TinyPod vs Hetzner (Raw VPS)
Managed convenience vs DIY bare metal
Hetzner offers affordable raw VPS servers. TinyPod adds a managed layer on top — one-click apps, automatic SSL, backups, and updates — so you don't have to manage everything yourself.
| Feature | TinyPod | Hetzner (Raw VPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $5/server/mo (managed) | From $4.5/mo (unmanaged) |
| Setup time | 60 seconds | Hours to days (manual setup) |
| One-click apps | 200+ | None — DIY |
| SSL | Automatic | Manual (Certbot/Caddy) |
| Backups | Daily, automatic | DIY or €2.88/mo add-on |
| Updates | Automatic | Manual |
| Reverse proxy | Managed Caddy | Manual setup |
| Docker Compose | One-click deploy | Manual CLI |
| Monitoring | Built-in dashboard | Manual (Grafana, etc.) |
| Skills needed | None | Linux, Docker, networking |
Why choose TinyPod
- Zero server management
- 200+ one-click apps
- Automatic SSL, backups, updates
- Docker Compose and GitHub deploy
- No Linux sysadmin skills needed
Why choose Hetzner (Raw VPS)
- Cheaper raw compute ($4.5/mo for CX22)
- Full root access
- Bare metal servers available
- European data centers
- No platform lock-in
The verdict
Choose TinyPod if you want the convenience of managed hosting without sysadmin work. Choose Hetzner if you want maximum control and have the skills to manage servers yourself.