Hetzner vs Elastx: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 94% cheaper than Elastx for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€33 vs €574/mo)
At the cluster level, Hetzner runs 94% cheaper, roughly €541/mo less than its competitor. Storage IOPS differ by ~17×, with Elastx ahead — relevant if your workload relies on persistent volumes. Elastx handles control plane operations; with Hetzner you self-host the control plane, trading simplicity for flexibility. Choose Hetzner for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Elastx for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
IOPS figures from the providers' documentation: Hetzner, Elastx.
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- Hetzner: CX23 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk) for €5.49/mo
- Elastx: v2-c2-m4-d60 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB disk) for €57.75/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
 Hetzner |  Elastx | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Sweden |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | €446.35/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €5.49/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €42.60/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€32.94/mo | ~€574.15/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€49.41/mo | ~€701.95/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | €0.045/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.009/GB | €0.050/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, C5, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, ISO27017, ISO27018, ISO14001 |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | No | No |
* 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, Elastx as of Nov 2026.
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