Comparison
DigitalOcean vs Hetzner Cloud
Updated 2026-08-12 · Keyword: digitalocean vs hetzner
DigitalOcean versus Hetzner is the US developer cloud against the EU value cloud. Spec for spec, Hetzner often looks cheaper. Experience for experience, DigitalOcean often feels faster to learn. Use Hetzner when budget and EU residency dominate. Use DigitalOcean when time, tutorials, and US latency dominate. Many portfolios run both: Hetzner for batch or EU apps, DigitalOcean for the public US-facing service.
Spec snapshot (entry plans)
Comparable entry-tier plans from each provider.
| Field | DigitalOcean | Hetzner Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Basic Droplet 1GB | CX22 |
| vCPU | 1 | 2 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 4 GB |
| Disk | 25 GB ssd | 40 GB ssd |
| Bandwidth | 1.0 TB | 20.0 TB |
| Price / month | $6.00 | $4.49 |
DigitalOcean
Best for: Developers who want predictable droplet pricing, excellent documentation, and a smooth first-VPS experience with one-click apps and App Platform nearby.
Watch out: Not always the cheapest at scale. Bandwidth overages can add up on high-traffic workloads. Raw $/GB may favor Hetzner or Vultr for heavy transfer.
Visit DigitalOceanHetzner Cloud
Best for: EU-focused workloads and side projects where euro pricing and strong price-per-GB dominate the decision.
Watch out: US region coverage is thinner than DigitalOcean or Vultr. Latency to North American users can be worse if you only deploy in Falkenstein or Helsinki.
Visit HetznerAll tracked plans
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Disk | $/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Basic Droplet 1GB | 1 | 1 GB | 25 GB | $6.00 |
| DigitalOcean | Basic Droplet 2GB | 1 | 2 GB | 50 GB | $12.00 |
| DigitalOcean | Basic Droplet 4GB | 2 | 4 GB | 80 GB | $24.00 |
| DigitalOcean | CPU-Optimized 4GB | 2 | 4 GB | 25 GB | $42.00 |
| Hetzner Cloud | CX22 | 2 | 4 GB | 40 GB | $4.49 |
| Hetzner Cloud | CX32 | 4 | 8 GB | 80 GB | $8.49 |
| Hetzner Cloud | CPX21 | 3 | 4 GB | 80 GB | $9.49 |
| Hetzner Cloud | CPX31 | 4 | 8 GB | 160 GB | $16.49 |
Related: DigitalOcean overview · Hetzner Cloud overview · Methodology