What is the difference between Fly.io and Hetzner?

Fly.io is best for Developers wanting to run apps close to users globally, while Hetzner is best for European developers wanting affordable, powerful servers. Fly.io starts at Free and Hetzner starts at €3.29/mo.

Is Fly.io or Hetzner cheaper?

Fly.io starts at Free with a free tier. Hetzner starts at €3.29/mo.

Is there a free alternative to Hetzner?

Yes, Fly.io offers a free tier (Generous free tier).

Fly.io vs Hetzner

Fly.io is platform for running full-stack apps and databases close to users with automatic scaling, while Hetzner is german cloud provider with high-performance servers at unbeatable prices. The biggest difference up front: Fly.io is free, while Hetzner starts at €3.29/mo. Fly.io is built for developers wanting to run apps close to users globally, whereas Hetzner targets european developers wanting affordable, powerful servers.

At a glance

	Fly.io	Hetzner
Best for	Developers wanting to run apps close to users globally	European developers wanting affordable, powerful servers
Starting price	Free	€3.29/mo
Free tier	✓	—
Open source	—	—
Free tier available	✓	—
Open source	—	—
Block Storage	—	✓
Cloud VMs	—	✓
Dedicated Servers	—	✓
Edge Computing	✓	—
GPU Support	✓	—
Global Deploy	✓	—
Load Balancers	—	✓
Machines API	✓	—

Fly.io

Strengths

Includes Edge Computing as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Includes Global Deploy as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Generous free tier — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Includes gpu support alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed

Weaknesses

Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
Developer-oriented tooling may not suit non-technical team members
Costs can spike unexpectedly during traffic surges if limits aren't configured
Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up

Try Fly.io → Full review

Hetzner

Strengths

Includes Dedicated Servers as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Includes Cloud VMs as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Affordable at €3.29/mo — one of the lower-priced options in the cloud hosting category
Established product with 29+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem

Weaknesses

No free plan — you need to pay €3.29/mo from day one to use it
Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
Costs can spike unexpectedly during traffic surges if limits aren't configured
Mobile experience lags behind the desktop version in features and polish

Try Hetzner → Full review

The bottom line

Pricing: Fly.io is completely free (Generous free tier), which makes it the obvious pick if budget is the top concern. Hetzner starts at €3.29/mo. That cost buys you a more polished or feature-rich experience, so it comes down to whether the extras justify the spend.

Feature gaps: Fly.io offers Edge Computing, GPU Support and Global Deploy that Hetzner lacks. Hetzner brings Block Storage, Cloud VMs and Dedicated Servers that Fly.io does not have.

Team fit: Fly.io is geared toward small teams teams, while Hetzner is aimed at any size teams. Pick the one that matches where your team is today and where it is headed — migrating tools later is always painful.

Where each tool shines: Fly.io's biggest strengths are: includes edge computing as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows. includes global deploy as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows. Hetzner's biggest strengths are: includes dedicated servers as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows. includes cloud vms as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows.

Watch out for: With Fly.io, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Hetzner, the main complaint is that no free plan — you need to pay €3.29/mo from day one to use it.

Choose Fly.io if...

Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting to run apps close to users globally
Budget is a hard constraint — Fly.io is free, Hetzner is not
You specifically need Edge Computing and GPU Support
You care about includes global deploy as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Your team size fits the small teams profile Fly.io is designed for

Choose Hetzner if...

You need a tool built for european developers wanting affordable, powerful servers
You specifically need Block Storage and Cloud VMs
You care about includes cloud vms as a core feature, purpose-built for cloud hosting workflows
Your team size fits the any size profile Hetzner is designed for