Dokku vs Hetzner: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Dokku and Hetzner. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Dokku starts at Custom pricing and Hetzner starts at $4.09/mo. Compare all 4 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Dokku vs Hetzner: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Dokku | Hetzner |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $4.09/mo |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 3 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | open-source | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Dokku and Hetzner are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Hosting & Infra tools. Together they offer 4 pricing plans with 16 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Dokku stands out with a free plan for getting started. Dokku uses open-source pricing while Hetzner uses usage-based pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Hosting & Infra needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Dokku Try it free |  Hetzner Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Cost-Optimized $4/month $49 / year Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | — | Regular Performance $6/monthCheapest $67 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | — | General Purpose $14/monthCheapest $169 / year Includes
|
Swipe to compare plans →
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Dokku if:
- •You need a free plan with Open-source PaaS, Docker-based—Dokku offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You prioritize Dokku's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You want Dokku's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 1 pricing tier
Choose Hetzner if:
- •You need 3 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—Hetzner offers 8 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize Hetzner's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
Dokku offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Hetzner requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Dokku a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Dokku's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Hetzner's tiering starting at $4.09/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Dokku's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Hetzner's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Dokku is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dokku vs Hetzner
How many pricing plans does Dokku have vs Hetzner?
Does Dokku or Hetzner offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Dokku or Hetzner?
What pricing models do Dokku and Hetzner use?
How do Dokku and Hetzner compare for Hosting & Infra?
Sources
- Dokku Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Hetzner Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
Track Price Changes
Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.