Hetzner vs Gcore: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 23% cheaper than Gcore for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€29 vs €37/mo)
At the cluster level, Hetzner runs 23% cheaper, roughly €8/mo less than its competitor. For outbound traffic, Gcore is more cost-effective: unlimited egress vs paid. Gcore offers a managed control plane; Hetzner requires self-managing the control plane, adding operational overhead but giving full configuration control. Choose Hetzner for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Gcore for lower egress costs at scale.
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 Hetzner |  Gcore | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Luxembourg |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €4.75/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €12.32/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€28.50/mo | ~€36.96/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€42.75/mo | ~€73.92/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | Unlimited |
| S3 Storage | €0.010/GB | €0.040/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, C5, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, SOC2, PCI-DSS |
| 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 Feb 2026, Gcore as of May 2026.
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