Hetzner review
Choose Hetzner if you want direct control over your apps and agents, with API, CLI and Terraform support for repeatable deployments. Watch the operational workload: without managed databases, your team owns database maintenance and recovery alongside the application.
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Score breakdown
Scores come from one formula for every cloud vps host, explained on our methodology page.
Plans and the true 3-year price
| Plan | vCPU / RAM / Disk | Traffic | Monthly | Renews at | 3-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPX02 | 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB | 20 TB | €6.49 | €6.49 | €234 |
| CPX12 | 1 vCPU / 2 GB / 40 GB | 20 TB | €11.99 | €11.99 | €432 |
| CPX22 | 2 vCPU / 4 GB / 80 GB | 20 TB | €19.99 | €19.99 | €720 |
Providers change prices often, and we regularly verify prices against their own pricing pages, though small differences from current prices are possible. Prices checked 10 Oct 2026. Excluding tax.
Who it's for
Pick it if
- You want root access and SSH for your deployment workflow
- You provision infrastructure through an API, CLI or Terraform
- You can maintain your own databases and recovery procedures
- Your users are served by its locations across Europe, North America and Asia
Skip it if
- You need a managed database service
- You need a free tier for experimentation
- You want to hand server administration to your hosting provider
Reliability, SLA and policies
Our take
Hetzner makes sense when your team wants to control the server and can handle the work that follows. Root access, SSH, an API, a CLI and Terraform support let you turn deployment procedures into repeatable infrastructure. Docker is supported, so a container-based application or background agent fits the service without requiring a different packaging model. The trade-off is operational ownership. There are no managed databases, so database updates, access controls and recovery remain work you must arrange.
The listed plans do not show an introductory discount followed by a higher renewal rate. CPX02 starts at €6.49 a month and renews at €6.49, which makes the baseline easier to budget. That baseline excludes VAT, while automated backups and snapshots carry additional charges. Location also changes the calculation: the European offer should not be treated as a universal quote, because pricing and included traffic differ in Asia. Check the actual deployment location before committing your budget.
The 99.9% uptime SLA applies across the cloud server and vServer plans, and a public status page gives you somewhere to check provider incidents. Those are useful commitments, but your application still needs monitoring and a recovery plan. Automated backups and snapshots are available; deciding what to protect and testing restoration remain your responsibility. For portability, keep deployment definitions and recoverable application data outside the server. Root access and Docker support can help with migration, but they do not remove the work of moving state.
Against Contabo, DigitalOcean, Akamai Cloud (Linode), OVHcloud VPS and Vultr, we would shortlist Hetzner for a team that values direct access and infrastructure automation. Compare the bill for your chosen location, including tax and protection for your data, then weigh the administration your team can sustain. The fit is strongest for apps, sites and persistent agents whose operators are comfortable maintaining a server. If database maintenance already competes with product development, Hetzner's lack of managed databases should weigh heavily in your decision.
We run our own production servers on Hetzner, including an AI agent that stays online around the clock. That gives us direct experience using the service for the persistent workloads discussed here. It also shapes our recommendation: we consider server access and automation alongside the responsibility for maintenance, monitoring and recovery.
FAQ
Is Hetzner suitable for running an always-on AI agent?
Yes, if you can administer the server and maintain the agent process. We run an agent around the clock on Hetzner ourselves, but you still need to manage credentials, monitoring and recovery.
Does Hetzner increase the price when my plan renews?
The listed CPX02, CPX12 and CPX22 plans have matching introductory and renewal prices. CPX02 starts at €6.49 a month and renews at €6.49; matching rates do not guarantee that future pricing will remain unchanged.
Are Hetzner backups included in the server price?
No, automated backups and snapshots cost extra. Backup pricing is relative to the instance, while snapshot charges depend on stored size, so include your recovery requirements when comparing the total bill.
Can I run Docker and a database on Hetzner?
Docker is supported on its VPS service, and root access lets you install and administer your own database. Hetzner does not offer managed databases, so you must arrange maintenance, backups and restoration.
Does Hetzner have a free tier?
No, Hetzner Cloud has no free tier and uses usage-based pricing. Budget for the server and any paid extras when planning a prototype or development environment.
Are Hetzner prices the same in every region?
No, pricing and included traffic differ by location. Check the offer for your intended region, especially when comparing a European deployment with an Asian deployment.