Already running a server at Hetzner, netcup, IONOS or STRATO and want it managed without giving up root access? Linux server management takes over existing servers at the current provider.
For hosters, "managed server" means a package of server and operation: the hoster installs the system, applies updates, backs up data and monitors the server. The offers differ widely in price, scope and above all in how much control remains with the customer.
This comparison lists the managed server offers of German hosters by price, root access and scope, each row with source and date. It is followed by the distinction from having your own server managed by a service provider.
Contents
- Comparison table: managed servers from German hosters
- The providers in detail
- What a hoster managed server does not cover
- Managed server or management of your own server
- Choosing in four questions
- Our approach at WZ-IT
- Status and methodology
Comparison table: managed servers from German hosters
| Provider and product | Price per month | Setup, term | Root access | Scope according to provider | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hetzner Managed Server MC30 to MA200 | 34.00 to 199.00 € net (40.46 to 236.81 € incl. VAT) | one-time one monthly price; no minimum term | no | Debian with LAMP, konsoleH, OS updates, daily backup (7 or 14 days), 24/7 monitoring with SMS to technicians | hetzner.com |
| netcup Managed Private Server G12.5 | from 75.28 € net (86.57 € incl. VAT) with 12 months; up to 201.97 € net (each with 12 months) | no setup fee; 1, 12 or 24 months | no ("without root or sudo access") | dedicated cores, security updates, monitoring and maintenance by netcup | netcup.com |
| centron Managed Server | from 53.11 € net (1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM, 10 GB SSD); example 64.85 € net with 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD, 100 GB backup | setup not included in the monthly price (amount not stated); monthly billing | not stated ("not required") | Full Managing at 50.00 € per VM included, updates and patches, 24/7 monitoring, managed backup; Linux and Windows | centron.de |
| Profihost Managed FlexServer | 49.00 to 349.00 € plus service and support from 49.00 €; VAT not stated on the page | not stated | not stated | standard service module with monitoring, maintenance and updates, add-on modules for backup and website monitoring | profihost.com |
| hostserver Managed Linux Server M, L, XL | 495.00 / 695.00 / 829.00 € net | on request, term not stated | not stated | 24/7 managed, basic monitoring, security updates, firewall service, backup; server included | hostserver.de |
| IONOS | no managed server plan in the server overview | - | - | help centre lists the section "Managed Dedicated Server" | ionos.de |
| STRATO | no managed server plan in the server overview | - | - | help centre carries articles on "STRATO Managed Server" | strato.de |
All information according to the provider pages on 26 October 2026. Net values for Hetzner are calculated back from the gross price with 19% VAT. The Hetzner plans in detail:
| Hetzner plan | CPU | RAM | Storage | Net per month | Incl. VAT per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC30 (vServer) | 4 vCores | 16 GB | 200 GB NVMe | 34.00 € | 40.46 € |
| MC60 (vServer) | 8 vCores | 32 GB | 400 GB NVMe | 54.00 € | 64.26 € |
| MA80 | AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | 64 GB | 2 × 512 GB NVMe | 79.00 € | 94.01 € |
| MA130 | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | 128 GB | 2 × 960 GB NVMe | 139.00 € | 165.41 € |
| MA200 | AMD EPYC 7502P | 256 GB | 2 × 1.92 TB NVMe | 199.00 € | 236.81 € |
The mapping of CPU, RAM and storage follows the column order of the product table on hetzner.com.
The providers in detail
Hetzner offers the cheapest entry point and the most detailed description of scope. The servers run Debian, Apache, MariaDB or PostgreSQL and PHP, managed through konsoleH. The FAQ states that customers have no root access to the server and work with regular Linux users instead. The escalation concept sends notices from 80% disk usage and urgent messages from 90%. How the product differs from management of your own Hetzner servers is covered in Hetzner managed server vs. server management.
netcup offers Managed Private Servers with dedicated cores in Nuremberg, Vienna and Manassas (USA). According to the FAQ, support checks in advance whether special software or configurations can be implemented. Longer terms lower the price: the page shows 13% off for 12 months and 26% off for 24 months.
centron separates resources and operation: Premium Full Managing costs 50.00 euros per VM per month, and resources are added at list prices. Backups follow the grandfather-father-son scheme with 7 or 28 days of retention; backup storage costs 0.03687 euros per GB per month. Besides Linux, centron also operates Windows Server.
Profihost also separates server and service: the FlexServer price applies plus a service and support module from 49.00 euros. The page focuses on online shops.
hostserver bundles server and 24/7 management in three packages between 495 and 829 euros net.
IONOS and STRATO did not list a managed server plan in their server overviews on the collection date. Customers running a VPS, cloud or dedicated server there are responsible for operation themselves or hire a service provider.
What a hoster managed server does not cover
Hoster managed servers are tailored to standard web applications. The limits follow from the model:
- No root access: software that needs root privileges or its own system services can only be used if the hoster offers it.
- Fixed software stack: the hoster decides on distribution and versions; customisations are only possible after review by the hoster.
- Tied to the hoster: operation and infrastructure come from one source. Switching means moving.
- Existing servers are left out: an existing root, cloud or dedicated server does not become a managed server. That requires a new contract and a migration.
Managed server or management of your own server
| Managed server at the hoster | Management of your own server | |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | server and operation in one package at the hoster | server at the hoster of your choice, operation by the service provider |
| Root access | no at Hetzner and netcup | stays with the customer |
| Software | the hoster's catalogue | free, e.g. Docker, own services, databases |
| Existing servers | move to the managed product required | takeover at the current location |
| Changing provider | move including change of operator | operation stays, only infrastructure changes |
| Price | one amount including the server | server costs plus management |
| Suited for | websites, shops and mail on a standard stack | individual stacks, multiple servers, compliance requirements |
For a standard website without special requirements, a hoster managed server is a simple solution. As soon as your own software, containers, multiple servers or a specific provider are needed, managing your own server fits better. The responsibility matrix in detail is in Managed vs unmanaged Linux servers.
Choosing in four questions
- Standard stack or your own software? Standard PHP applications fit hoster managed servers; containers and your own services need root access.
- Do servers already exist? Existing servers can be managed without moving.
- How important is the choice of provider? If you want to decide on location, hoster or cloud yourself, separate infrastructure and operation.
- Who responds at night? Hetzner, centron, Profihost and hostserver describe round-the-clock monitoring. What matters is who acts within what time and at what cost. This question belongs before any contract signature.
Our approach at WZ-IT
Linux server management takes over existing servers at the current provider. Root access, provider account and server contract stay with the customer. The first server costs 149.90 euros net per month, servers 2 to 5 cost 119.90 euros each, servers 6 to 10 cost 99.90 euros each and servers 11 to 25 cost 89.90 euros each, net per month; from server 26 pricing is individual. Included are updates in maintenance windows, 24/7 monitoring, backup verification with up to 250 GB of backup storage per server and operational documentation. The Essential service level is included; faster response is available with Business for 99.90 euros, Priority for 199.90 euros, Production for 349.90 euros and Critical for 549.90 euros net per month. Round-the-clock response to P1 incidents applies from Production. The hoster's server costs are added.
Dedicated pages describe the specifics of each hoster: Hetzner, netcup, IONOS and STRATO. We manage servers remotely, regardless of location.
Further guides
- Managed vs unmanaged Linux servers: responsibility for updates, backups and incidents
- What does server management cost?: market prices and cost drivers
- Outsourcing server administration: the four options compared
- Hetzner managed server vs. server management: the decision using Hetzner as an example
Status and methodology
- Collected: 26 October 2026, from the providers' product pages.
- Selection: German companies with a product named "managed server", plus IONOS and STRATO as large German hosters. Providers whose pages could not be read without JavaScript are not included.
- Prices: as stated on the provider page. Hetzner and netcup show gross prices; the net value for Hetzner is calculated back at 19%, netcup shows both values. centron and hostserver state net prices, Profihost does not state VAT.
- Root access: "no" only where the provider page says so explicitly; otherwise "not stated".
- Not included: managed WordPress, managed Kubernetes, web hosting plans and response times, because the product pages do not state them consistently.
The tables may be reused with attribution and a link to this guide.
