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There is no universal home-cost figure: it depends on your device’s measured power draw and your electricity tariff. For a dated European Hetzner example, a CPX12 plus Primary IPv4 comes to €15.99 per month before VAT. That excludes any traffic overage and other optional services. In the US, Hetzner lists the CPX12 at $20.49 per month before IPv4 and VAT; the cited pricing information does not establish a US IPv4 total.
What the Hetzner cloud example costs
Hetzner’s price-adjustment table, effective for new orders and cloud-instance rescaling from 15 June 2026, lists the CPX12 at €15.49 per month in Germany and Finland, excluding IPv4 and VAT. The same table lists it at $20.49 per month in the US, also excluding IPv4 and VAT. These are provider prices, not all-in totals. Hetzner’s price-adjustment information
Hetzner’s cloud overview lists Primary IPv4 at €0.50 per month excluding VAT. Adding that to the European CPX12 price gives €15.99 per month before VAT. The overview page is dated 2022, so treat the IPv4 figure as subject to change and verify it at checkout. Hetzner Cloud overview
| Example | Published monthly price | What is included or excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Germany/Finland CPX12 | €15.49 | Excludes IPv4 and VAT. Effective from 15 June 2026 for new orders and rescaling. |
| Germany/Finland CPX12 plus Primary IPv4 | €15.99 | Before VAT; adds the €0.50/month IPv4 figure listed on Hetzner’s 2022 overview, which should be reconfirmed. |
| US CPX12 | $20.49 | Excludes IPv4 and VAT. The cited price information does not establish the additional US IPv4 charge. |
The European CPX12 plan presentation lists 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 40 GB disk and 20 TB of included traffic. Hetzner describes its Cost-Optimized plans as suited to low-to-medium CPU use, but the cited material does not verify that this plan or any particular playback method is suitable for your specific stream. Hetzner Cloud plans
#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.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 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.
How to calculate the home electricity cost
Use the actual average power draw of the device that will run the playlist, in watts, and your local electricity price per kilowatt-hour (kWh):
Monthly electricity cost = (average watts ÷ 1,000) × monthly hours × tariff per kWh.
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.
For a 30-day estimate, use 720 hours. For example, if your measured setup averages W watts and your tariff is T per kWh, the estimate is (W ÷ 1,000) × 720 × T. Replace both variables with your own measurement and bill rate; this article does not assume a generic device draw or electricity tariff.
Decide whether you want the incremental cost of this use or the whole device’s electricity cost. If a computer would already be running for other reasons, charging the full draw to the playlist overstates its incremental cost. If the playlist is why the device must stay on, the full measured draw is the more relevant comparison. Include any other equipment only if it needs to run for this setup.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rank #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.
Compare the totals on equal terms
- Use the same time period. Compare a month of home electricity with a month of cloud allocation, and account for the cloud region and currency relevant to you.
- Include cloud add-ons and tax. The European example adds Primary IPv4; the quoted server and IP prices exclude VAT. Do not treat the US CPX12 price as an IPv4-inclusive total.
- Estimate traffic from the actual design. Hetzner’s billing documentation says outgoing traffic is charged and describes overage billing. The CPX12 European plan presentation shows a 20 TB allowance, but the cited sources do not establish how much outbound data a particular YouTube playback arrangement would use or whether it would exceed that allowance. Hetzner Cloud Billing FAQ
- Account for allocation, not just power state. Hetzner says servers are billed until deleted, regardless of whether they are powered on. Deleting a server early switches billing to hourly charges subject to the monthly cap; simply shutting it down does not stop the charge. Hetzner Cloud Billing FAQ
- Compare operational assumptions. Home equipment and a cloud server differ in who maintains the running system and what reliability you expect. The cited pricing sources do not determine the setup effort or reliability of either particular arrangement.
What this comparison does—and does not—settle
The €15.99 European figure is a provider-price example for a CPX12 plus the listed Primary IPv4 charge, not a universal cloud bill. VAT, traffic overage and other optional services may change what you pay. The home figure is individual because both device draw and electricity tariff vary.
Cost alone also cannot establish how to run a playlist on a server, whether a chosen method will operate unattended, or which YouTube rules apply. Nor do the cited sources establish whether stream data in a proposed setup would travel from YouTube directly to viewers or pass through the cloud server and consume its outbound traffic. Check the technical routing and applicable YouTube requirements for your implementation before relying on an egress estimate.
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
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is simply to keep an uploaded playlist live on YouTube, StreamNeo is an alternative to maintaining a home device or setting up a server: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. The cloud keeps it running without a computer or home connection staying on. It is YouTube-only and plays uploaded video, not a live camera feed.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card (one free day per account). Monthly service costs $9.99 per month.
See StreamNeo for details, 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.
