Hetzner vs Azure (AKS): Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 41% cheaper than Azure (AKS) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€43 vs €72/mo)
At the cluster level, Hetzner runs 41% cheaper, roughly €29/mo less than its competitor. Storage IOPS differ by ~53×, with Azure (AKS) ahead — relevant if your workload relies on persistent volumes. Data sovereignty matters here: Hetzner is EU-based and not a CLOUD Act subject as a US-owned entity; Azure (AKS) operates under US law. Choose Hetzner for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Azure (AKS) for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
IOPS figures from the providers' documentation: Hetzner, Azure (AKS).
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- Hetzner: CX23 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk) for €7.13/mo
- Azure (AKS): B2pls_v2 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €24.07/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
Moving off Azure (AKS) could save ~€29/mo on a 3-node cluster.
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 Hetzner |  Azure (AKS) | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | United States |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €7.13/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €24.07/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€42.78/mo | ~€72.21/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€64.17/mo | ~€144.42/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | €0.080/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.010/GB | €0.018/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 Aug 2026, Azure (AKS) as of Sept 2026.
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