Selecting a hosting provider is a strategic choice that directly impacts service stability, scaling flexibility, and the overall cost of ownership. Among the most recognized names, Hetzner is well known for its low prices and standardized offerings in Europe, while Unihost emphasizes global reach, flexible configurations, diverse payment options, and true 24/7 human support.
Hetzner provides predictable, catalog-based servers that are often the most affordable for straightforward European workloads. Unihost, however, is designed for scenarios where agility, custom setups, and operational support matter just as much as raw price. In this article, we will examine the key differences between these providers and outline the business cases where Unihost is the stronger option.
Locations and geographic reach
Hetzner.
The company is rooted in Europe, with its main data centers located in Germany and Finland. For businesses with traffic concentrated in the EU, this works well. But outside these regions, coverage is limited, and organizations that require data residency in specific countries or proximity to exchange points may find gaps.
Unihost.
By partnering with multiple facilities worldwide, Unihost provides dozens of cities across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. This allows customers to place workloads closer to their end users, comply with regional regulations, or optimize routes for latency-sensitive services. For e-commerce platforms, fintech firms, gaming, or streaming, this wide footprint ensures better p95/p99 performance and more consistent user experiences globally.
Configurations and flexibility
Hetzner.
The main strength lies in standardization. Hetzner offers a streamlined catalog of pre-set configurations, which makes deployment simple and helps keep prices down. However, customers with unique hardware needs often face limits. Non-standard CPU, RAM, or NVMe combinations, or specialized networking setups, may not be available.
Unihost.
Built for customization, Unihost can supply CPU- or RAM-dense servers, large NVMe arrays, GPU nodes for AI/ML, and network profiles ranging from 10 Gbps to 100 Gbps. Private VLANs, extra IP pools, advanced DDoS protection, and flexible RAID setups are all possible. This adaptability ensures that businesses can align infrastructure precisely with workloads instead of being forced into catalog constraints.
Payments and procurement
Hetzner.
Supports common payment methods: credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers. While this covers basic needs, companies with multiple legal entities or complex international operations may run into slow approval cycles or added administrative steps. Delays in billing can postpone project launches.
Unihost.
Provides broader payment support: invoices for multiple companies, corporate cards, international transfers, and rapid documentation workflows. This flexibility reduces friction, shortens time-to-infrastructure, and eliminates financial bottlenecks. For organizations working on tight deadlines, the ability to pay without bureaucratic delays becomes a key advantage.
Support and SLA
Hetzner.
Data centers are staffed around the clock, but certain services like account management or billing often operate only during business hours. For routine operations, this is acceptable, but urgent issues outside office hours can slow resolution.
Unihost.
Ensures genuine 24/7 support across live chat, phone, Telegram, and email. A unique approach is that tickets remain open until the customer confirms resolution. This practice reduces repeat incidents and builds trust. For companies relying on strict uptime SLAs, Unihost’s model provides greater operational security.
Network and performance
Hetzner.
Offers a strong, stable foundation for European traffic. Network routes are well optimized for intra-EU connectivity, making it a good option for regionally focused services.
Unihost.
Goes further by offering private VLANs, SLA-backed channels, IX interconnect requirements, and out-of-band management. These features allow for tighter control over latency, jitter, and packet loss, which are critical for trading, online gaming, streaming, or real-time analytics. Businesses benefit from stronger guarantees at the performance tail (p95/p99), not just average latency.
Security and compliance
Hetzner.
Covers core practices such as physical security, customer isolation, and backups. For many businesses, this baseline is sufficient.
Unihost.
Helps companies meet stricter policies: country-level segmentation, dedicated VLANs, stronger ACLs, colocation with HSM/TPM, and audit-ready runbooks. For regulated industries like finance or healthcare, these capabilities accelerate audits and reduce compliance risks, saving weeks of preparation time.
Scaling and migrations
Hetzner.
Works well within its catalog. Scaling standard architectures is fast and predictable, as long as you stay within available SKUs. But for businesses needing unusual configurations or complex migrations, the process can be restrictive.
Unihost.
Adds a full service layer for scaling and migrations: pilot environments, DR rehearsals, temporary “bridges,” IP inventory planning, and phased canary traffic cutovers. With clear rollback plans, businesses can shift workloads or expand capacity without downtime. For fast-growing teams, this agility becomes a decisive metric.
Conclusion
- Hetzner — best for businesses with simple needs, tight budgets, and traffic mainly concentrated in Europe.
- Unihost — ideal for companies that require global coverage, flexible configurations (including GPU/AI), diverse payments, true 24/7 support, and zero-downtime migrations.
Final CTA
The choice depends on your business goals. If you only need standard servers in Europe at the lowest cost, Hetzner delivers. But if your company values flexibility, speed, international presence, and proactive human support, Unihost is the clear winner.
Don’t let catalog limits slow down your growth. Order a server from Unihost today — and gain infrastructure that scales seamlessly with your ambitions.