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Contabo vs Hetzner (2026)

By Noahlast updated

Verdict: Choose Contabo if you need data centers in Asia-Pacific or the UK, a Windows VPS, or a Storage VPS with high RAM and storage per dollar for media servers and dev boxes. Choose Hetzner if you want the cheapest entry server, about $4.59/month for a CX22 billed hourly or monthly, with a stateful firewall and private networking at no extra cost, managed Kubernetes, and a 99.9% uptime SLA. The deciding factor is reach versus consistency: Contabo spans seven countries, while Hetzner sells dedicated-vCPU instances where Contabo draws noisy-neighbor complaints.

Contabo

German-based VPS and dedicated server hosting known for high specs at low monthly prices.

Pricing
From $6.99/mo
License
Paid

Best for Developers and small businesses that want a high-RAM, multi-core Linux or Windows VPS for self-managed workloads (game servers, Plex/media storage, dev/test boxes) at a lower monthly price than AWS, DigitalOcean, or Linode.

Visit contabo.comRead our review

Hetzner

A German cloud and dedicated server host known for aggressive per-resource pricing, with data centers in Germany, Finland, and the US.

Pricing
From $4.59/mo
License
Paid

Best for developers and small teams who need cheap, no-frills cloud or dedicated compute in EU data centers and don't need a hyperscaler's global edge network

Visit hetzner.comRead our review

Which should you choose?

Choose Contabo if…

wins 3/6 use cases

  • You serve users in Asia-Pacific or the UK and need data centers in Singapore, Japan, India, Australia, or the UK
  • You want a Windows VPS as well as Linux from the same provider
  • You need bulk storage for a media or Plex server and want Contabo's Storage VPS line
  • You want more vCPU cores on the entry plan: Contabo's VPS S typically includes 4-6 cores at $6.99/month vs 2 vCPUs on Hetzner's CX22

Choose Hetzner if…

wins 3/6 use cases

  • You want the lowest entry price, about $4.59/month for a CX22 with 2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, and 40GB SSD
  • You want hourly billing so short-lived servers cost only the hours they run
  • You need consistent CPU performance from dedicated-vCPU CCX instances and a 99.9% uptime SLA
  • You want managed Kubernetes, load balancers, a stateful firewall, private networking, and 20TB of traffic included on cloud plans
  • You want discounted used bare-metal hardware through the Server Auction

Contabo vs Hetzner: feature comparison

FeatureContaboHetzner
Starting priceYesfrom $6.99/mo (VPS S)Yesfrom about $4.59/mo (CX22, 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 40GB SSD)
Free tierNoNo
Hourly billingUnknownmonthly plans, no long-term contract on standard VPSYeshourly or monthly
Data center locationsYesGermany, US, UK, Singapore, Japan, India, AustraliaPartialGermany, Finland, and Ashburn, Virginia (US)
Windows VPSYesLinux or Windows VPSUnknown
Dedicated serversYescustom Intel/AMD bare metal, price varies by hardwareYesEX, AX, RX, SX, GPU, and DX lines at fixed list prices
Discounted used hardwareUnknownYesServer Auction
Consistent CPU performancePartialreported noisy-neighbor issues on cheaper VPS tiersYesdedicated-vCPU CCX instances
Storage productsYesStorage VPS line and object storageYesStorage Box, Storage Share (Nextcloud), S3-compatible Object Storage
Managed Kubernetes and load balancersUnknownYesboth offered
Included networkingUnknownYesstateful firewall, private networking, free DNS, 20TB traffic on cloud plans
SupportPartialticket and email, slower than premium providersPartial24/7 email only, no phone or live chat
Uptime SLAUnknownYes99.9%
Price stabilityNoraised prices on existing customers in 2023Unknown
Account signupUnknownPartialapprovals restricted or delayed for some countries
Learning curvePartialmoderatePartialmoderate

Contabo vs Hetzner: pricing

Every tier both tools publish, as we last checked them — not just the entry price.

Contabo

  • VPS SEntry KVM VPS tier, typically 4-6 vCPU cores, several GB RAM, NVMe/SSD storage (exact specs change with Contabo's periodic plan revisions).$6.99/mo
  • VPS MMid-tier VPS with more vCPU cores and RAM than VPS S.$12.99/mo
  • VPS LHigher-spec VPS aimed at heavier workloads.$24.99/mo
  • Dedicated serversBare-metal Intel/AMD servers with custom RAM, storage (SSD/HDD/RAID) and network configuration; price varies by hardware chosen.Custom
Verified November 1, 2026

Hetzner

  • Cloud – Shared vCPU (CX/CPX)Entry shared-vCPU instance (2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, 40GB SSD); billed hourly or monthly, price set in EUR.$4.59/mo
  • Cloud – Dedicated vCPU (CCX)Dedicated-vCPU instances for production workloads with consistent CPU performance.Custom
  • Dedicated servers (EX/AX/RX/SX/GPU/DX)Physical bare-metal servers at fixed list prices, plus discounted used hardware via the Server Auction.Custom
Not yet verifiedLatest pricing

Contabo vs Hetzner pricing: which costs less?

Hetzner has the lower entry price, about $4.59/month for a CX22 cloud server against $6.99/month for Contabo's VPS S, but Contabo's entry plan typically includes more vCPU cores.

Hetzner's CX22 comes with 2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, and 40GB SSD, is billed hourly or monthly, and has its price set in euros. Contabo's VPS S at $6.99/month typically ships with 4-6 vCPU cores and several GB of RAM on NVMe or SSD storage, though Contabo changes exact specs with periodic plan revisions. Contabo's VPS M and VPS L cost $12.99 and $24.99 per month. Neither provider has a free tier. Hetzner also sells used dedicated servers at a discount through its Server Auction, and Contabo raised prices on existing customers in 2023.

Which has more data center locations, Contabo or Hetzner?

Contabo has more locations, with data centers in Germany, the US, the UK, Singapore, Japan, India, and Australia, against Hetzner's Germany, Finland, and Ashburn, Virginia.

For users in Asia-Pacific, Contabo's Singapore, Japan, India, and Australia regions are the deciding difference, because Hetzner's footprint stops at Germany, Finland, and a single US location. Hetzner's concentration in Germany and Finland suits European teams with GDPR data-residency requirements. Contabo is headquartered in Munich and also runs German data centers, so both providers can keep data in Germany.

Which is more reliable, Contabo or Hetzner?

Hetzner offers more reliability guarantees, with a 99.9% uptime SLA and dedicated-vCPU CCX instances, while Contabo has a public history of noisy-neighbor complaints from oversold resources on its cheaper VPS tiers.

Contabo's reputation for oversold CPU and IO on low-cost plans means performance can vary depending on other tenants on the same host. Hetzner's CX and CPX cloud lines also use shared vCPUs, but its CCX line reserves dedicated vCPUs for production workloads. Support is similar on both: Contabo uses tickets and email and is not known for fast responses, and Hetzner offers 24/7 email support with no phone or live chat.

Can Hetzner replace Contabo?

Yes, Hetzner can replace Contabo for workloads hosted in Europe or the eastern US, but Hetzner has no data centers in the UK, Singapore, Japan, India, or Australia, where Contabo operates.

Hetzner covers the same core products, cloud servers, dedicated servers, and object storage, and adds managed Kubernetes, load balancers, a stateful firewall, private networking, and 20TB of included traffic on cloud plans. Contabo's draw is high RAM and storage allocations per dollar, a Storage VPS line for bulk storage such as media servers, and Windows VPS plans. New Hetzner customers signing up from some countries may face slow or restricted account approval.

Strengths and weaknesses

Contabo

Pros

  • Very high RAM and storage per dollar versus AWS, DigitalOcean, or Linode at comparable price points
  • Both VPS and bare-metal dedicated servers available from the same provider
  • Multiple global data center regions including Germany, US, UK, Singapore, and India
  • No long-term contract required on standard VPS plans

Cons

  • Reputation for oversold CPU/IO resources on cheaper VPS tiers causing inconsistent performance
  • 2023 price increases applied retroactively to existing customers drew public criticism
  • Support responsiveness is generally slower than premium managed-cloud competitors
  • Documentation and control panel are less polished than DigitalOcean or Vultr

Hetzner

Pros

  • Cloud and dedicated server prices consistently undercut AWS, DigitalOcean, and Vultr for comparable specs.
  • Private networking, a stateful firewall, and free DNS are included at no extra cost.
  • Server Auction offers discounted, previously-used dedicated hardware for budget-sensitive projects.
  • EU-based data centers simplify GDPR data-residency requirements for European customers.

Cons

  • Support is limited to 24/7 email; there is no phone or live chat option.
  • Data center footprint is limited to Germany, Finland, and a single US location, versus dozens of regions at AWS or Azure.
  • No permanent free compute tier; every server incurs hourly or monthly charges from the first minute.
  • Account verification and approval can be slow or restrictive for signups from certain countries.

Which fits your use case?

Use casePickWhy
Developer who wants the cheapest cloud server for a small app or test boxHetznerHetzner's CX22 starts at about $4.59/month with hourly billing, below Contabo's $6.99/month VPS S.
Team serving users in Asia-PacificContaboContabo runs data centers in Singapore, Japan, India, and Australia; Hetzner's locations are Germany, Finland, and Ashburn, Virginia.
Self-managed Plex or media server that needs lots of storageContaboContabo's Storage VPS line targets bulk storage like media servers, with high RAM and storage allocations per dollar.
Production workload that needs consistent CPU and an uptime commitmentHetznerHetzner offers dedicated-vCPU CCX instances and a 99.9% uptime SLA, while Contabo has noisy-neighbor complaints on cheaper VPS tiers.
European company with GDPR data-residency rules running containersHetznerHetzner's Germany and Finland data centers simplify EU data residency, and Hetzner offers managed Kubernetes and load balancers.
Small business that needs a Windows VPSContaboContabo sells both Linux and Windows VPS plans from the same lineup.

Neither a match?

Both lists carry verified pricing and honest weaknesses for every option.

5 alternatives to Contabo7 alternatives to Hetzner

Contabo vs Hetzner: migration FAQ

Should I use Contabo or Hetzner?

Use Contabo if you need Asia-Pacific or UK data centers, a Windows VPS, or bulk storage per dollar; use Hetzner if you want the lowest entry price, hourly billing, dedicated-vCPU instances, and a 99.9% uptime SLA in Europe or the eastern US. Both carry a moderate learning curve and rely on email-based support.

Is Contabo cheaper than Hetzner?

No on entry price: Contabo's VPS S starts at $6.99/month, while Hetzner's CX22 starts at about $4.59/month. Contabo's entry plan typically includes 4-6 vCPU cores against the CX22's 2 vCPUs, so value depends on how much compute you need.

Can Hetzner replace Contabo?

Yes for servers in Europe or the eastern US, since Hetzner offers cloud servers, dedicated servers, and object storage at a lower entry price. Hetzner has no data centers in the UK, Singapore, Japan, India, or Australia.

Does Hetzner have phone support?

No, Hetzner support is 24/7 email only, with no phone or live chat. Contabo's support is also ticket and email based and is not known for fast responses.

Is Contabo reliable?

Contabo has a mixed reliability reputation, with a public history of noisy-neighbor complaints from oversold CPU and IO on its cheaper VPS tiers. Hetzner offers dedicated-vCPU CCX instances and a 99.9% uptime SLA for workloads that need consistent performance.