Introduction
When it comes to running workloads in the cloud, most people immediately think of the major hyperscalers like AWS and Azure. However, for many use cases, there are more suitable, better-performing, and significantly more cost-effective alternatives available.
In this comprehensive analysis, we'll conduct a detailed comparison between Azure, AWS, and Hetzner Cloud using real-world benchmarks and cost calculations. Our evaluation covers three critical areas: CPU performance under various workloads, disk I/O operations including both sequential and random access patterns, and total cost comparison.
Through extensive testing and performance analysis, we'll determine how these three major cloud providers stack up against each other for common workloads. All tests were conducted on comparable 4 vCPU / 8 GB RAM configurations to ensure fair comparisons across platforms.
VM overview
Virtual machine specifications
Comparing 4 vCPU / 8 GB configurations across providers
| Provider | VM Type | vCPUs | RAM | Storage Type | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hetzner
|
CPX31 | 4 | 8 GB | Local NVMe SSD | ~$15 |
|
AWS
|
c5.xlarge | 4 | 8 GB | EBS (GP3) | ~$125 |
|
Azure
|
Standard F4s_v2 | 4 | 8 GB | Premium SSD | ~$123 |
1. CPU performance testing
To evaluate CPU performance across all three cloud providers, we conducted comprehensive benchmarking using Geekbench 5, a widely-recognized cross-platform processor benchmark. Our testing methodology included:
- Fresh VM instances: Each test was performed on newly provisioned virtual machines to eliminate any performance inconsistencies
- Multiple test runs: We conducted 5 separate benchmark runs per provider and averaged the results
- Identical test conditions: All tests were performed during similar time periods to account for potential resource contention
- Both single and multi-core tests: We measured both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance to provide comprehensive insights
The results demonstrate significant performance differences between providers, particularly in multi-core workloads where Hetzner's dedicated CPU cores show their advantage over the shared vCPU models used by AWS and Azure.
Geekbench multi-core performance
Hetzner delivers 76% better performance than AWS and 101% better than Azure in multi-core benchmarks.
2. Disk I/O performance analysis
We evaluated disk performance using fio (Flexible I/O Tester) benchmarks to measure storage capabilities across all three cloud providers. Our comprehensive testing approach included:
- Random 4K operations: Testing both read and write IOPS with queue depth of 32, simulating database workloads
- Sequential throughput: Large block sequential reads and writes to measure file transfer performance
- Mixed workload patterns: 70% read / 30% write ratios to simulate real-world application usage
- Multiple test iterations: Each test was run 10 times with results averaged to ensure consistency
The storage architecture differences become immediately apparent in our results. Hetzner's local NVMe SSD storage significantly outperforms the network-attached storage solutions used by AWS EBS and Azure Premium SSDs.
Disk IOPS (4K random reads)
IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second). Hetzner delivers 11x more IOPS than AWS and 4x more than Azure.
Sequential read/write throughput
Sequential throughput for large file operations. Hetzner provides 8.8x faster throughput than AWS and 5.5x faster than Azure.
3. Cost comparison
We compared the monthly costs for identical VM configurations across all three cloud providers. This analysis focuses on the total monthly expenses for running a 4 vCPU / 8 GB VM including all necessary components.
The results reveal significant differences in pricing strategies between providers, with Hetzner's transparent, all-inclusive pricing model standing out dramatically.
Monthly cost comparison
Conclusion
For 4 vCPU / 8 GB workloads, Hetzner Cloud offers better performance and dramatically lower cost than AWS or Azure. Our comprehensive testing reveals that Hetzner consistently outperforms both major cloud providers in CPU and disk performance.
The cost advantages are particularly striking: Hetzner's pricing represents an 87% cost reduction compared to AWS and Azure, translating to savings of over $1,300 per year per server. This exceptional value proposition stems from Hetzner's transparent pricing model without hidden fees or complex billing structures that plague the major cloud providers.
While AWS and Azure may be the right choice for global scaling, extensive managed services, or specific enterprise integrations, Hetzner shines when you want raw performance at a fair, predictable price point.
If you're running typical infrastructure workloads such as web hosting, databases, or containerized applications, Hetzner Cloud represents one of the best value propositions available in today's cloud market.