DigitalOcean vs Hetzner: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for DigitalOcean vs Hetzner.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Hetzner edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | DigitalOcean | Hetzner |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $4/mo | $3.29/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $20/mo | $5.39/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $40/mo | $15.59/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ $200 free credit for 60 days (new users). | ❌ No |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | DigitalOcean | Hetzner |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Basic Droplet | $4/mo | $3.29/mo |
| Premium Droplet | $8/mo | $5.39/mo |
| App Platform | $5/mo | $15.59/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DigitalOcean | Hetzner |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Documentation | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Pros & Cons
DigitalOcean
✅ Pros
- Predictable pricing — no surprise bills
- Excellent tutorials and community content
- Simple managed Kubernetes and databases
- Fast Droplet provisioning
❌ Cons
- Fewer services than AWS/GCP
- No free-forever tier (only 60-day credits)
- Limited enterprise features
Hetzner
✅ Pros
- Most cost-effective cloud hosting in the market
- Excellent bare metal and VPS performance
- European data centers (GDPR-friendly)
- Transparent pricing — no hidden costs
❌ Cons
- Mostly EU/US regions (no Asia-Pacific)
- Less managed services than AWS/GCP
- Dashboard is functional but not modern
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose DigitalOcean if...
- You are a side projects and mvps
- You are a indie hackers and small teams
🚫 Skip if...
- Enterprise needing 100+ managed services
- AI/ML workloads needing GPUs
✅ Choose Hetzner if...
- You are a budget-conscious developers
- You are a self-hosted projects
- You are a eu-based companies
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing global CDN edge presence
- Users wanting fully managed PaaS
🏆 Our Verdict
Both DigitalOcean (4.5/5) and Hetzner (4.6/5) are excellent tools in their category. Hetzner takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DigitalOcean better than Hetzner?
It depends on your needs. DigitalOcean excels in some areas while Hetzner has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does DigitalOcean pricing compare to Hetzner?
DigitalOcean starts at Free / $4/mo, while Hetzner starts at $3.29/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from DigitalOcean to Hetzner?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Hetzner typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from DigitalOcean.
Which is easier to use, DigitalOcean or Hetzner?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
Join 500+ Solo Developers
Get monthly curated stacks, detailed tool comparisons, and solo dev tips delivered to your inbox. No spam, ever.