DigitalOcean vs Hetzner for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

DigitalOcean Overview

DigitalOcean is a developer-focused cloud platform with a clean interface and predictable pricing. Droplets (VPS instances) start at $4/month with fixed monthly costs. Beyond Droplets, the platform offers managed databases, App Platform (PaaS), Kubernetes, Spaces (object storage), and load balancers.

The documentation is among the best in the industry. DigitalOcean's community tutorials cover everything from initial server setup to deploying specific frameworks. For a solo developer new to cloud hosting, the learning curve is gentle.

I've used DigitalOcean for years. The dashboard is intuitive, provisioning is fast, and the managed database offerings save real time compared to self-hosting PostgreSQL or MySQL. The App Platform adds PaaS convenience when you don't want to manage servers directly.

Hetzner Overview

Hetzner is a German hosting company that offers some of the best price-to-performance ratios in cloud computing. A CX22 cloud server with 2 vCPUs and 4GB RAM costs EUR 3.79/month. Compare that to equivalent specs on other platforms and the savings are significant.

Hetzner's product line includes cloud servers, dedicated servers, managed Kubernetes, object storage, load balancers, and firewalls. The cloud console is functional and straightforward, though less polished than DigitalOcean's dashboard.

I run a K3s cluster on a Hetzner dedicated server. The performance-per-dollar is hard to beat. For the price of a single DigitalOcean Droplet, you get substantially more compute power on Hetzner. The trade-off is fewer managed services and a slightly less refined user experience.

Key Differences

Price-to-performance. Hetzner wins on raw value. A Hetzner CX22 (2 vCPU, 4GB RAM) costs EUR 3.79/month. A DigitalOcean Droplet with similar specs costs $12/month. That's roughly 3x the price for the same compute power. For budget-conscious solo developers running multiple servers, the savings compound quickly.

Managed services. DigitalOcean has a richer managed service ecosystem. Managed PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, and a full PaaS (App Platform). Hetzner offers managed Kubernetes and basic cloud features, but no managed databases. If you want a managed PostgreSQL instance with automatic backups and failover, DigitalOcean provides it. On Hetzner, you self-host it.

Data center locations. DigitalOcean has data centers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Hetzner's data centers are in Germany, Finland, Singapore, and the US (Ashburn, Hillsboro). If you need a specific geographic presence, check both provider's available regions. DigitalOcean has broader geographic coverage.

Documentation and community. DigitalOcean's tutorials are industry-leading. Thousands of well-written guides covering every common scenario. Hetzner's documentation is adequate but focused on their products rather than general-purpose tutorials. If you're learning as you go, DigitalOcean's community resources are a significant advantage.

Dashboard and UX. DigitalOcean's dashboard is polished and intuitive. Creating servers, managing firewalls, and configuring networking all feel smooth. Hetzner's Cloud Console is functional but more utilitarian. It gets the job done without the same level of refinement. Both work fine, but DigitalOcean feels more modern.

Dedicated servers. Hetzner offers dedicated servers (bare metal) at prices that no major US cloud provider can match. For workloads that need consistent CPU performance without noisy neighbor issues, Hetzner's auction servers and dedicated server lineup are exceptional value. DigitalOcean doesn't offer dedicated servers.

When to Choose DigitalOcean

• You want managed databases without self-hosting PostgreSQL or Redis
• A polished dashboard and excellent documentation matter to you
• You need data centers in Asia-Pacific or Australia
• App Platform (PaaS) features are useful for your workflow
• You're willing to pay more for a more integrated, managed experience

When to Choose Hetzner

• Budget is a primary concern and you want maximum compute per dollar
• You're comfortable self-hosting databases and services
• European data centers work for your user base
• You need dedicated servers or high-performance bare metal
• You're running multiple servers and the cost savings compound

The Verdict

Both are excellent choices for solo developers, but they optimize for different priorities. DigitalOcean optimizes for developer experience and managed services. Hetzner optimizes for price-to-performance.

If you want the easiest path with managed databases, great docs, and a polished interface, DigitalOcean is worth the premium. The time saved on managing databases and the quality of the documentation pay for the price difference.

If you're comfortable with server administration and want to stretch your hosting budget as far as possible, Hetzner delivers significantly more compute power per dollar. Running a K3s cluster or multiple apps on Hetzner keeps costs minimal.

My recommendation: DigitalOcean for your first production deployment if you're still learning server management. Hetzner when you're confident managing your own infrastructure and want to reduce hosting costs. Many solo developers start on DigitalOcean, then move to Hetzner once they're comfortable, and that's a natural progression.