Hetzner and UpCloud get compared constantly, usually by people who have already decided the workload could run on either. That is normally true. What differs is cost shape, how much of the stack you run yourself, and which constraints each platform imposes.
This comparison works through the differences that actually change a decision, then says plainly which one to pick and when. Live starting prices and configuration counts for both are shown in the table below and come straight from the catalog.
Short answer. Hetzner for the lowest cost per unit of compute. UpCloud for storage throughput and no egress charges. Different definitions of value.
Hetzner and UpCloud at a glance
| Hetzner | UpCloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $50.00 | $30.00 |
| Configurations available | 3 | 1 |
| Best suited to | Cost-sensitive production workloads inside the EU. | Database and IO-bound workloads that move a lot of data. |
| Coverage | Germany and Finland, plus US locations | Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific |
| Notable services | Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers, Storage Box, Load Balancers | Cloud Servers, MaxIOPS Storage, Managed Databases, Private Networks |
View Hetzner accountsView UpCloud accounts
Service breadth
Hetzner
Cloud servers, dedicated servers, storage boxes and load balancers. No managed database or analytics layer.
UpCloud
Cloud servers, managed databases, private networking and object storage.
The practical question is not which catalogue is larger but whether the one you choose contains the specific services your project needs. A large catalogue you never touch is not an advantage.
How each one charges
Hetzner
Among the lowest price-to-performance ratios available anywhere, particularly on dedicated hardware.
UpCloud
Hourly and monthly pricing broadly in line with other developer clouds.
Beyond the instance rate, network egress is the cost that most often surprises people. On Hetzner, a very large transfer allowance is included with each server, well beyond what most providers bundle. On UpCloud, no egress fees, which removes an entire category of unpredictable cost.
If the workload moves a lot of data, read our breakdown of egress charges before comparing instance prices, because egress can dominate the bill.
The differences that matter
- Where each is strongest. Hetzner is chosen for price to performance that the hyperscalers cannot approach, on EU hardware. UpCloud is chosen for MaxIOPS storage throughput and the absence of egress charges.
- What you give up. With Hetzner, you manage almost everything yourself; there is no managed service safety net. With UpCloud, a smaller catalogue and a smaller community than the better-known names.
Console and learning curve
Hetzner. A simple, fast console that does exactly what it needs to and nothing more.
UpCloud. A clean console with a well-documented API.
Outbound email
Hetzner. Outbound mail is permitted subject to the acceptable use policy, which makes it viable for mail servers.
UpCloud. Outbound mail is subject to the acceptable use policy and is not available to accounts in sanctioned jurisdictions.
This is a hard constraint rather than a preference, so settle it before anything else if your workload sends mail. The guide to port 25 explains which providers permit it.
Where they run
Hetzner. Datacentres in Germany and Finland, with US locations added more recently. GDPR compliance is a core selling point.
UpCloud. Datacentres across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, headquartered in Finland.
AI and machine learning
Hetzner. Dedicated GPU servers are available, but there is no managed AI tooling.
UpCloud. No managed AI services.
If AI work is the reason for the account, our guide to choosing a cloud for AI workloads covers the ground in more detail.
Which one to choose
Choose Hetzner when
Pick Hetzner when cost per unit of compute is the deciding factor and you are comfortable running your own stack.
Choose UpCloud when
Pick UpCloud when the workload is storage or IO bound, or moves enough data that egress fees dominate the bill.
Before you commit
- Confirm the specific services you need exist in the region you need them in. Availability varies by region on every provider.
- Estimate egress volume and price it on both platforms. It is the cost most often left out of a comparison.
- Check quotas. A new account starts with conservative limits, and raising them takes time on either platform.
- If outbound email matters, settle that question first, because it eliminates options rather than merely adding cost.
- Consider running both. Using each platform for what it is good at is more common than standardising on one.
Conclusion
Hetzner for the lowest cost per unit of compute. UpCloud for storage throughput and no egress charges. Different definitions of value.
Both platforms are available here with published configurations and pricing: Buy Hetzner Accounts and Buy UpCloud Accounts. If you are still weighing them, the full comparison table puts every provider side by side, and support can talk through the specific workload.
Related cloud accounts
Accounts on the platforms discussed here, with every configuration and price published up front:
- Buy Hetzner Accounts — from $50.00. German infrastructure, GDPR compliance, strong price to performance.
- Buy UpCloud Accounts — from $30.00. MaxIOPS storage and no egress charges.
Further reading
- Object Storage: When to Use It and What It Really Costs
- DigitalOcean vs Hetzner: Which Cloud Account Should You Buy?
- Linode vs UpCloud: Which Cloud Account Should You Buy?
- AWS vs Hetzner: Which Cloud Account Should You Buy?
Official documentation
Provider behaviour, quotas and pricing are defined by the platform itself. These are the first-party references for the services discussed above:
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the workload shape rather than the list price. Compare the starting prices in the table above, then add expected egress, because that is where the two most often diverge.
Plain virtual machines and object storage move relatively easily. Managed services do not, so the difficulty depends on how much of each platform's proprietary surface you used.
Hetzner if cost per unit of compute is the deciding factor and you are comfortable running your own stack. UpCloud if the workload is storage or IO bound, or moves enough data that egress fees dominate the bill.
