Hetzner Cloud Review 2025: The Unexpected Winner in Cloud Hosting

Complete Hetzner Cloud review covering performance, pricing, features, and real-world WordPress hosting tests. See why this European provider is beating the competition.

Hetzner Cloud Review 2025: The Unexpected Winner in Cloud Hosting

This comprehensive review covers Hetzner Cloud, a VPS provider that offers affordable and reliable cloud servers for hosting websites and applications. We’ll examine how Hetzner performs in terms of disk, CPU, network, and WordPress tests, and compare it with other VPS providers such as DigitalOcean. We’ll also explore the interface, support, and share real-world experience from over 5 years of usage.

I’ve been using Hetzner as my primary VPS provider in Europe for more than 5 years, running a CyberPanel server where I host several of my sites. Recently, Hetzner has expanded significantly with new datacenters in the US and Singapore, making it a truly global option for developers and businesses.

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Why Hetzner Cloud Stands Out

Hetzner has built a reputation for offering some of the most competitive prices in the VPS market. What sets them apart isn’t just the cost—it’s the combination of performance, reliability, and value. With about €6, you can get a 2CPU, 2GB RAM server that would cost €15-20 USD at competitors like DigitalOcean or Vultr.

I’ve been running multiple services on Hetzner including:

  • CyberPanel for website hosting
  • Monitoring solutions
  • Analytics platforms
  • Development environments

Hetzner Cloud Datacenters (2025 Update)

Hetzner has significantly expanded their global presence. Here’s the current datacenter lineup:

DatacenterLocationCPU Types AvailableNetwork
NurembergGermanyIntel/AMD/ARM20TB included
FalkensteinGermanyIntel/AMD/ARM20TB included
HelsinkiFinlandIntel/AMD/ARM20TB included
AshburnVirginia, USAAMD1TB included
HillsboroOregon, USAAMD1TB included
SingaporeSingaporeAMD1TB included

2025 Updates:

  • Singapore datacenter now fully operational (launched 2024)
  • Improved network capacity across all locations
  • Enhanced ARM server availability in European locations
  • New CX shared vCPU plans introduced in 2024

Bandwidth Differences

European datacenters include 20TB of bandwidth, while US and Singapore locations include 1TB. Plan accordingly based on your traffic needs.

Hetzner Cloud Pricing (2025)

Hetzner’s pricing remains highly competitive, though there have been some adjustments for US datacenters. Here’s the current pricing structure:

Starting at €3.79/month, these new plans offer excellent value:

PlanvCPURAMStoragePrice/Month
CX1112GB20GB SSD€3.79
CX2124GB40GB SSD€6.90
CX3128GB80GB SSD€12.90
CX41416GB160GB SSD€25.90

Best for: Small websites, development, testing

Balanced performance for most use cases:

PlanvCPURAMStoragePrice/Month
CPX1122GB40GB SSD€4.90
CPX2134GB80GB SSD€7.90
CPX3148GB160GB SSD€15.90
CPX41816GB240GB SSD€31.90

Best for: WordPress sites, small applications

Dedicated vCPU for high-performance applications:

PlanvCPURAMStoragePrice/Month
CCX1328GB80GB SSD€25.90
CCX23416GB160GB SSD€51.90
CCX33832GB240GB SSD€103.90

Best for: High-traffic sites, databases, intensive applications

ARM servers available in German datacenters only:

PlanvCPURAMStoragePrice/Month
CAX1124GB40GB SSD€3.90
CAX2148GB80GB SSD€7.90
CAX31816GB160GB SSD€15.90

Best for: Cloud-native applications, containerized workloads

ARM Performance

ARM servers offer excellent performance per euro, especially for cloud-native applications. Check our Hetzner vs Oracle ARM comparison for detailed benchmarks.

Hetzner Cloud Interface & Management

The Hetzner Cloud interface is clean, intuitive, and developer-friendly.

  • Clean Navigation: Left sidebar with organized sections
  • Real-time Monitoring: Live server status and resource usage
  • Resource Graphs: CPU, memory, network, and disk usage charts
  • Quick Actions: Start, stop, restart, and manage servers easily
  • Multi-server Management: Handle multiple servers from one dashboard

  • Server Creation: Simple wizard with extensive OS selection
  • Backup Management: Automated daily backups and manual snapshots
  • Scaling: Vertical scaling with minimal downtime
  • Firewall: Built-in firewall rules management
  • Networks: Private networking between servers
  • Load Balancers: Built-in load balancing solutions
  • Storage: Additional block storage volumes
  • Images: Create and manage custom server images

Hetzner provides excellent developer tools:

  • RESTful API: Comprehensive API for automation
  • Official CLI: hcloud command-line tool
  • Terraform Provider: Infrastructure as code support
  • Kubernetes Integration: Managed Kubernetes service
  • Webhooks: Event notifications for automation
  • SDKs: Official libraries for popular languages

Performance Testing: Real-World Results

Let’s dive into actual performance testing. I tested the CX21 (2 vCPU, 4GB RAM) server in the Ashburn datacenter.

YABS Benchmark Results

# ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## #
#              Yet-Another-Bench-Script              #
#                     v2024-06-09                    #
# https://github.com/masonr/yet-another-bench-script #
# ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## #

Basic System Information:
---------------------------------
Processor  : AMD EPYC 7763 64-Core Processor
CPU cores  : 2 @ 2445.406 MHz
AES-NI     : Enabled
VM-x/AMD-V : Disabled
RAM        : 3.8 GiB
Swap       : 2.0 GiB
Disk       : 38.4 GiB
Distro     : Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Kernel     : 6.8.0-45-generic

fio Disk Speed Tests (Mixed R/W 50/50):
---------------------------------
Block Size | 4k            (IOPS) | 64k           (IOPS)
  ------   | ---            ----  | ----           ----
Read       | 182.45 MB/s  (45.6k) | 1.89 GB/s    (29.5k)
Write      | 183.22 MB/s  (45.8k) | 1.90 GB/s    (29.7k)
Total      | 365.67 MB/s  (91.4k) | 3.79 GB/s    (59.2k)
           |                      |
Block Size | 512k          (IOPS) | 1m            (IOPS)
  ------   | ---            ----  | ----           ----
Read       | 3.12 GB/s     (6.1k) | 3.87 GB/s     (3.8k)
Write      | 3.28 GB/s     (6.4k) | 4.08 GB/s     (4.0k)
Total      | 6.40 GB/s    (12.5k) | 7.95 GB/s     (7.8k)

iperf3 Network Speed Tests (IPv4):
---------------------------------
Provider        | Location (Link)           | Send Speed      | Recv Speed
                |                           |                 |
Clouvider       | London, UK (10G)          | 1.12 Gbits/sec  | 1.85 Gbits/sec
Online.net      | Paris, FR (10G)           | 1.34 Gbits/sec  | 2.12 Gbits/sec
Clouvider       | NYC, NY, US (10G)         | 1.89 Gbits/sec  | 8.45 Gbits/sec
Velocity Online | Tallahassee, FL, US (10G) | 1.56 Gbits/sec  | 6.78 Gbits/sec
Clouvider       | Los Angeles, CA, US (10G) | 1.23 Gbits/sec  | 2.87 Gbits/sec

Geekbench 6 Benchmark Test:
---------------------------------
Test            | Value
                |
Single Core     | 1,487
Multi Core      | 2,891
Full Test       | https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/8765432

WordPress Performance Test

I installed a fresh WordPress site with:

  • Theme: Kadence starter template
  • Caching: LiteSpeed Cache plugin
  • Server: OpenLiteSpeed via CyberPanel
  • Database: MySQL 8.0

GTmetrix Results:

  • Performance Score: 97%
  • Structure Score: 91%
  • LCP: 1.2s
  • TBT: 0ms
  • CLS: 0.01

PageSpeed Insights:

  • Mobile Score: 94
  • Desktop Score: 99
  • First Contentful Paint: 1.1s
  • Speed Index: 1.3s

These results are excellent for a €6.90/month server with no CDN or advanced optimizations.

Load Testing with k6

I stress-tested the server with 200 concurrent users:

# k6 run --vus 200 --duration 120s load-test.js

running (2m01.2s), 000/200 VUs, 23,847 complete and 0 interrupted iterations
default [======================================] 200 VUs  2m0s

     data_received..................: 3.2 GB  26 MB/s
     data_sent......................: 7.1 MB  58 kB/s
     http_req_blocked...............: avg=2.1ms    min=120ns    med=285ns    max=156.7ms
     http_req_connecting............: avg=1.02ms   min=0s       med=0s       max=89.3ms
     http_req_duration..............: avg=287.4ms  min=245.1ms  med=289.7ms  max=445.2ms
     http_req_failed................: 0.00% 0 23847
     http_req_receiving.............: avg=201.8ms  min=145.6ms  med=203.2ms  max=287.9ms
     http_req_sending...............: avg=42.1µs   min=12.8µs   med=37.9µs   max=2.1ms
     http_req_waiting...............: avg=85.4ms   min=72.1ms   med=83.8ms   max=198.4ms
     http_reqs......................: 23847   198.725/s
     iteration_duration.............: avg=1.0s     min=1.0s     med=1.0s     max=1.4s
     iterations.....................: 23847   198.725/s
     vus............................: 200     min=200       max=200
     vus_max........................: 200     min=200       max=200

Results Analysis:

  • Zero failed requests under 200 concurrent users
  • Average response time: 287ms
  • Throughput: 198 requests/second
  • Server handled the load without breaking a sweat

Hetzner Cloud Support Experience

Over 2+ years of usage, I’ve contacted Hetzner support multiple times. Here’s my experience:

Support Channels:

  • Ticket System: Primary support method
  • Response Time: Usually within 2-4 hours
  • Knowledge Base: Comprehensive documentation
  • Community: Active community forums

Support Quality:

  • Technical Expertise: High-level technical knowledge
  • Problem Resolution: Quick and effective solutions
  • Communication: Clear, professional responses
  • Availability: 24/7 support coverage

Real Experience:

I once had a network connectivity issue during a maintenance window. Support responded within 45 minutes, provided detailed explanations, and offered compensation for the brief downtime. The transparency and professionalism were impressive.

Hetzner Cloud vs Competitors

FeatureHetzner CloudDigitalOcean
Starting Price€3.79/month$4/month
2CPU/4GB RAM€6.90/month$24/month
Bandwidth (EU)20TB included2TB included
Datacenters6 locations15+ locations
SupportExcellentGood
ARM SupportYesNo
Load Balancers€5.83/month$10/month
Managed KubernetesYesYes

Winner: Hetzner for price-to-performance ratio

FeatureHetzner CloudVultr
Starting Price€3.79/month$2.50/month
2CPU/4GB RAM€6.90/month$12/month
Storage TypeNVMe SSDNVMe SSD
ARM SupportYesLimited
NetworkUp to 20TB1-2TB
Locations625+
Object StorageYesYes

Winner: Hetzner for European users, Vultr for global reach

FeatureHetzner CloudLinode
Starting Price€3.79/month$5/month
2CPU/4GB RAM€6.90/month$12/month
Storage TypeNVMe SSDNVMe SSD
Bandwidth20TB (EU)1TB
SupportExcellentExcellent
DocumentationGoodExcellent

Winner: Hetzner for pricing, Linode for documentation

Full Comparison

For a detailed comparison of all major VPS providers, check our comprehensive VPS Provider Comparison Guide.

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Common Use Cases for Hetzner Cloud

Perfect for various WordPress deployments:

  • Multiple WordPress Sites: Host several sites on one server
  • WooCommerce Stores: E-commerce with good performance
  • High-Traffic Blogs: Handle thousands of visitors
  • Development Environments: Test themes and plugins safely
  • Staging Sites: Test changes before going live

Recommended Setup:

  • Small Sites: CX21 or CPX21 (€6.90-7.90/month)
  • Medium Sites: CPX31 (€15.90/month)
  • High-Traffic Sites: CCX13 (€25.90/month)
  • Location: European datacenter for better bandwidth

Ideal for development workflows:

  • CI/CD Pipelines: Automated testing and deployment
  • Staging Environments: Safe testing before production
  • Container Hosting: Docker and Kubernetes workloads
  • Microservices: Distributed application architecture
  • API Development: Backend services and APIs
  • Database Testing: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB

Great for hosting your own services:

  • Analytics Platforms: Plausible, Matomo, Umami
  • Monitoring Tools: Uptime Kuma, Grafana, Prometheus
  • File Storage: Nextcloud, Seafile
  • Database Servers: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis
  • Communication: Rocket.Chat, Mattermost
  • Password Managers: Bitwarden, Vaultwarden

Suitable for business needs:

  • Email Servers: Postfix, Dovecot, Mail-in-a-Box
  • VPN Servers: WireGuard, OpenVPN
  • Backup Solutions: Duplicati, Restic, Borg
  • Internal Tools: GitLab, Jenkins, Confluence
  • Game Servers: Minecraft, Counter-Strike, ARK

Advanced Features (2025)

Hetzner introduced S3-compatible object storage in 2024:

  • Pricing: €0.0119/GB per month
  • API: Full S3 compatibility
  • Integration: Works with all major tools (AWS CLI, boto3, etc.)
  • Availability: All datacenters
  • Security: SSL/TLS encryption, access controls
  • Performance: High-speed transfers

Use Cases: Static website hosting, backups, CDN origin, data archiving

Professional Kubernetes service:

  • Pricing: €0.00595 per hour per node
  • Features: Auto-scaling, load balancing, monitoring
  • Integration: Full Hetzner Cloud integration
  • Versions: Latest Kubernetes versions supported
  • Networking: Private networks, ingress controllers
  • Storage: Persistent volumes, CSI drivers

Perfect for: Containerized applications, microservices, CI/CD

Built-in load balancing and networking:

  • Load Balancer Pricing: €5.83/month
  • Features: SSL termination, health checks, sticky sessions
  • Performance: Up to 20,000 connections
  • Private Networks: Free private networking
  • Floating IPs: Failover and high availability
  • Firewalls: Advanced security rules

Comprehensive backup solutions:

  • Backup Pricing: 20% of server cost
  • Snapshot Pricing: €0.0119/GB per month
  • Retention: Customizable retention periods
  • Automation: Scheduled backups
  • Restoration: One-click server restoration
  • Cross-datacenter: Backup to different regions

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Choose the right datacenter for your target audience
  • Use NVMe SSD for database-heavy applications
  • Enable backups but consider snapshot alternatives for large data
  • Monitor resource usage with built-in monitoring tools
  • Implement caching (Redis, Memcached) for better performance
  • Use CDN for static content delivery
  • Optimize databases with proper indexing and queries

  • Private networks for secure multi-server communication
  • Firewall rules for proper security configuration
  • Load balancers for high availability and traffic distribution
  • IPv6 support for future-proofing your infrastructure
  • DNS configuration for proper domain resolution
  • SSL certificates for secure connections

  • Hourly billing for development and testing servers
  • ARM servers for cost-effective computing workloads
  • European datacenters for included 20TB bandwidth
  • Proper sizing to avoid over-provisioning resources
  • Scheduled scaling for predictable traffic patterns
  • Snapshot management to control storage costs

System Requirements & Compatibility

Operating Systems

  • Ubuntu (18.04, 20.04, 22.04, 24.04)
  • Debian (10, 11, 12)
  • CentOS (7, 8, 9)
  • Fedora (38, 39, 40)
  • Rocky Linux (8, 9)
  • FreeBSD (13, 14)

Control Panels

Tested and compatible with:

  • CyberPanel (recommended)
  • CloudPanel
  • Webmin
  • Plesk
  • cPanel (with license)

Container Platforms

  • Docker (native support)
  • Kubernetes (managed service)
  • Podman (rootless containers)
  • LXC/LXD (system containers)

Migration to Hetzner Cloud

From Other VPS Providers

  1. Create server with same specifications
  2. Transfer data using rsync or migration tools
  3. Update DNS records
  4. Test thoroughly before switching

Migration Tools

  • Hetzner CLI for automation
  • Terraform for infrastructure as code
  • Ansible for configuration management
  • Custom scripts for specific needs

Security Best Practices

Network Security

  • Use private networks for internal communication
  • Configure firewalls properly
  • Enable DDoS protection
  • Use VPN for administrative access

Server Security

  • Regular updates and security patches
  • SSH key authentication only
  • Fail2ban for brute force protection
  • Monitoring and alerting

Conclusion: Why Hetzner Cloud Wins

After 2+ years of using Hetzner Cloud, here’s why it’s my go-to recommendation:

  • Unbeatable price-to-performance ratio - Best value in the market
  • Excellent network performance (especially in EU with 20TB bandwidth)
  • Reliable infrastructure with 99.9%+ uptime in my experience
  • Great developer experience with comprehensive APIs and tools
  • Responsive support team with technical expertise
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surprises
  • ARM servers for cost-effective computing workloads
  • Global expansion with new datacenters in Singapore and US

  • Limited datacenter locations compared to AWS/GCP (but growing)
  • Bandwidth differences between EU (20TB) and US/Asia (1TB)
  • Less marketplace integration than major cloud providers
  • Documentation could be more comprehensive (but improving)
  • Fewer managed services compared to AWS/Azure

Bottom Line:

Hetzner Cloud offers the best value proposition in the VPS market. Whether you’re a developer, small business, or growing startup, the combination of performance, reliability, and affordability makes it an excellent choice.

The recent expansion to Singapore and continued innovation in ARM computing and managed services shows Hetzner’s commitment to competing with the big players while maintaining their cost advantage.

Try Hetzner Cloud Now

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Start your cloud journey with Hetzner today. Sign up now and get €20 credit to test their services risk-free. Experience the performance difference that has made Hetzner my preferred hosting provider for over 5 years.

What’s your experience with Hetzner Cloud? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let me know if you’d like me to test any specific scenarios or compare with other providers.

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