DigitalOcean vs Hetzner
Hetzner is the cheapest by raw specs: the CX22 gives 2 vCPU / 4 GB for about EUR3.79/mo, far more RAM than DigitalOcean's $4 (512 MB) or $6 (1 GB) Droplets. DigitalOcean wins on global region coverage, a polished console, managed databases and a large tutorial/community ecosystem.
Data as of June 2026.
DigitalOcean vs Hetzner, side by side
| DigitalOcean | Hetzner | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Developer-friendly with simple flat pricing | German host famous for the cheapest VMs in the comparison |
| Object storage $/GB-mo | $0.02/GB | $0.0037/GB |
| Egress to internet | $0.01/GB | Free |
| Egress for 10 TB/mo | $92.16 | $0.00 |
| Cheapest VM $/mo | $4.00/mo | $4.15/mo |
| Managed Postgres $/mo | $15.00/mo | — |
Vendor pricing as of June 2026 — estimate, verify on the provider pricing page. List prices change frequently and vary by region. The "egress for 10 TB" row is a transparent estimate: (10,240 GB − free allowance) × $/GB.
DigitalOcean
Developer-friendly with simple flat pricing. Spaces bundles 250 GB storage + 1 TB transfer for $5; Droplets and managed Postgres are predictable and cheap to start. Full DigitalOcean pricing →
Hetzner
German host famous for the cheapest VMs in the comparison. The CX22 (2 vCPU / 4 GB) is about EUR3.79/mo; Storage Boxes give flat-rate bulk storage. EU/US regions; prices in euros. Full Hetzner pricing →
The verdict
Hetzner is the cheapest by raw specs: the CX22 gives 2 vCPU / 4 GB for about EUR3.79/mo, far more RAM than DigitalOcean's $4 (512 MB) or $6 (1 GB) Droplets. DigitalOcean wins on global region coverage, a polished console, managed databases and a large tutorial/community ecosystem.
Run your own numbers with the egress calculator or the storage calculator before you decide.
Other comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is DigitalOcean or Hetzner cheaper?
Hetzner is the cheapest by raw specs: the CX22 gives 2 vCPU / 4 GB for about EUR3.79/mo, far more RAM than DigitalOcean's $4 (512 MB) or $6 (1 GB) Droplets. DigitalOcean wins on global region coverage, a polished console, managed databases and a large tutorial/community ecosystem.
Should I switch from DigitalOcean to Hetzner?
It depends on your workload. Hetzner is the cheapest by raw specs: the CX22 gives 2 vCPU / 4 GB for about EUR3.79/mo, far more RAM than DigitalOcean's $4 (512 MB) or $6 (1 GB) Droplets. DigitalOcean wins on global region coverage, a polished console, managed databases and a large tutorial/community ecosystem. Model your own numbers with our calculators before migrating, and account for data-transfer cost to move existing data.
Source
Prices are each vendor's published list price, captured June 2026. Confirm on the DigitalOcean and Hetzner pricing pages. See our methodology. All figures are estimates, not quotes.
Last updated: 2026-06-18