No single host wins on the evidence available. Hetzner fits sites that need higher-tier developer access, a documented 14-day backup retention and no minimum contract term, provided you register the domain separately. STRATO fits buyers who want a German package with domains and SSL bundled in and published monthly prices and setup fees. Neither the official plan data nor the independent material reviewed establishes which host is faster or more reliable under real workloads, so this comparison ranks plans by what they include and cost, not by performance.
What each provider sells
Both companies sell shared hosting, but they package it differently. Hetzner’s current range is named S, M, L and XL and is documented on its official overview page. STRATO’s German storefront lists Starter, Basic, Plus and Pro. Those names do not map onto each other, so compare the limits of the tier you are considering rather than matching by position in the lineup.
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Hetzner S, M, L and XL
Hetzner’s documentation lists the following for its shared web hosting tiers, last changed 2026-07-28 (Hetzner Docs, web hosting overview):
- Storage: 10, 50, 100 and 300 GB across S, M, L and XL.
- PHP memory limits: 192, 256, 384 and 512 MB, rising with each tier.
- Execution-time limits: increase with the tier, per the documentation.
- CMS use: supported on all plans.
- Web shops: documented as limited on L and suitable on XL.
- SSH login: available on L and XL only.
- Other features: Varnish, Redis and Node.js appear in the plan feature list, but availability varies by tier. Check the current feature table before assuming a feature is included at a specific level.
Hetzner’s documentation also lists unlimited mailboxes and FTP users, SFTP and FTPS access, free SSL certificate options, DDoS protection and 24/7 system monitoring. The web hosting servers are placed in Germany. Hetzner states 99.9% network availability; that is a provider specification, not measured uptime.
STRATO Starter, Basic, Plus and Pro
STRATO’s German hosting page (STRATO, webhosting page, accessed 2026-10-07) lists the following:
| Plan | Monthly price | Setup fee | Webspace | SSD databases | Included domains | Included SSL certificates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | €6 | €10 | 50 GB | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Basic | €10 | €10 | 100 GB | 25 | 3 | 3 |
| Plus | €14 | €10 | 150 GB | 50 | 5 | 5 |
| Pro | €24 | €10 | 200 GB | 75 | 10 | 10 |
All four plans carry a one-month minimum contract term. These prices were shown on the page as accessed on 2026-10-07. They are storefront figures that can change, and the page does not make clear whether each price is a standard rate or a limited offer, so confirm both at checkout.
The same page lists unlimited traffic and a backup function, with no retention period stated. It names two high-security data centers in Germany and describes the data center information management system as ISO/IEC 27001 certified. PHP 8.4 is listed, and SFTP access varies by tier, although the tiers that include it are not specified in the page material reviewed.
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| Item | Hetzner (S to XL) | STRATO (Starter to Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | 10 / 50 / 100 / 300 GB | 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 GB |
| Databases | Not stated in the Hetzner overview reviewed | 2 / 25 / 50 / 75 SSD databases |
| Included domains | None; domains are booked separately | 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 |
| Included SSL | Free SSL certificate options (count not stated) | 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 certificates |
| Monthly price | Not stated in the sources reviewed; check the live order page | €6 / €10 / €14 / €24 |
| Setup fee | Not stated in the sources reviewed | €10 on each plan |
| Minimum term | None; immediate notice period | One month |
| Backups | Nightly, kept 14 days in a separate data center; single files or folders restorable through konsoleH | A backup function is listed; retention and restore method not stated |
| SSH / SFTP | SSH on L and XL; SFTP and FTPS on the range | SFTP varies by tier; SSH not stated |
| PHP | 128 to 512 MB memory limits, documented as 192 to 512 MB across tiers | PHP 8.4 listed |
| Data centers | Germany | Two high-security data centers in Germany |
| Uptime figure | 99.9% network availability, stated by the provider | Not stated |
Backups and recovery
Hetzner describes the most specific backup arrangement of the two. Nightly backups are stored for 14 days in a separate data center, and individual files or folders can be restored through konsoleH. STRATO lists a backup function on its page but does not give a retention period or restore method. Treat these as different levels of documentation, not as equal recovery guarantees. If recovery is critical, ask each provider for its written restore procedure before you buy.
Performance and reliability
Neither provider’s published material supports a claim that one is faster or more reliable. Hetzner’s 99.9% figure is a stated network availability specification, and STRATO publishes no uptime number. No independent head-to-head load or uptime test covering these current packages was found, and no hands-on testing was done for this comparison. Judge performance on your own site after a trial period rather than on plan names or storage figures.
What to check at checkout
- Open the plan’s order page for the exact market and term you want, and note the monthly price, any introductory period, and whether the figure is a standard rate or an offer.
- Add the setup fee. STRATO lists €10 on each plan; Hetzner’s setup cost was not stated in the sources reviewed.
- Add the domain registration and renewal cost if you need a domain. Hetzner does not include one, and STRATO includes one to ten depending on the plan.
- Check how VAT is applied for your country before comparing totals.
- Confirm the feature list for the exact tier, especially SSH, SFTP, caching and Node.js, because those change by plan.
Which host fits which site
- Choose Hetzner if you need SSH access, more storage or PHP memory on the higher tiers, documented 14-day backup retention, or no minimum contract term, and you are comfortable registering your domain separately.
- Choose STRATO if you want domains and SSL included in the plan price, want published monthly prices and setup fees on the page, and do not need SSH on the plan you are considering.
- Compare exact limits first if you run a specific WordPress site or online shop. Hetzner documents web-shop suitability as limited on L and suitable on XL, and STRATO does not describe shop suitability; check database counts, memory limits and execution times against what your site uses.
For current details on Hetzner, see the Hetzner announcement of its new web hosting packages (2025-10-09). Its description of flexibility, performance and clear pricing is the provider’s own wording and is not an independent assessment.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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