Hetzner vs netcup: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
netcup is 57% cheaper than Hetzner for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€19 vs €43/mo)
At the cluster level, netcup runs 57% cheaper, roughly €24/mo less than its competitor. netcup delivers ~13× the storage IOPS, which matters for write-heavy workloads like etcd or database operators. On block storage, netcup is the cheaper option at roughly 1/5.7 the price per GB. Choose netcup for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Hetzner for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
IOPS figures from the providers' documentation: Hetzner, netcup.
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- Hetzner: CX23 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk) for €7.13/mo
- netcup: VPS Lite 1 G12.5s (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB disk) for €4.92/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
We tested it
- What HA Actually Costs: Kubernetes on netcup for €63/month with Talos and OpenTofu — hands-on review with benchmarks, Sep 2026
Need help picking the right EU Kubernetes provider or migrating your infrastructure?
Get matched with a vetted EU migration agency →
 Hetzner | netcup | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | No (DIY) |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | Self-managed |
| Cheapest Node | €7.13/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €3.10/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€42.78/mo | ~€18.60/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€64.17/mo | ~€27.90/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | Unlimited |
| S3 Storage | €0.010/GB | Not available |
| Certifications | ISO27001, C5, PCI-DSS | 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.
Data freshness: Hetzner as of Aug 2026, netcup as of Sept 2026.
Calculate Your Exact Cost
Configure your exact cluster specs and see real-time pricing across 34+ European providers.
Open Calculator