Hetzner rents excellent machines - in Germany and Finland only, without a cPanel license from them (they stopped selling new ones in January 2025), and with 2026 prices well above their old reputation. Primcast deploys in ~30 minutes across the US and Europe from $5/mo - and your radio or video stream runs on the same network as your sites.
Hetzner is engineering-first and Europe-only; Primcast is business-first on both sides of the Atlantic. Three differences you'll feel in the first week.
Each Primcast configuration is paired with the nearest Hetzner machine in its class - and where Hetzner simply doesn't sell one, we tell you straight instead of forcing a match.
No comparable server offered
Hetzner's smallest dedicated server is a 64 GB Ryzen - AX41-1-LTD at $67.10/mo (limited stock) or AX42-1 at $117.10/mo + $59 setup. No low-power entry tier exists.
Their smallest current Intel box; excl. VAT & primary IPv4.
Their newer Xeon Gold platform - at $667/mo plus a $334 setup fee; excl. VAT & primary IPv4.
Hetzner models, specs and USD list prices from Hetzner's official June 2026 price list; prices exclude VAT and the primary IPv4 address, and limited offerings are subject to stock. Our prices are configurator totals for custom builds, which add a one-time $29 setup fee; instant servers in stock have none, apart from $13 on the $5 entry server.
Where the platforms really differ: geography, waiting time, what's in the box and who you can call.
| Primcast | Hetzner | |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | New York, Miami, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Bucharest | Dedicated: Germany & Finland only (US is cloud-only) |
| Deployment time | ~30 minutes; custom builds within 24h | Usually minutes on standard models; a 10G uplink makes it a custom build at 2-3+ business days |
| Setup fees | $13 on the $5 entry server, none on other instant servers; $29 once on custom builds | $59-$949 across the AX and EX lines, after two 2026 increases and a June cut |
| cPanel | $49.50/mo add-on (Premier, 100 domains) - or the free ISPConfig panel | Not sold to new customers since January 2025 - bring and install your own license |
| Streaming platform | Radio & live video on the same network - AutoDJ included, up to 5,000 listeners at once and 1.5 million listener hours a month | Not offered - separate provider needed |
| 24/7 human support | Phone & live chat, included for everyone | Unmanaged; ticket-first, data-center technicians by phone |
| Migration help | Free on every plan: planning, rebuilds and the cutover call - how it works | Self-service |
Hetzner hands you excellent hardware in Europe and wishes you luck. Primcast hands you a running platform on either side of the Atlantic: a server that's live in minutes, radio and video streaming on the same network with no per-viewer fees, and real people on the phone 24/7. From $5/mo, with free help moving off Hetzner - planning, rebuilds and the cutover call for your sites, workloads and streams.
