Hetzner vs UpCloud: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Hetzner is 66% cheaper than UpCloud for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€29 vs €84/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 66% (€56/mo) in Hetzner's favour. UpCloud delivers ~13× the storage IOPS, which matters for write-heavy workloads like etcd or database operators. UpCloud wins on network egress — unlimited egress vs paid. Choose Hetzner for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose UpCloud for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
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 Hetzner |  UpCloud | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Finland |
| Managed Kubernetes | No (DIY) | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Self-managed | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €4.75/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €28.00/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€28.50/mo | ~€84.00/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€42.75/mo | ~€168.00/mo |
| Egress | 20 TB free | Unlimited |
| S3 Storage | €0.010/GB | €0.020/GB |
| 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 Feb 2026, UpCloud as of Jan 2026.
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