Hetzner vs Azure (AKS): Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 60% cheaper than Azure (AKS) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€29 vs €72/mo)
At the cluster level, Hetzner runs 60% cheaper, roughly €43/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.
Moving off Azure (AKS) could save ~€43/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 | €4.75/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €23.95/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€28.50/mo | ~€71.85/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€42.75/mo | ~€143.70/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 Feb 2026, Azure (AKS) as of May 2026.
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