Provider Comparison
Hetzner vs Contabo: Which Dedicated Server Provider is Right for You?
A comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Hetzner and Contabo dedicated servers covering pricing, features, performance, support, and datacenter coverage.
Hetzner (4.6/5, from $49/mo) is best for budget-conscious developers and self-hosters wanting maximum value per dollar. Contabo (3.8/5, from $129/mo) is best for budget buyers wanting the cheapest dedicated servers for personal projects or game hosting. Hetzner scores higher in our testing, while Hetzner offers the lower entry price.
Side-by-Side Overview
Here is how Hetzner and Contabo compare on the key metrics that matter most when choosing a dedicated server provider.
| Specification | Hetzner | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Winner | |
| Starting Price | $49/mo Cheaper | $129/mo |
| Founded | 1997 | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, Germany | Munich, Germany |
| Datacenters | 5 locations | 9 locations More |
| Managed Options | No | No |
| Best For | Budget-conscious developers and self-hosters wanting maximum value per dollar | Budget buyers wanting the cheapest dedicated servers for personal projects or game hosting |
Pricing Comparison
Hetzner starts at $49/mo while Contabo starts at $129/mo. That makes Hetzner the more affordable entry point by $80/mo. Here are the cheapest plans from each provider:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8700GE (8 cores / 16 threads, Zen4 Phoenix)
- RAM: 64 GB DDR5 ECC
- Storage: 2x 512GB NVMe Gen4 SSD
- Bandwidth: Unlimited at 1 Gbps
- Managed: No
- CPU: AMD EPYC series
- RAM: 64 GB DDR4 ECC
- Storage: 2x 512GB NVMe SSD
- Bandwidth: Unlimited incoming, 32 TB outgoing
- Managed: No
Features Comparison
A feature-by-feature breakdown showing what each provider includes with their dedicated servers.
| Feature | Hetzner | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Server Auction (discounted refurbished servers) | ✓ | — |
| Robot API | ✓ | — |
| IPMI access | ✓ | — |
| DDoS protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| vSwitch private networking | ✓ | — |
| 1 Gbps connection | ✓ | — |
| Unlimited traffic | ✓ | — |
| Budget pricing | — | ✓ |
| 9 global DC locations | — | ✓ |
| Snapshot backups | — | ✓ |
| AMD EPYC processors | — | ✓ |
| Fast provisioning available | — | ✓ |
Hetzner offers 7 key features while Contabo offers 6. The total unique features across both providers is 12.
Pros and Cons
Hetzner
Pros
- ✓ Unbeatable price-to-performance ratio in Europe
- ✓ Server Auction offers deeply discounted refurbished servers
- ✓ #1 recommended provider in self-hosting communities (r/selfhosted, r/homelab)
- ✓ Excellent uptime and network quality with 100% green electricity
Cons
- ✗ Support is email/ticket only — no phone or live chat
- ✗ Affiliate/referral program pays in cloud credits only, not cash
- ✗ US presence still limited (2 locations: Ashburn VA, Hillsboro OR)
- ✗ Price increase effective April 1, 2026 (AX42: €47.30 → €57.30/mo)
Contabo
Pros
- ✓ Among the cheapest dedicated servers available globally
- ✓ Wide global data center network (9 locations across 4 continents)
- ✓ Simple, transparent pricing with no hidden costs
- ✓ Good for game servers, personal projects, and budget deployments
Cons
- ✗ Support response times can be slow (email/ticket based)
- ✗ Network speeds may be lower than premium providers
- ✗ No advanced API provisioning for dedicated servers
- ✗ Basic security — no built-in monitoring or managed security
Datacenter Locations
Hetzner operates from 5 locations while Contabo has 9. Contabo provides broader geographic coverage.
Hetzner (5 locations)
Contabo (9 locations)
Performance Benchmarks
We run standardized benchmarks on servers from both providers using Geekbench 6, fio, iperf3, and real application workloads.
Our Verdict
Both Hetzner and Contabo are legitimate dedicated server providers, but they serve different audiences. Here is our recommendation based on your use case:
Choose Hetzner if...
- › You want budget-conscious developers and self-hosters wanting maximum value per dollar
- › Unbeatable price-to-performance ratio in Europe
- › You need servers in DE-Nuremberg, DE-Falkenstein, FI-Helsinki
Choose Contabo if...
- › You want budget buyers wanting the cheapest dedicated servers for personal projects or game hosting
- › Among the cheapest dedicated servers available globally
- › You need servers in DE-Munich, DE-Nuremberg, US-St. Louis
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