There is no evidence-backed universal winner between Contabo and Hetzner for a 24/7 YouTube channel. Choose by the exact server plan and region: estimate the stream’s total bitrate and monthly outgoing traffic, then check the provider’s traffic terms, network capacity, CPU allocation, public IP cost, and availability terms. Neither provider’s published documentation establishes how reliably a particular VPS will carry your continuous stream.
Start with the stream you need to run
A VPS’s suitability depends on the job it will do. If it encodes video, sustained CPU availability and encoder settings matter as well as bandwidth. If it only relays an already encoded feed, its compute needs are different. Bandwidth alone is not enough to size a server.
- Choose the resolution, frame rate, and codec before comparing plans.
- Use the configured video and audio bitrate—not just the video bitrate—to estimate outgoing traffic.
- Decide whether the VPS will encode or relay. Check resource allocation accordingly.
- Choose a region based on observed network behavior to Google’s ingest, not an assumed regional winner.
YouTube recommends testing the connection and stream before going live, then monitoring stream health. It automatically transcodes incoming live streams into formats for viewers. YouTube also recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the data path into and through Google’s servers. See YouTube’s encoder settings.
YouTube bitrate recommendations to use as a starting point
| Output | AV1 or H.265 | H.264 |
|---|---|---|
| 720p, 30 or 60 fps | 2 Mbps minimum; 6 Mbps recommended | 3 Mbps minimum; 8 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 4 Mbps minimum; 10 Mbps recommended | 5 Mbps minimum; 14 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 4 Mbps minimum; 12 Mbps recommended | 6 Mbps minimum; 17 Mbps recommended |
YouTube’s settings guidance specifies RTMP/RTMPS, H.264/H.265/AV1, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended keyframe interval of 2 seconds, not over 4 seconds. Treat the table as a starting point, then test the intended encoder, bitrate, and destination.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →#1 Best Overall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.
What the providers’ published terms say
Contabo
Contabo says its VPS, VDS, and dedicated servers have no default bandwidth limit, but qualifies that statement with a fair-use policy. It may throttle unusually high or disruptive traffic at its discretion. Its support article lists VPS/VDS port speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps and says customers exceeding fair use will be notified by email, with Contabo working with them on a solution. This is a qualified policy, not an unconditional promise that any continuous stream will avoid throttling. Read Contabo’s bandwidth and traffic limits.
Hetzner
Hetzner’s traffic documentation lists 20 TB per month of outgoing traffic for CX, CPX, and CAX Cloud Servers in EU locations. CCX is listed at 20–60 TB in EU, depending on plan. US and Singapore allowances vary by server type and plan. The document says outgoing traffic is counted and excess cloud traffic is billed in 100 MB blocks. Its displayed last-change date is 2024-05-21, so verify the current allowance and billing terms for the exact product and region before buying. See Hetzner’s traffic limits.
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.
Hetzner distinguishes shared-resource and dedicated-resource cloud servers. Its Cloud Server overview says public IPs are not included by default and describes adding Primary IPs for internet connectivity. The page lists a Primary IPv4 address at €0.50 per month excluding VAT; the page’s displayed creation/update date is 2022-06-28, so confirm current IP pricing at checkout. See Hetzner’s Cloud Server overview.
What the availability terms mean
Hetzner’s Cloud Server service agreement describes commercially reasonable efforts to achieve 99.9% monthly availability for Cloud Servers. Its definition concerns underlying host, hypervisor, and instance activity—not an end-to-end guarantee that viewers can watch a YouTube stream. The agreement lists exclusions, including customer configuration and certain external network interruptions, and defines Cloud Credits as the remedy if the target is missed, subject to its request process and cap. Read the Cloud Server service agreement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
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.
These service terms are not a head-to-head test. Contabo’s bandwidth policy, Hetzner’s traffic allowances, and Hetzner’s availability effort do not establish the performance of a particular continuous stream on either provider.
Estimate monthly outgoing traffic
For a rough estimate, multiply the total configured bitrate by the hours streamed, then convert bits to bytes. At 1 Mbps sustained for 30 days, the result is about 324 GB decimal before overhead. At 10 Mbps for the same period, it is about 3.24 TB before overhead. These are mathematical estimates, not provider-published figures.
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
Use the combined video and audio bitrate, and allow additional headroom for protocol overhead, reconnects, and other traffic. A single stream at an ordinary bitrate may fit on paper within a 20 TB monthly allowance, but that calculation does not resolve fair-use terms, region-specific limits, throughput stability, or how a provider measures traffic.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose between Contabo and Hetzner
- Decide whether you will encode or relay. If the VPS encodes, assess CPU allocation and sustained load; do not infer encoding capacity from bandwidth or a port-rate figure. A relay-only server has different compute needs.
- Set the target output. Select resolution, frame rate, codec, and total bitrate. Start from YouTube’s recommended settings and test your configuration.
- Calculate egress for continuous operation. Compare your estimate with the exact plan’s current outgoing-traffic allowance, fair-use policy, and excess-traffic charges in the intended region.
- Check network capacity separately from the traffic quota. A port-rate ceiling and a monthly allowance are different constraints. Test sustained throughput and stability from the region you plan to use.
- Calculate the full monthly cost. Include the server, public IP, taxes, backups, and any dedicated CPU or other resources needed. Provider plans and prices change; verify the current checkout total rather than relying on an old overview page.
- Run a sustained trial before depending on it. Use the intended encoder, stream destination, and content. Track stream health, disconnects, CPU, memory, throughput, and whether reconnection or restart works as expected.
- Prepare recovery. Keep local copies of stream assets and plan monitoring, restart/reconnect behavior, and a backup path. An SLA does not replace operational monitoring.
Costs and limits that can change the decision
The available provider documentation does not establish a current, like-for-like plan-price comparison. Compare the exact server configurations and regions at purchase, and include charges beyond the headline server price. In particular, verify Hetzner’s current traffic allowance and public IP price because the cited documentation pages show older update dates. For Contabo, account for the fair-use qualification even where a plan has no default traffic cap.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchBest 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.
One continuous stream’s calculated traffic may be modest relative to a listed monthly quota, but quota is only one part of the decision. Port capacity, route stability, CPU under sustained encoding load, and recovery behavior still need to be tested with your own setup.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is an always-on YouTube channel playing uploaded videos rather than a camera feed, StreamNeo is an alternative to managing a VPS: upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay powered on at home. It streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly: $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide. Start the free day.
Quick Recap
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.
