IONOS vs Hetzner: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
 IONOS | Hetzner | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | No (DIY) |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | Self-managed |
| Cheapest Node | €5.04/mo 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €3.49/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€15.12/mo | ~€20.94/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€30.24/mo | ~€31.41/mo |
| Egress | €0.050/GB | 20 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.015/GB | €0.005/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001 | ISO27001 |
| 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.
Who Should Use Which?
IONOS offers managed Kubernetes with a free control plane — ideal if you want German data sovereignty without managing the control plane yourself. Hetzner is cheaper per node but requires self-managed K3s/K8s. Choose IONOS for convenience and compliance, Hetzner for raw cost savings.
Calculate Your Exact Cost
Configure your exact cluster specs and see real-time pricing across 29+ European providers.
Open Calculator