Hetzner ARM (Ampere) vs DigitalOcean
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Hetzner ARM (Ampere) and DigitalOcean.
Quick Verdict
3.5/5
Hetzner ARM (Ampere)
24 reviews
4.1/5
DigitalOcean
413 reviews
DigitalOcean is rated higher (4.1 vs 3.5). Hetzner's Ampere ARM servers deliver cost-effective compute for workloads that don't require x86 architecture. Starting at €4/month with 2GB RAM and 40GB NVMe storage. Cloud VPS and managed services platform offering droplets, databases, and app hosting. Built for developers who want straightforward pricing and documentation without enterprise complexity.
Hetzner ARM (Ampere) ARM-based VPS with 3x better price-to-performance than x86 alternatives | DigitalOcean Simple, predictable cloud infrastructure for developers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.5 (24 reviews) | 4.1 (413 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | From €4/mo✓ | From €6/mo |
| Best for | Developers and startups running Docker containers, Kubernetes nodes, or Node.js applications who prioritize cost efficiency over architecture flexibility. | Startups and solo developers building web applications, APIs, and small-scale infrastructure who prioritize simplicity and documentation over enterprise features. |
| Specifications (entry plan) | ||
| CPU cores | — | 1 vCPU |
| RAM | — | 1 GB |
| Storage | — | 25 GB |
| Bandwidth | — | 1 TB/mo |
| SLA uptime | — | 99.99% |
| Data-center count | — | 15 |
| €/vCPU/mo | — | €6.00 |
| €/GB RAM/mo | — | €6.00 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU score (sysbench) | — | 2,200 |
| Disk read (fio) | — | 560 MB/s |
| Disk IOPS (4K random) | — | 8,400 |
| Network out | — | 0.5 Gbps |
| Latency (TTFB) | — | 32 ms |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ✓ | |
| DDoS protection | ✓ | |
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ✓ | |
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ✓ | |
| Free tier | ✓ | |
| Data-center locations | ||
| Regions | — | United StatesNetherlandsSingaporeUnited KingdomGermanyCanada+2 |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | hourly billingnvme storageipv6ddos protectionbackups includedsnapshotseu datacentergdpr compliantapi accessarm processors | free tierhourly billingnvme storageipv6ddos protectionbackups includedsnapshotsmanaged options3 compatibleeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenterterraform providerkubernetes supportprivate networkingapi access |
| Visit Hetzner ARM (Ampere) → | Visit DigitalOcean → | |
Hetzner ARM (Ampere)
Pros
- + Deploy instances in under 30 seconds with instant activation
- + Scale resources up or down with hourly billing and no long-term contracts
- + Access full root control via SSH on all instances
- + Leverage included DDoS protection and cloud firewall rules
Cons
- - Limited to ARM64 architecture—incompatible with applications requiring x86/x64
- - Single datacenter location (Frankfurt) offers no geographic redundancy
- - Smaller ecosystem of pre-built images compared to major x86 providers
DigitalOcean
Pros
- + Deploy Droplets in under one minute with streamlined console
- + Access extensive community documentation and tutorials
- + Get transparent, predictable pricing with no surprise fees
- + Manage infrastructure via API, CLI, or web dashboard
Cons
- - Limited geographic presence compared to AWS or Google Cloud
- - Smaller ecosystem of third-party integrations and tools
- - Scaling to enterprise requirements may require migration elsewhere
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