Hetzner vs AWS EKS: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 68% cheaper than AWS (EKS) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€33 vs €103/mo)
At the cluster level, Hetzner runs 68% cheaper, roughly €70/mo less than its competitor. Storage IOPS differ by ~34×, with AWS (EKS) ahead — relevant if your workload relies on persistent volumes. Hetzner is EU-headquartered and not subject to the CLOUD Act as a US-owned entity; AWS (EKS) is US-owned and falls under US jurisdiction. Choose Hetzner for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose AWS (EKS) for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
IOPS figures from the providers' documentation: Hetzner, AWS (EKS).
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- Hetzner: CX23 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk) for €5.49/mo
- AWS (EKS): t4g.medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €24.97/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
Moving off AWS (EKS) could save ~€70/mo on a 3-node cluster.
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 Hetzner |  AWS (EKS) | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | United States |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | €73/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €5.49/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €12.49/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€32.94/mo | ~€102.51/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€49.41/mo | ~€139.98/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | €0.080/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.009/GB | €0.020/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, C5, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | No | Yes (US-owned) |
* Estimated using cheapest available node. DIY providers include 3 additional control plane nodes. Use the calculator for exact pricing with your specs.
Data freshness: Hetzner as of Oct 2026, AWS (EKS) as of Oct 2026.
Who Should Use Which?
Hetzner costs 60-80% less than AWS EKS for equivalent workloads but requires self-managed Kubernetes. Choose AWS if you need the full ecosystem (ALB, RDS, IAM) and are willing to pay a premium. Choose Hetzner for cost-sensitive workloads where you can manage infrastructure with K3s or Talos.
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