IONOS vs Azure (AKS): Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Azure (AKS) is 25% cheaper than IONOS for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€72 vs €96/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 25% (€25/mo) in Azure (AKS)'s favour. Azure (AKS) delivers ~9× the storage IOPS, which matters for write-heavy workloads like etcd or database operators. Data sovereignty matters here: IONOS is EU-based and not a CLOUD Act subject as a US-owned entity; Azure (AKS) operates under US law. Choose Azure (AKS) for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose IONOS for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
 IONOS |  Azure (AKS) | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | United States |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €32.12/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €23.95/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€96.36/mo | ~€71.85/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€192.72/mo | ~€143.70/mo |
| Egress | €0.050/GB | €0.080/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.015/GB | €0.018/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001 | 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: IONOS as of May 2026, Azure (AKS) as of May 2026.
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