Hetzner Cloud VPS 2026 pricing After Two Hikes: CX23 Limits, Availability Rules and Cheaper Alternatives
Two 2026 price hikes raised Hetzner Cloud VPS rates 30-175 percent. CX23 now costs €5.49 monthly but faces stock limits in EU locations.
Hetzner Cloud VPS 2026 pricing increased twice this year. The April adjustment lifted most plans 30-37 percent. The June round added further rises for Cost-Optimized and other lines.
Hetzner Cloud VPS 2026 pricing After Two Adjustments
April 1 changes applied to both new and existing servers. June 15 changes took effect at 8 AM CEST for new orders and rescales. Cost-Optimized CX and CAX plans rose 30-38 percent. Regular Performance CPX and General Purpose CCX plans increased 113-175 percent in several configurations.
CX23 lists at €5.49 per month excluding VAT in Germany and Finland locations. This covers 2 shared vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB NVMe storage and 20 TB outbound traffic. An IPv4 address adds roughly €0.50. Hourly billing applies with a monthly cap. Servers run only on older hardware pools that Hetzner keeps limited by design.
Existing servers ordered before June 15 retain prior rates if left untouched. Any rescale, restore or project change moves the server to current pricing. Pre-April servers already absorbed the first round. US and Singapore locations carry higher base rates than EU sites.
CX23 Availability Rules and Stock Limits
CX and CAX plans frequently show as unavailable. Multiple checks from September through October 2026 found order buttons disabled across CX23 to CX53 and CAX11 to CAX41. A capacity notice has remained active since late June. Stock can return without notice, so users monitor the console on the day they plan to order.
Current alternatives within Hetzner include CPX22 at €19.49-19.99 and CCX13 at €42.99. CAX11 sits near €5.99-6.49. All EU plans include 20 TB outbound traffic with overage at €1 per TB. These higher lines remain orderable while CX stock stays restricted.
Practical steps include checking the cost-optimized page first each morning. Existing CX23 instances continue running at the price paid at creation. Rescaling an old server immediately applies the new rate, so many users keep instances static until migration becomes necessary.
Cheaper Alternatives and Direct Comparison
OVHcloud VPS-1 offers 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM and 40 GB NVMe for €3.81-5.04 monthly on term. Traffic uses fair-use metering across more global locations. Contabo Cloud VPS options often provide 4 vCPU and 8 GB RAM for €5-6.50 equivalent on longer terms.
Hetzner keeps an edge in hourly billing, API tooling and consistent 20 TB EU traffic allowance when stock appears. Alternatives undercut on entry price and immediate availability but may impose stricter traffic caps or longer contract requirements.
| Provider | Plan | Monthly price (excl. VAT) | Traffic | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetzner | CX23 | €5.49 | 20 TB | Limited stock |
| OVHcloud | VPS-1 | €3.81-5.04 | Fair use | Usually available |
| Contabo | Cloud VPS | €5-6.50 | Higher specs | Usually available |
Users should verify current stock and exact rates on each provider site before ordering. Prices and availability continue to shift through late 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Hetzner Cloud VPS prices in 2026?
Two rounds raised rates. April increased most plans 30-37 percent. June added 30-38 percent to CX lines and over 100 percent to several CPX and CCX configurations.
Why is CX23 often unavailable?
Hetzner limits stock on Cost-Optimized plans by design. Checks through October 2026 showed order buttons disabled for all CX and CAX sizes with a capacity notice active since June.
Do existing Hetzner servers keep old prices?
Servers created before June 15 8 AM CEST keep prior rates if untouched. Any rescale or restore applies current pricing immediately.
How does CX23 compare to OVHcloud VPS-1?
CX23 lists at €5.49 with 20 TB traffic but limited stock. OVHcloud VPS-1 starts near €3.81-5.04 with fair-use traffic and wider location choices.
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