Linode and Hetzner 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 is cheaper. Linode has wider geographic coverage and the Akamai network behind it. If the servers are in Europe and cost is the driver, Hetzner is difficult to argue against.
Linode and Hetzner at a glance
| Linode | Hetzner | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| Configurations available | 2 | 3 |
| Best suited to | Predictable always-on workloads and outbound mail servers. | Cost-sensitive production workloads inside the EU. |
| Coverage | Global | Germany and Finland, plus US locations |
| Notable services | Compute Instances, Dedicated CPU, GPU Instances, Object Storage | Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers, Storage Box, Load Balancers |
View Linode accountsView Hetzner accounts
Service breadth
Linode
Compute instances, dedicated CPU plans, GPU plans, object storage and managed Kubernetes, now under Akamai.
Hetzner
Cloud servers, dedicated servers, storage boxes and load balancers. No managed database or analytics layer.
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
Linode
Flat monthly plans in the same spirit as DigitalOcean, with dedicated-CPU tiers for consistent performance.
Hetzner
Among the lowest price-to-performance ratios available anywhere, particularly on dedicated hardware.
Beyond the instance rate, network egress is the cost that most often surprises people. On Linode, a generous transfer allowance is bundled with each plan and pooled across the account. On Hetzner, a very large transfer allowance is included with each server, well beyond what most providers bundle.
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
- Different classes of platform. Linode is a developer-focused platform and Hetzner is a European specialist one. That single fact explains most of the price gap and most of the capability gap.
- Where each is strongest. Linode is chosen for flat pricing on the Akamai network with mature tooling. Hetzner is chosen for price to performance that the hyperscalers cannot approach, on EU hardware.
- What you give up. With Linode, fewer managed services than the hyperscalers, so more of the stack is yours to run. With Hetzner, you manage almost everything yourself; there is no managed service safety net.
Console and learning curve
Linode. A clean, long-standing control panel with a mature API and good documentation.
Hetzner. A simple, fast console that does exactly what it needs to and nothing more.
Outbound email
Linode. Outbound port 25 is restricted on new accounts and unblocked on request once the account has history.
Hetzner. Outbound mail is permitted subject to the acceptable use policy, which makes it viable for mail servers.
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
Linode. Datacentres across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, now backed by the Akamai edge network.
Hetzner. Datacentres in Germany and Finland, with US locations added more recently. GDPR compliance is a core selling point.
AI and machine learning
Linode. GPU instances are available, but there is no managed model-training platform.
Hetzner. Dedicated GPU servers are available, but there is no managed AI tooling.
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 Linode when
Pick Linode when you want predictable always-on compute, and possibly outbound mail, without surprises.
Choose Hetzner when
Pick Hetzner when cost per unit of compute is the deciding factor and you are comfortable running your own stack.
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 is cheaper. Linode has wider geographic coverage and the Akamai network behind it. If the servers are in Europe and cost is the driver, Hetzner is difficult to argue against.
Both platforms are available here with published configurations and pricing: Buy Linode Accounts and Buy Hetzner 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 Linode Accounts — from $25.00. Akamai-backed compute and SMTP-capable accounts.
- Buy Hetzner Accounts — from $50.00. German infrastructure, GDPR compliance, strong price to performance.
Further reading
- Hetzner Accounts: What You Get and How to Choose a Configuration
- Hetzner vs Kamatera: Which Cloud Account Should You Buy?
- VPS or Managed Platform: Which One Your Project Needs
- European Cloud Providers and Data Residency
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.
Linode if you want predictable always-on compute, and possibly outbound mail, without surprises. Hetzner if cost per unit of compute is the deciding factor and you are comfortable running your own stack.
