Hetzner vs AWS RDS
Hetzner
Optimal Baseline TierCLOUD_132+CLOUD_21 plan (Optimal for baseline workload)
AWS RDS
Optimal Baseline Tierdb.t4g.small plan (Optimal for baseline workload)
A direct comparison between Hetzner and AWS RDS reveals distinct pricing strategies. Hetzner's entry tier demands $7.09. In contrast, AWS RDS sets its baseline at $23.36. Looking strictly at the entry barrier, Hetzner provides a more cost-effective starting point, undercutting AWS RDS's base plan by $16.27 per month.
Variable costs often dictate the true monthly bill. To accommodate scaling on Hetzner, additional storage is billed at $0.06 per GB, while excess egress traffic is billed at $1.19 per GB. Alternatively, AWS RDS structures this differently, where additional storage is billed at $0.12 per GB, while excess egress traffic is billed at $0.09 per GB.
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Is Hetzner more cost-effective than AWS RDS?
The starting price for Hetzner is $7.09 per month, whereas AWS RDS starts at $23.36. The true cost-effectiveness depends heavily on your specific resource requirements beyond these base tiers.
How do resource limits and scaling fees compare between Hetzner and AWS RDS?
When scaling, overages dictate the final bill. For Hetzner, extra storage is billed at $0.06 and network egress is billed at $1.19. In contrast, for AWS RDS, storage is billed at $0.12 and egress is billed at $0.09.
Should I choose Hetzner or AWS RDS for my infrastructure?
Choose Hetzner if your workload strictly aligns with their base limits and penalty structure. Choose AWS RDS if their starting footprint offers a more predictable financial trajectory for your specific application requirements.
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Pricing metrics are updated automatically from official provider data. Last synced:
August 30, 2026