A low-cost Hetzner EU example costs €5.99 per month before VAT (or $7.09 per month before tax) for a CX23 plus a Primary IPv4. That is the server-and-IP estimate, not a guarantee that the instance can encode every video in real time. Your total also depends on location-specific outbound traffic, taxes, and whether FFmpeg encodes or merely copies an already encoded stream.
What does the monthly Hetzner VPS cost include?
Hetzner’s price adjustment effective 15 June 2026 lists the EU CX23 at €5.49 per month or $6.49 per month, before VAT and excluding a Primary IPv4. Hetzner lists the EU CPX22 at €19.49 or $22.99 per month on the same basis. A Primary IPv4 adds €0.50 or $0.60 per month before VAT; Primary IPv6 is free. The totals below add the IPv4 cost to each server price. Hetzner’s 15 June 2026 price-adjustment notice and Primary IP documentation have the plan and address details.
| EU example | Server per month | Primary IPv4 per month | Estimated total per month, before tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| CX23 | €5.49 or $6.49 | €0.50 or $0.60 | €5.99 or $7.09 |
| CPX22 | €19.49 or $22.99 | €0.50 or $0.60 | €19.99 or $23.59 |
These are monthly-price calculations, not FFmpeg performance recommendations. Prices, region, taxes, and available options can differ; confirm the current order screen before creating a server. Hetzner also lists hourly billing, capped at the monthly amount when a server is kept for a full month. A created server continues to be billed until it is deleted, even if it is powered off. See Hetzner’s cloud billing FAQ.
How much outbound traffic will a continuous stream use?
Only outgoing traffic is billed; incoming and internal traffic are free. Included outbound traffic and overage pricing depend on the selected instance and location, so check those terms for the exact plan and region rather than assuming one allowance applies everywhere. Hetzner explains its server categories and network details in its cloud server overview.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
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- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
For scale, a constant 5 Mbps stream running for 30 days transfers about 1.62 decimal TB; at 12 Mbps, it is about 3.89 decimal TB. These are calculations from bitrate × 2,592,000 seconds ÷ 8, before protocol overhead—not provider-published traffic figures. Compare your expected transfer with the plan’s allowance and location-specific overage terms. YouTube’s current live encoder settings and bitrate guidance can help estimate the stream bitrate.
Will the cheapest plan run your FFmpeg stream?
The server price alone cannot answer that. First determine what FFmpeg will do:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Copy or remux: FFmpeg sends an already encoded video and audio stream without re-encoding. This avoids the video-encoding workload, though the server still needs enough resources and network capacity for the job.
- Encode or transcode: FFmpeg converts or compresses media in real time. The required compute depends on the source and output codecs, resolution, frame rate, encoding settings, and whether the workload can use available hardware acceleration.
Hetzner describes shared- and dedicated-resource cloud server categories, but its cited documentation does not provide FFmpeg benchmarks for these instances. Do not infer that the CX23—or any other plan—will sustain a particular real-time encoding job from its price or vCPU count alone. Test the actual media, codec, resolution, and frame rate on the intended instance before relying on it for an uninterrupted channel.
Choose YouTube ingest settings before estimating the bill
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS and lists RTMP/RTMPS as ingest protocols, with H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 among supported codecs. Its recommended bitrate depends on the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate; for H.264, the published ranges are 5–14 Mbps for 1080p30 and 6–17 Mbps for 1080p60. Those examples are not universal settings: use YouTube’s current table for your exact format. YouTube transcodes live streams into output formats for viewers. Consult the YouTube encoder settings guide when configuring the stream.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
These bitrate ranges help estimate network transfer, but they do not tell you how much CPU FFmpeg needs. Separately verify that your source and FFmpeg output settings are compatible with the chosen YouTube ingest settings.
Other costs and checks before you leave it running
- Taxes: the examples above exclude VAT or other applicable tax. The amount depends on your circumstances and checkout.
- Public IP: the totals include a Primary IPv4. Hetzner says cloud servers do not include public IP addresses; a Primary IP is needed for a public network interface. Primary IPv6 is free, but confirm that your network setup and intended connections can use it.
- Traffic: compare estimated monthly egress with the allowance and overage rate for your selected plan and location.
- Runtime billing: powering off does not stop server charges. Delete a server you no longer need, while accounting for any data you need to retain.
- Workload validation: test sustained playback and, for encoding, sustained real-time output using the actual media. The cited Hetzner material does not establish a specific FFmpeg capacity.
Or let it run in the cloud
If managing a VPS, FFmpeg, traffic allowances, and recovery is more work than you want, StreamNeo keeps an uploaded video or playlist live on YouTube from the cloud. Upload your recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; videos stream as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. It streams uploaded videos to YouTube, not from a camera. See StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
