Hetzner vs Deno Deploy for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Hetzner Overview

Hetzner is where you go when you want a real server at a price that makes managed platforms look like daylight robbery. Their CX22 VPS (2 vCPUs, 4GB RAM, 40GB SSD) costs EUR 3.79/month. You can run a full production stack on it: your web app, a database, Redis, background workers, the whole thing on one machine for less than the cost of a sandwich.

The platform is pure infrastructure. You get a server, an IP, and SSH access. No deployment pipelines, no managed databases, no edge network. You install what you need, configure it yourself, and maintain it yourself. Hetzner's data centers are primarily in Germany and Finland, with one US location.

For solo developers running traditional web applications with databases, queues, and background processing, Hetzner is hard to beat. The hardware is reliable, the pricing is transparent, and you have complete control over your stack.

Deno Deploy Overview

Deno Deploy is a serverless edge platform built for the Deno runtime. Your code runs on V8 isolates distributed across 35+ data centers worldwide. Deploy from GitHub with zero configuration. Push your code, Deno Deploy builds it, and it's live on the edge in seconds. No servers to manage, no containers to build, no infrastructure to maintain.

The runtime supports TypeScript and JavaScript natively. It includes built-in KV storage (Deno KV), which is a globally distributed key-value database that synchronizes across all edge locations. For simple data needs, you don't even need an external database.

The free tier gives you 100,000 requests per day and 100 GiB of bandwidth per month. The Pro plan at $20/month raises limits significantly and adds features like custom domains and analytics. Cold starts are nearly instant because V8 isolates boot in milliseconds, unlike traditional serverless containers.

Key Differences

Architecture philosophy. Hetzner gives you a persistent server that runs 24/7. Deno Deploy gives you serverless functions that run on demand at the edge. These are fundamentally different models. A Hetzner VPS is always there, always running, always costing the same. Deno Deploy spins up per request and scales to zero when idle.

Database options. Hetzner lets you run any database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, SQLite, whatever fits in your server. Deno Deploy gives you Deno KV (a key-value store) built-in and lets you connect to external databases. If your app needs a relational database, you'll need a separate managed database service with Deno Deploy, which adds cost and complexity.

Geographic reach. Hetzner has a handful of data center locations (Germany, Finland, US). Deno Deploy runs across 35+ edge locations globally. If your users are worldwide and latency matters, Deno Deploy's edge network is a significant advantage. If your users are concentrated in one region, Hetzner's single server is fine.

Runtime constraints. Hetzner runs anything: Python, Ruby, Go, Java, Rust, whatever. Deno Deploy only runs JavaScript and TypeScript on the Deno runtime. If your stack isn't JS/TS, Deno Deploy isn't an option. If it is, the developer experience is excellent.

Background processing. Hetzner servers handle long-running processes, cron jobs, background workers, and persistent connections naturally. Deno Deploy functions have execution time limits and aren't designed for long-running background tasks. If your app processes videos, runs ML models, or needs persistent WebSocket connections, Hetzner is the way to go.

Cost at different scales. For a single always-on application, Hetzner (EUR 3.79/mo) is cheaper than Deno Deploy Pro ($20/mo). For many small services with variable traffic, Deno Deploy's free tier and usage-based pricing can be cheaper.

When to Choose Hetzner

• You need a persistent server for databases, background jobs, or long-running processes
• You're running a full-stack application with PostgreSQL, Redis, and workers
• Your tech stack isn't JavaScript/TypeScript
• You want predictable monthly costs regardless of traffic
• You need full control over the runtime and infrastructure

When to Choose Deno Deploy

• You're building APIs or edge functions in TypeScript
• Your app doesn't need a relational database (Deno KV is sufficient)
• You want global edge deployment with zero infrastructure management
• Your traffic is spiky and you want to pay per use rather than per month
• You value instant deployments from Git with no build configuration

The Verdict

These two solve very different problems for very different architectures. Hetzner is the better choice for solo developers building full-stack applications with databases, background processing, and persistent state. It costs less, runs any tech stack, and gives you complete control.

Deno Deploy is the better choice when you're building lightweight APIs, serverless functions, or edge-first applications in TypeScript. The global distribution, instant deployments, and zero server management are genuinely compelling for the right use case.

For most solo developers building SaaS products or web applications, Hetzner wins because those apps need databases and background processing. But if you're building an API layer, a webhook handler, or a static site with dynamic edge logic, Deno Deploy is faster to set up and easier to maintain.

Pick based on what you're building, not on which one sounds cooler. A full-stack app on Deno Deploy will fight you. An edge API on a Hetzner VPS is overkill.