You are sizing a high-traffic platform — streaming, large file downloads, heavily used API. Two names come up: Hetzner in Germany, aggressive on hardware price, and Leaseweb in the Netherlands, reputed for network and bandwidth.
The question is not resolved by comparing two Intel processors on a datasheet. A high-traffic dedicated server saturates first on network port, outbound bandwidth or DDoS mitigation — not core count. Comparing two Xeons without gigabytes-out per month figures is comparing two vehicles without checking the fuel tank.
Hetzner: cheap hardware, egress bill to watch
Hetzner offers dedicated root servers with excellent CPU/euro ratio, datacenters in Germany and Finland. High traffic works if outbound traffic is controlled and a CDN absorbs bulk end-user volume.
Support stays limited — operations must be autonomous, in English or German. Basic anti-DDoS protection suffices for many cases, but verify limits before a high-traffic launch or media coverage.
| Criterion | Hetzner | Leaseweb |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware price | Very low | Higher |
| Bandwidth | Read commit | Often generous |
| Network / DDoS | Basic | Network-oriented |
| Massive outbound | Watch bill | Historical asset |
Leaseweb: transit and hardware
Leaseweb combines bare metal and generous bandwidth, high network SLA, global presence. Price is higher — you pay for packet path as much as processor. For streaming origin or file platform, this network investment avoids the Sunday when a saturated port blocks all production.
Concrete scenarios
Streaming origin or large files. Leaseweb if outbound traffic and peering are central to your business model. Hetzner if hardware budget matters and a CDN carries volume on the user side.
API with moderate traffic, DDoS spikes. Compare anti-DDoS SLA and mitigation capacity — not server price alone. A powerful processor does not protect against a network attack.
French platform with limited French support. Both require English or German on support side — plan a contractor or internal team able to talk to the host during an incident.
Size on network port, not Intel badge
Before signing, model outbound traffic at p95 over three months of production or realistic forecast. An under-sized bandwidth server caps before the processor — and the egress bill can exceed hardware cost itself.
The climax: network port before Intel badge
Decide and move forward without blind spots
Model outbound traffic at p95 over three months of production or realistic forecast, including predictable spikes. Run a load test measuring outbound traffic, not just inbound HTTP requests. Read Hetzner firewall, Leaseweb monitoring and the compare tool on an identical scenario before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Hetzner or Leaseweb for streaming origin?
Leaseweb suits if outbound traffic and peering are at the heart of your model — video origin, large file distribution. Hetzner takes the lead if hardware budget matters and a CDN in front absorbs user-side volume, limiting the egress bill.
Does Hetzner handle DDoS?
Hetzner includes basic protection — verify limits and behaviour under volumetric attack before a high-traffic launch. Leaseweb is historically network high-availability oriented; compare SLA and mitigation capacity on an identical scenario.
French-speaking support?
Limited on both sides: German and English at Hetzner, English at Leaseweb. Plan an autonomous internal ops team or contractor able to open and follow a ticket in English or German during a night incident.
France location?
Hetzner operates in Germany and Finland. Leaseweb in Netherlands, Germany and UK. For a French audience, measure latency from your real users and place a CDN in front of static assets — datacenter alone does not guarantee perceived experience.
High traffic: the right dedicated server is sized on network port — not the Intel badge.