Hosting

Microsoft Azure vs Hetzner Cloud: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between Microsoft Azure and Hetzner Cloud? Both are popular hosting tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

Microsoft Azure is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Hetzner Cloud does not. Choose Hetzner Cloud when its specific features justify the cost. In our catalog, Hetzner Cloud rates slightly higher (4.6 vs 4.3 out of 5).

Microsoft Azure vs Hetzner Cloud — Side by Side

Microsoft AzureHetzner Cloud
CategoryHostingHosting
PricingFreeFrom $4/mo
Starting priceFree tier availableFrom $4/mo
Free tier
Rating4.34.6
Best forHosting — cloud, paasHosting — cloud, vps

Pros & Cons

  • Enterprise-grade, global scale
  • Best fit for .NET / Microsoft stack
  • Huge service catalog
  • Strong compliance & SLAs
  • Complex pricing and portal
  • Overkill for small projects
  • Steeper learning curve than PaaS hosts
  • Unbeatable price-performance
  • Generous RAM/CPU for the money
  • Hourly billing
  • Now has US regions
  • Raw VPS — you manage the stack
  • No managed PaaS layer
  • Fewer managed services than AWS/Azure
  • Several 2026 price increases

Key Features Compared

Microsoft Azure

  • App Service Free tier
  • Many always-free services
  • $200 30-day trial credit
  • Entra ID / Microsoft 365 integration

Hetzner Cloud

  • Shared/dedicated vCPU VMs
  • Hourly or monthly billing
  • EU + US locations
  • Load balancers, volumes, firewalls

Choose Microsoft Azure if…

  • You want to start free — Microsoft Azure has a free tier and Hetzner Cloud does not.
  • Enterprise-grade, global scale
  • Best fit for .NET / Microsoft stack
  • Huge service catalog
Microsoft Azure review & pricing

Choose Hetzner Cloud if…

  • Unbeatable price-performance
  • Generous RAM/CPU for the money
  • Hourly billing
Hetzner Cloud review & pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Microsoft Azure better than Hetzner Cloud?

Microsoft Azure is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Hetzner Cloud does not. Choose Hetzner Cloud when its specific features justify the cost. In our catalog, Hetzner Cloud rates slightly higher (4.6 vs 4.3 out of 5).

What is the difference between Microsoft Azure and Hetzner Cloud?

Microsoft Azure — Microsoft’s enterprise cloud — App Service, VMs, containers, and a free tier, deeply tied to the Microsoft ecosystem. Hetzner Cloud — The price-performance king — cheap, fast cloud VPS from German/Finnish (and US) data centers. Both are hosting tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

Microsoft Azure vs Hetzner Cloud: which is cheaper?

Microsoft Azure pricing: Free. Hetzner Cloud pricing: From $4/mo. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, Microsoft Azure or Hetzner Cloud?

In our catalog, Microsoft Azure rates 4.3 out of 5 and Hetzner Cloud rates 4.6 out of 5, so Hetzner Cloud has a slight edge on reviews.

See more options in our guide to the best hosting tools for startups.

Still not sure which to pick?

Get a free, AI-powered tech stack — including the best hosting pick for your budget and team — in 60 seconds.

Build my stack free