How long does an AWS-to-Hetzner migration take?

After assessing the existing environment, we agree the timeline with you based on data volume, dependencies, testing scope and available cutover windows.

Is migration without downtime possible?

Outage windows depend on data, replication and the application. Parallel setup, rehearsal, write boundary and DNS changes are planned in advance; downtime cannot be promised across projects.

What happens to my AWS managed services (RDS, Lambda, etc.)?

We map the AWS services actually in use to a target architecture individually. Possible components include managed PostgreSQL or MySQL instances, containers for suitable Lambda workloads and S3-compatible object storage. Not every proprietary feature has a one-to-one replacement.

How much can I really save?

Savings depend on workload profile, managed services, storage, traffic and the operating model. We therefore compare the current AWS invoice with a sized Hetzner target architecture. The separately documented EVA case achieved 81%; we do not use that result as a blanket forecast for other projects.

Is Hetzner Cloud secure and privacy-focused?

Hetzner offers selectable locations in Germany and Finland, a data processing agreement and documented technical measures. Whether the specific system meets privacy requirements also depends on its configuration, subprocessors, integrations and actual data flows.

What if something goes wrong?

The existing AWS infrastructure remains available until the validated cutover and throughout the agreed rollback window. Cutover, fallback criteria and decommissioning are defined in advance.

How does the switch from AWS RDS to a self-hosted database work?

We perform a complete dump & restore or replication-based migration. PostgreSQL and MySQL can run in parallel during migration to minimize downtime.

How do we replace AWS Lambda when migrating to Hetzner?

Suitable Lambda functions can run as containerized services, for example via Coolify, Nomad or systemd. Event model, scaling, error handling and costs are reassessed for the specific workload.

What happens to my S3 buckets?

We transfer buckets to Hetzner Object Storage. Check S3 API compatibility, permissions, versioning, lifecycle rules and any special features in use first. Set new endpoints and access keys on the target.

How are EC2 instances mapped to Hetzner servers?

We assess CPU, RAM and I/O requirements and map EC2 workloads to Hetzner CPX/CAX or dedicated servers. Size resources from workload profiles; equal vCPU counts do not establish equal performance.

What about IAM, roles, and access rules?

AWS IAM governs access to AWS services and is retired with those services. Target access uses separate Hetzner projects with their own API tokens, SSH keys, firewalls, VPN (WireGuard or NetBird) and optional OpenID Connect single sign-on through Keycloak. Applications use access keys for Hetzner Object Storage.

Are there networking limitations compared to AWS VPC?

Hetzner offers Private Networks, Floating IPs, and Firewalls. Things like NAT Gateways are simpler but functionally comparable. We design a secure zero-trust network model.

What is the alternative to AWS Elastic Beanstalk or App Runner?

We migrate suitable PaaS workloads to Coolify hosting or Docker. Build, deployment, variables, health checks and TLS are mapped on the target; costs and operational ownership are assessed per project. See PaaS migration.

Where are Hetzner servers located?

For customer projects, options include Falkenstein and Nuremberg in Germany and Helsinki in Finland. Other cloud locations exist in the USA and Singapore. Hetzner locations and network zones are considered when choosing the target.

Do you migrate environments for customers in Austria and Switzerland?

Yes. WZ-IT handles migrations for customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; prices are in euros, excluding VAT.

How is AWS EKS migrated to Hetzner?

Kubernetes workloads move to self-managed clusters using k3s, RKE2 or Talos. Map manifests, ingress, storage classes, identities and secrets to the target. The distribution comparison and Kubernetes operations explain the target choice.

What replaces the AWS load balancer (ALB, NLB)?

Depending on requirements, a Hetzner Cloud load balancer or a self-managed reverse proxy. Validate health checks, TLS and session behaviour on the target. Caddy, Traefik and nginx compared discusses proxy selection.

What replaces AWS Auto Scaling?

AWS auto scaling groups are not transferred unchanged. For Kubernetes, the Cluster Autoscaler Hetzner provider can manage nodes via the API. Nomad or scripts are alternatives to assess; predictable loads may only need fixed sizing.

How much does outbound traffic cost compared to AWS?

At EU locations, the reference table includes at least 20 TB outbound traffic per Hetzner Cloud server (pricing dated 15 June 2026). AWS bills by volume and lists a shared monthly free allowance. See AWS egress compared and AWS pricing.

AWS to Hetzner Migration
Compare costs, plan the cutover

We migrate your AWS infrastructure to Hetzner - from EC2, RDS, and S3 to target architecture, data transfer, testing, and cutover.

Compare current costs
EU locations selectable
privacy-focused
Planned cutover and rollback

Free initial consultation Case Study: 81% saved

Reviews

IT Beratung Service Consulting Soforthilfe

Companies worldwide trust WZ-IT

Read client reviews

Cost Comparison

AWS vs. Hetzner: Building a Reliable Cost Comparison

Cost factors for a web application

Assessment: assess

Bandwidth / Egress

Compare the current invoice and traffic profile

Assessment: assess

Managed Services

Assess managed services and operating effort

Transparent Pricing

Assess usage charges and operating effort together

Component	AWS	Hetzner	Assessment
Compute reference (4 vCPU, 8 GB)	c7i.xlarge: USD 0.2037/hour, about USD 149/month	€35.49*	after workload review
Storage	EBS gp3: USD 0.0952/GB/month; 160 GB about USD 15	160 GB local included; Volume €0.044/GB**	including backup design
Outbound traffic	Internet: USD 0.09/GB up to 10 TB, then USD 0.085 / 0.07 / 0.05 per GB	at least 20 TB included***	by location and plan
Total / month	current spend	target architecture	project-specific

AWS list prices in USD, on-demand, Linux, Frankfurt region (eu-central-1), 730 hours per month, excluding discounts, Savings Plans and taxes; as of October 2026. c7i.xlarge has 4 vCPU and 8 GiB RAM; CPU type, storage and operations differ, and vCPU and RAM alone do not establish performance equivalence. EC2 pricing
Data transfer from Frankfurt to the internet, tiered prices per GB in USD (up to 10 TB, up to 50 TB, up to 150 TB, above); free allowances and discounts are not included. As of October 2026. Data transfer
*CPX32: €35.49 net/month, excluding IPv4 and VAT. Price effective 15 June 2026. Official cloud pricing
**Volumes are billed separately and are not included in server backups or snapshots. Volume details
***For cloud servers at EU locations; verify plan and location before quoting. Traffic details
Note on pricing and savings: Prices, configurations, and savings estimates are based on publicly available data from the respective providers at the time of publication. Actual savings depend on workload, configuration, and current provider pricing. Please verify current terms independently with the respective provider.

Our Process

How Your AWS-to-Hetzner Migration Works

Six steps from inventory to agreed operations

01
Assessment & Analysis
We analyze your AWS infrastructure: EC2 instances, databases, storage, network and dependencies.
02
Architecture Design
Mapping your AWS services to Hetzner equivalents with optimized configuration.
03
Parallel Setup
Building Hetzner infrastructure parallel to AWS for seamless migration.
04
Data Synchronization
Transfer of databases, files and configurations with minimal downtime.
05
Traffic Cutover
DNS switching, final synchronization and gradual traffic migration.
06
Optimization & Support
Performance tuning, monitoring setup and ongoing support.

AWS Services and their Hetzner Equivalents

EC2 → Cloud Server (CPX/CAX)
EBS → Volumes (NVMe SSD)
S3 → Object Storage (S3-compatible)
RDS → Managed DB / Self-hosted
Route 53 → Hetzner DNS / Cloudflare
CloudWatch → Prometheus + Grafana
Lambda → Docker Container
VPC → Private Networks

Case Study

AWS migration at WZ-IT: process and case evidence

EVA Real Estate: From AWS to Hetzner. EVA Real Estate in Dubai migrated its CRM and ERP infrastructure from AWS to Hetzner and saves $12,600 per year. These figures come from a single project and are not a forecast.

Cost reduction: 81%
per month: $1,300 → $250
ROI: 4 months

AWS Migration Experience
We plan inventory, test migration, cutover, validation and rollback for your AWS environment.
Controlled Cutover
Validation and an agreed rollback window reduce cutover risk.
Full-Service Support
Migration, managed hosting, monitoring and support from a single source - even after migration.
Proxmox Expertise
We use Proxmox for professional virtualization with HA cluster and live migration.
Privacy & contracts
German and Finnish locations are selectable. DPA, data flows and technical measures are documented for the target system.
Transparent Pricing
Defined scope and a transparent proposal following the initial assessment.

EVA Real Estate: From AWS to Hetzner

Read full case study

Pricing

What does AWS to Hetzner migration cost? Analysis, migration, operations

The initial consultation is free of charge. The cloud exit assessment, migration and operations follow the prices in the service catalogue.

Step 2 · Cloud migrationfrom €1,990 excl. VATTarget architecture, test run, data transfer and cutover with a defined scope. The amount depends on workloads and data.

Configure migration

The three steps build on each other without requiring each other. The analysis does not commit you to the migration, nor the migration to operations. All prices are net and exclude statutory VAT. The offers are addressed to businesses.

Before and after

Step 1

Cloud Exit Assessment

Cost picture, target architecture, migration path and a fixed-price quote for the migration.

from €1,490 excl. VATBefore migration: cloud exit consulting →Step 3

Managed Server

Monitoring, updates, backups and response for the migrated systems at the agreed service level.

from €149.90 excl. VAT / server and monthView Managed Server →

AWS Migration FAQ

Answers to the most important questions

Other providers, open-source tools and guides

AWS services and open-source target components compared

Cloud Migrations from Other Providers to Hetzner

Open Source Tools for Your Migration

Migrations with measurable business impact

Cloud exit, Proxmox and sovereign operations with concrete results instead of architecture slides.

WZ-IT moved our studio infrastructure from decentralised individual devices to a central platform: every site is securely connected via VPN, new devices are onboarded automatically and an entire site is provisioned from a template, without manual steps on location. What impressed me most is the breadth and depth of their knowledge: Timo and Robin are not a typical IT provider who sets up a server and leaves. The two of them think their way into highly complex infrastructure and software topics, work through every requirement we put in front of them, and build networking, provisioning and operations so that everything fits together in the end. WZ-IT is an excellent partner for complex software, network and architecture projects.

Steve KirchnerManaging Director, nextGYM GmbH

View project

International

Built in Germany's Ruhr Valley. Running worldwide.

WZ-IT designs, develops and operates infrastructure and software for clients in Germany and internationally. We deliver projects remotely and continue supporting them in ongoing operations after go-live.

Selected projects

Read client reviews

AWS to Hetzner

Assess a AWS-to-Hetzner migration

Let us assess your AWS environment and show what a move to Hetzner brings.

Straight with Timo and Robin - no sales team, no pitch
A professional assessment of your situation
Concrete next steps for infrastructure, software or AI

The conversation is free and non-binding.

WZ-IT's advice on our Azure migration was technically sound and completely non-binding right from the intro call - we took away a great deal.

Jakob ÖschlbergerInno7 GmbH

Email[email protected]Phone+49 2922 875068

WZ-IT's advice on our Azure migration was technically sound and completely non-binding right from the intro call - we took away a great deal.

Jakob ÖschlbergerInno7 GmbH

AWS to Hetzner Migration
Compare costs, plan the cutover