or bare metal, running bulk workloads that benefit from competitive per-gigabyte storage rates, and managing servers in GDPR-regulated regions where data residency matters. It's a natural fit for teams that already know how to configure and monitor their own infrastructure, aren't locked into a particular cloud ecosystem, and want to avoid the bill-shock risk that comes with pay-as-you-go pricing models.
What we offer that competes
Linode
Cloud hosting provider focused on simple virtual machines.
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft's enterprise cloud computing platform.
Google Cloud
Google's cloud platform with compute, data, and AI services.
AWS
Amazon's broad cloud platform spanning compute, storage, and more.
What to look for
- Whether the provider maintains data centers in EU jurisdictions and offers GDPR data-processing agreements
- Whether pricing is fixed per instance or consumption-based, and if there are overage costs for bandwidth
- Whether the platform offers managed databases or you must provision and maintain your own instances
- Whether you can export snapshots and migrate servers without API lock-in or proprietary formats
- Whether the provider includes DDoS protection, firewalls, and load balancing or requires third-party tools
- How billing is calculated and charged—monthly upfront, hourly, or per-minute—and whether unused credit expires
FAQ
What are the best alternatives to Hetzner?
Linode, DigitalOcean, AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure all offer cloud compute infrastructure, though they differ in pricing model, geographic coverage, and ecosystem lock-in. Linode and DigitalOcean most directly compete on simplicity and per-instance pricing, while AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure target enterprises and workloads requiring managed services.
Are there free alternatives to Hetzner?
Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure all offer perpetual free tiers with limits on compute, storage, and bandwidth—enough to host small applications indefinitely. DigitalOcean and Linode don't have free tiers but offer pay-as-you-go pricing that can be cheaper than Hetzner for very small deployments.
What platforms do Hetzner alternatives support?
All five competitors support Linux virtual machines. AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure also include Windows licensing as an option. Linode and DigitalOcean provide simpler compute-only offerings without the broader managed-service ecosystem.
How do I choose a cloud provider for European data residency?
Verify that the provider has data centers in EU member states or Switzerland, and check whether they offer GDPR data-processing addendums. Hetzner, AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure all maintain European infrastructure; Linode and DigitalOcean have limited EU presence.
Which features matter most when comparing Hetzner to alternatives?
Pricing transparency, regional latency, managed-service options, and billing predictability vary widely across providers. AWS and Google Cloud offer extensive automation and managed databases; Hetzner, Linode, and DigitalOcean require more hands-on configuration.
Can I migrate from Hetzner to another provider without downtime?
Yes, by spinning up an instance on the new provider, copying data via snapshot or rsync, and pointing your DNS to the new server. The process typically takes hours and depends on your data volume and network throughput.