Hetzner vs ScaleUp Technologies: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 82% cheaper than ScaleUp Technologies for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€33 vs €181/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 82% (€148/mo) in Hetzner's favour. ScaleUp Technologies wins on network egress — unlimited egress vs paid. ScaleUp Technologies 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 ScaleUp Technologies for lower egress costs at scale.
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- Hetzner: CX23 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk) for €5.49/mo
- ScaleUp Technologies: m2.medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €43.80/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
 Hetzner | ScaleUp Technologies | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | €50/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €5.49/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €43.80/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€32.94/mo | ~€181.40/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€49.41/mo | ~€312.80/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | Unlimited |
| S3 Storage | €0.009/GB | €0.120/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, C5, PCI-DSS | None listed |
| 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, ScaleUp Technologies as of Oct 2026.
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