Software Alternatives & Startups

Hetzner VS CloudLinux

Compare Hetzner VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Hetzner

Server hosting provider.

CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Hetzner seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 37 times since March 2021.

social mentions
37 vs 0
VPS popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Hetzner
CloudLinux
Website hetzner.cloud cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Company Startup from Germany —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Hetzner 6 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Cost-Effective
    Hetzner offers competitive pricing, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.
  • High Performance
    Hetzner provides high-performance servers and network infrastructure, ensuring reliable and fast service.
  • Scalability
    Hetzner's cloud platform allows for easy scaling of resources to match changing demand and workloads.
  • Data Center Locations
    Hetzner has multiple data center locations in Europe, which is beneficial for users needing geographical redundancy and low latency.
  • Security
    Hetzner offers strong security features, including DDoS protection and secure data centers, to protect user data.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize their server configurations to meet specific needs, providing flexibility in resource allocation.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Global Reach
    Hetzner's data centers are primarily located in Europe, which may not be ideal for businesses with a global audience.
  • Support Options
    While Hetzner offers support, some users may find the level of customer support and response times to be lacking compared to other providers.
  • Complex Interface
    The Hetzner Cloud interface might be complex for some users, especially those who are less experienced with cloud services.
  • No Managed Services
    Hetzner primarily offers unmanaged servers, which means users need to handle server management and maintenance themselves.
  • Additional Costs for Features
    Some advanced features and services may incur additional costs, potentially making it less affordable depending on the required features.
  • No Free Tier
    Hetzner does not offer a free tier for its services, so users cannot test their platform without incurring costs.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Hetzner
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Hetzner is considered a good choice for those looking for scalable and affordable cloud solutions. Despite its lack of data centers outside of Europe, it offers a compelling combination of reliability, performance, and price.

Why this product is good

  • Hetzner is widely regarded as a reliable and cost-effective provider of cloud and dedicated server services. It's known for its affordable pricing, high-performance infrastructure, and robust security features. The services are well-suited for businesses and developers seeking scalable solutions. Furthermore, Hetzner's customer support is often praised for its responsiveness and technical expertise.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses that need affordable cloud hosting solutions.
  • Developers and startups looking for scalable and flexible server infrastructure.
  • Tech-savvy users who can navigate configuration and deployment without extensive hand-holding.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Hetzner 6 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Quick wordpress deployment to Hetzner Cloud

More videos

  • - Hetzner Review after 1 Day with FOI Auto Tuner
  • - Hetzner Server Review How to Pick the Best Dedicated VPS for FOI Auto Tuner SIM and LIVE Bots
  • - Why you NEED to use Hetzner Cloud in 2023! (Best and Cheapest Development/Production Cloud)
  • - Make $800/mo With Managed Hetzner Hosting. Here's how
  • - Over 200,000 Servers in One Place! Visiting Hetzner in Falkenstein (Germany)

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Hetzner
CloudLinux
100% 100%
VPS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
97% 97%
3% 3%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Hetzner 2.0 · 1 review
CloudLinux no reviews yet

We have no reviews of CloudLinux yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Hetzner 37 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Hetzner and CloudLinux

When comparing Hetzner and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.