When starting a side project or launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), finding the right cloud provider at an affordable price is essential. In this post, we’ll explore popular cloud providers known for their reliability and cost-effectiveness. We won’t be covering free tiers, as many of us have likely used them up already, and those free periods tend to run out quickly if you’re not actively working on your project.
Instead, we’ll focus on providers that offer Virtual Private Servers (VPS) with at least 4GB of RAM, which is often enough to support most MVPs. We won’t prioritize server location here, as our primary focus is validating a business concept. Let’s dive into pricing comparisons of some of the top cloud providers, including AWS (Amazon Web Services), Google Cloud, Azure, DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Hetzner.
Comparing Prices for VPS with 4GB of RAM
We’ll start with the pioneers in the cloud industry, AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, then explore other budget-friendly options.
AWS (Amazon Web Services)
AWS is one of the most established players in the cloud industry, known for its vast services and scalability. Here’s the pricing for a t4g.medium instance, which offers 4GB of RAM:
| Instance Name | On-Demand Hourly Rate | vCPU | Memory | Storage | Network Performance | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t4g.medium | $0.0336 | 2 | 4 GiB | EBS Only | Up to 5 Gigabit | $24.19 |
Cost: Approx. $24.19 per month.
Google Cloud
Google Cloud is known for its performance and machine learning integration. Here’s the pricing for a C2D High-CPU machine in the Oregon region (us-west1):
| Machine Type | Hourly Rate | vCPU | Memory (GB) | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c2d-highcpu-2 | $0.075 | 2 | 4 GB | $54.00 |
Cost: Approx. $54.00 per month.
Azure (Microsoft Azure)
Azure is another top player with strong enterprise features and hybrid cloud options. Here’s the pricing for the B2pls instance:
| Instance Name | vCPU | Memory (GB) | Storage (GB) | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2pls | 2 | 4 GiB | 80 GiB | $24.52 |
Cost: Approx. $24.52 per month.
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean is popular among developers and startups for its simplicity. Here’s the pricing for a Droplet with 4GB of RAM:
| vCPU | Memory (GB) | Storage (GB) | Bandwidth (TB) | Hourly Rate | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 GiB | 80 GiB | 4 TB | $0.0357 | $24.00 |
Cost: Approx. $24.00 per month.
Vultr
Vultr is another great option for affordable cloud services. Here’s the pricing for a 4GB instance:
| vCPU | Memory (GB) | Bandwidth (TB) | Storage (GB) | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 GiB | 3 TB | 80 GB | $20.00 |
Cost: Approx. $20.00 per month.
Hetzner
Finally, let’s talk about Hetzner, a lesser-known but highly cost-effective cloud provider that’s been gaining attention, especially after being mentioned by Ruby on Rails creator, David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH). You can watch DHH talk about Hetzner during the Rails 8 Keynote.
Here’s the pricing for their 4GB instance:
| vCPU | Memory (GB) | Storage (GB) | Bandwidth (TB) | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 GiB | 40 GiB | 20 TB | $3.29 |
Cost: Approx. $3.29 per month.
Yes, that’s right! $3.29 per month for a 4GB memory VPS, making Hetzner by far the most affordable option on the market. In fact, it’s almost 7 times cheaper than AWS and 6 times cheaper than Vultr for a similar setup. This pricing truly positions Hetzner as the most cost-effective solution out there.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind before committing to Hetzner. One major point is their government ID verification requirement. While it might seem like a hassle, this step is in place to ensure trustworthiness and security within their platform, which benefits all users.
If you’d like to know more about why this verification process is important and how it works, check out this Reddit thread where users discuss their experiences with Hetzner’s verification.
Conclusion
If you’re still small and looking to just get started with an affordable option, Hetzner offers the best pricing. I’m using Hetzner myself, and this blog is hosted on a Hetzner VPS, which only costs me $3.29 per month. Since I don’t have many users yet, it’s perfect for my needs. So, if you’re just starting like me, consider using Hetzner—it’s an incredible value for money.
If you know of something better out there, feel free to reach out to me via my social media accounts. I would love to try it! Thanks!