Hetzner vs Microsoft Azure: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Hetzner and Microsoft Azure. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Hetzner starts at $4.09/mo, making it $6/mo cheaper than Microsoft Azure ($10/mo). Microsoft Azure offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Hetzner vs Microsoft Azure: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Hetzner | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $4.09/mo | $10/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Hetzner is the more affordable option, starting at $4.09/mo compared to Microsoft Azure's $10/mo. Both are Hosting & Infra tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 23 features compared.
Microsoft Azure stands out with a free plan for getting started.
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 |  Hetzner Try it free |  Microsoft Azure Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Cost-Optimized $4/month $49 / year Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Regular Performance $6/monthCheapest $67 / year Includes
| Standard $10/month $120 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | General Purpose $14/monthCheapest $169 / year Includes
| PremiumPopular $50/month $600 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
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Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Microsoft Azure
Try Microsoft Azure freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Hetzner if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Hetzner starts at $4.09/mo, saving $5.91/mo compared to Microsoft Azure at $10/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Hetzner offers 1 additional features across its plans
- •You prefer Hetzner's usage-based model with its 3-tier structure
Choose Microsoft Azure if:
- •You need a free plan with Basic features, Limited usage—Microsoft Azure offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Microsoft Azure offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Microsoft Azure offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Hetzner requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Microsoft Azure a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Microsoft Azure's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $50/mo 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. Microsoft Azure's 4 tiers 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, Microsoft Azure 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: Hetzner vs Microsoft Azure
Which is cheaper, Hetzner or Microsoft Azure?
How many pricing plans does Hetzner have vs Microsoft Azure?
Does Hetzner or Microsoft Azure offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Hetzner or Microsoft Azure?
What is the most popular Microsoft Azure plan?
Does Hetzner or Microsoft Azure offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Hetzner and Microsoft Azure compare for Hosting & Infra?
Sources
- Hetzner Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Microsoft Azure Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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