Digital Ocean vs Hetzner: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over DigitalOcean vs. Hetzner, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

• 
  DigitalOcean (Overall grade: 8.3)
  
  
  DigitalOcean provides a broad spectrum of hosting types, particularly excelling in cloud and VPS hosting. It is particularly well-suited for high-traffic websites and WordPress hosting, boasting a 99.99% uptime SLA, global data centers, and robust performance features such as SSD storage and CDN integration. High security standards, including DDoS protection and automated backups, add to its appeal. However, it lacks a website builder and integrated email hosting, which may deter some users. Despite this, its intuitive setup process, robust customer support, and developer-friendly environment make it a preferred choice for both beginners and experienced developers.
  
• 
  Hetzner (Overall grade: 7.9)
  
  
  Hetzner shines with its wide range of feature-rich hosting plans, including shared and dedicated hosting options. Its competitive edge lies in comprehensive eCommerce hosting, versatile email hosting capabilities, and a user-friendly website builder. Hetzner offers strong performance with NVMe SSDs and generous traffic limits, though its uptime guarantee slightly lags behind DigitalOcean at 99.9%. Its admin interface, konsoleH, provides substantial functionality but may be less intuitive for non-technical users. Affordably priced plans with no minimum contract period and integrated email hosting make Hetzner an attractive option for businesses focused on growth and flexibility.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: Offers real-time monitoring and a 99.99% uptime guarantee for high-performance hosting.

DigitalOcean excels with its real-time uptime and latency alerts, enabling users to monitor and react to issues promptly. Offering global monitoring with checks at one-minute intervals and customizable down to one millisecond provides users with precise data. With a 99.99% uptime SLA, multiple data centers, and high-quality infrastructure, it ensures fast, reliable hosting. Additional features like load balancers, automated backups, and stringent security measures further enhance its appeal.

Hetzner Online, with its 99.9% uptime guarantee, offers reliable performance backed by 24/7 monitoring and free DDoS protection. Their data centers in Germany, Finland, and the USA enhance global reach and network redundancy with Juniper backbone technology. While providing excellent service, the 0.09% difference in uptime guarantee compared to DigitalOcean places it just slightly behind in terms of reliability. Both providers offer strong hosting options, but DigitalOcean’s slight edge in uptime and additional features make it the winner.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: Comprehensive uptime and flexibility for all types of websites.

When comparing the general performance of both hosting services, DigitalOcean stands out with its SSD storage, 99.99% uptime SLA, and globally distributed data centers across 14 locations. Its built-in CDN and multiple caching mechanisms ensure efficient performance and faster content delivery. Hetzner, while also leveraging SSD and NVMe for quick read/write speeds, offers lower network availability at 99.9% and fewer data centers, primarily located in Europe and the USA. Both platforms offer effective DDoS protection, but there’s no mention of a CDN for Hetzner.

Website speed

DigitalOcean’s use of SSD storage and its App Platform, along with a CDN, significantly enhances load times and reduces server stress, making it ideal for content-heavy websites. Integrated caching methods and automatic backups contribute to high performance. Hetzner offers NVMe SSD disk space, unlimited traffic, and daily backups, ensuring relatively fast speeds. Both services incorporate SSL certificates for secure connections, but DigitalOcean’s expansive features prove more consistent for site speed optimization.

Scalability

DigitalOcean uses droplets for elastic scaling, allowing users to adjust resources without changing plans manually. The option for load balancing and horizontal scaling means the hosting adapts to traffic needs, maintaining performance during high demand periods. Though costs vary, the transparent pricing starts from $4 per month. Hetzner provides dedicated vCPU options along with daily backups, but specific scalability mechanisms and costs aren’t detailed. Both platforms offer managed servers, with DigitalOcean offering a more intuitive environment for developers through its 1-Click Marketplace Apps and robust API.

🏆 Winner
DigitalOcean: DigitalOcean offers a comprehensive suite of security features, outpacing its competitor in several key areas.

Both DigitalOcean and Hetzner, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

DigitalOcean provides several advanced technical security measures, including DDoS protection, automated backups, and data encryption both at rest and in transit. Hetzner also offers strong DDoS protection and daily backups but lacks some features like automated backups and end-to-end data encryption available with DigitalOcean. Both providers offer SSH access and SSL certificates, but DigitalOcean extends its options with a Web Application Firewall (WAF) and support for multiple PHP versions along with flexible configurations.

Operational security measures:

DigitalOcean emphasizes robust operational security through cloud firewalls, two-factor authentication (2FA), and secure virtual private networking (VPC). These measures align closely with enhanced security protocols to protect user data and applications from unauthorized access. Hetzner also incorporates extensive security measures such as DKIM for email, automated defense mechanisms, and 24/7 system monitoring, though it lacks some of the versatility provided by DigitalOcean’s operational measures like load balancers and managed databases.

Compliance and certifications:

DigitalOcean and Hetzner both comply with GDPR regulations to safeguard personal data. DigitalOcean stands out with PCI compliance and multiple certifications, including SOC 2 and SOC 3 Type II, and ISO/IEC 27001. Hetzner, while also ISO 27001 certified, does not specify PCI compliance and does not mention additional certifications beyond GDPR conformity.

🏆 Winner Hetzner: Comprehensive hosting plans with a versatile range of features suited for various business needs.

DigitalOcean and Hetzner both offer a robust selection of hosting features that cater to different types of users. DigitalOcean stands out with its emphasis on security, providing extensive measures such as DDoS protection, automatic backups, firewalls, and two-factor authentication. This provider also delivers various hosting types including VPS, managed Kubernetes, and managed WordPress hosting, which can captivate users looking for a tailored hosting experience. However, it lacks a website builder, which may push novice users towards more user-friendly options that simplify website creation. On the other hand, Hetzner includes a website builder, making it an attractive choice for users seeking easy and complex customizations. It also supports popular CMS platforms like WordPress and Joomla, enabling seamless website setup without extra technical know-how.

Hetzner offers unique selling points such as a free domain with hosting plans, extensive email hosting capabilities, and a graphic client admin interface (konsoleH), which simplifies management tasks. Both providers support SSH and SFTP access, but Hetzner goes a step further with interactive server login via SSH and a variety of backup options. Although DigitalOcean excels in providing high performance with its 14 globally distributed data centers and SSD storage, Hetzner’s flexibility with unlimited traffic, generous email services, and the option for additional domain and disk space make it a strong competitor. Hetzner’s competitive pricing and no minimum contract period can considerably affect a customer’s decision when it comes to budget and long-term commitments.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both DigitalOcean and Hetzner offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

DigitalOcean does not offer integrated email hosting services, focusing instead on its core hosting features and performance optimization. In contrast, Hetzner provides extensive email hosting capabilities, including support for SMTP (TLS/SSL secured), webmail, email synchronization (EAS, CalDAV, CardDAV, iCal), autoresponders, and substantial mailbox and forwarding options. For users who require robust email services integrated with their hosting, Hetzner is the more suitable choice. Both offer DDoS protection and SSL certificates, ensuring secure email transactions.

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: Offers a wide array of hosting plans with a strong balance of features and pricing.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

When comparing the pricing plans of DigitalOcean and Hetzner, DigitalOcean provides cloud options starting at $4/month, whereas Hetzner’s plans are slightly higher but come with a lot of flexibility. DigitalOcean’s Secure Web Hosting and VPS Hosting cater to different needs, ranging from basic hosting to resource-intensive applications. Hetzner’s plans shine with their varied options based on vCPU, RAM, and disk space starting from €4.51/month. Both providers offer solid WordPress and content hosting options but DigitalOcean edges out with additional managed service options through Cloudways.

Enterprise plans

DigitalOcean’s Secure Web Hosting and VPS Hosting options provide enterprise-level features like DDoS protection, automatic backups, and enhanced security measures. Plans start at $42/month for dedicated CPU droplets. Hetzner’s vServer MC60 offers advanced configurations with 8 vCores and 32 GB RAM for €64.26/month, ensuring robust performance and extensive storage. Both providers are suitable for enterprises, but the decision depends on specific needs such as storage, processing power, and available management features.

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: DigitalOcean offers seamless setup processes and a user-friendly platform, making it the preferred choice for website hosting.

DigitalOcean provides a variety of user-friendly admin panels suitable for different needs. Their 1-Click Apps and the App Platform offer simplified options for both technical and non-technical users, enabling quick setup of popular applications and static websites without worrying about underlying infrastructure. For more advanced users, DigitalOcean’s Droplets offer extensive customization and flexibility, allowing them to scale resources as needed. Cloudways, an additional service by DigitalOcean, provides a managed hosting experience with an intuitive interface, streamlining the maintenance and management of WordPress and other applications.

Hetzner’s admin panel, konsoleH, is designed to handle various tasks like domain registration, email setup, and account management. While it is comprehensive in functionality, it may be less intuitive for non-technical users compared to DigitalOcean’s offerings. The setup process for a managed server requires some initial technical intervention, although Hetzner’s team installs and brings the server online within one workday. Overall, konsoleH is powerful but falls short of DigitalOcean’s simpler and more accessible options.

Both DigitalOcean and Hetzner offer robust migration tools to assist in transferring websites. DigitalOcean’s migration tools are integrated into their platform, facilitating the migration of applications and databases with relative ease. Cloudways also provides managed migration services, including WordPress site migration, free of charge. Hetzner provides detailed guides and tools for migrating domains, websites, mails, and databases via the konsoleH interface. While these tools are effective, they may not be as streamlined or user-friendly as DigitalOcean’s offerings.

DigitalOcean’s help center is extensive, featuring comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and community support. Users have access to a wealth of resources designed to help them get the most out of their hosting services. Customer support is available through a ticketing system, with Cloudways offering 24/7/365 support, including live chat. Hetzner also offers extensive documentation and guides, along with 24/7 support via telephone and email. Users can contribute to Hetzner’s community knowledge base and earn credit. While both providers offer ample support, DigitalOcean’s combination of resources and community engagement stands out.

🏆 Winner DigitalOcean: A versatile hosting provider with comprehensive user management features.

DigitalOcean offers a simplified and flexible approach for managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility. Users are categorized into three roles—Owner, Biller, and Member—each with distinct access levels. Owners have full access and control over all shared resources, billing details, and team settings, while Billers are limited to billing information. Members can access shared resources but lack permissions for billing and team settings. DigitalOcean’s role definitions and the ability to invite unlimited members ensure it remains scalable and adaptable to different team needs. Hetzner, in contrast, allows for the creation of user groups and assigning of administrators, offering decent flexibility but lacks the straightforward, predefined user role structure seen in DigitalOcean.

DigitalOcean’s user interface is intuitive, featuring an “Invite Members” button that simplifies adding new users. Team members can access a membership table, displaying each person’s role and invitation status. Owners get extra visibility into members’ sign-in methods. On Hetzner, the process is marginally more involved, requiring navigation through user settings to create user groups and assign roles manually. Hetzner’s interface includes additional functionalities like custom login pages and detailed user activity tracking, catering well to administrators but potentially adding complexity for regular users.

In terms of access control, DigitalOcean’s well-defined roles provide clear boundaries, ensuring users only access what their roles permit. This clarity helps manage a growing number of users efficiently, without administrative overhead. Hetzner also excels with efficient access control, offering customizable storage quotas and detailed maintenance rules for accounts. However, managing these features might become tedious as the user base expands. DigitalOcean’s straightforward approach typically results in quicker and easier user management for growing teams.

DigitalOcean User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner: DigitalOcean: A comprehensive platform with excellent support options and user-friendly features.

DigitalOcean offers a wide array of customer support options, including email support for non-urgent questions, 24/7 online ticketing with an SLA, live chat for premium users, a helpful community, extensive documentation, and various tutorials. These resources make it easy for users to find the help they need. Their interface is user-friendly, and new users can take advantage of a 60-day trial with $200 in credit. However, there have been some complaints about difficulties in reaching support for refunds or cancellations.

Hetzner Online, on the other hand, provides support through email, a ticketing system, phone support (available only on weekdays), and extensive documentation. They also support multiple languages. However, Hetzner lacks live chat, and some users have had negative experiences with account management and billing disputes. No free trial or money-back guarantee further diminishes its appeal compared to DigitalOcean.

User feedback

DigitalOcean consistently garners praise for its simplicity, user-friendly interface, and transparent pricing, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced developers. Users appreciate the straightforward setup, reliable performance, and excellent customer support, highlighting features like one-click deployment and robust documentation. However, there are some minor criticisms, including a limited variety of server configurations compared to larger providers and occasional slow customer support response times. Despite these drawbacks, DigitalOcean is highly regarded for its cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and overall reliability, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses and startups.

Users generally find the hosting provider to be cost-effective with robust performance capabilities, able to handle demanding tasks reliably. Many reviewers appreciate the competitive pricing, ease of use, and the fast, reliable infrastructure. While customer support is often praised for its availability and helpfulness, some users believe it could still see improvements. The platform’s dashboard and additional features could benefit from enhancements, but overall, users are satisfied with the value and quality of service provided.

FAQ