Short answer: Hetzner Cloud can offer substantially more included outbound transfer for a continuous YouTube feed in some EU regions, while AWS Lightsail is easier to price from its monthly bundles but its lower tiers may not carry a high-bitrate stream for a full month. Choose by region, monthly traffic, and whether the VPS encodes or merely relays the video—not by VM sticker price alone.
Start with the stream’s monthly traffic
A continuous stream’s bandwidth bill depends chiefly on its sustained bitrate and the provider’s regional transfer allowance. For a 30-day month, one Mbps sustained is about 0.324 TB of data (decimal), before protocol overhead, other traffic, or a second feed.
| Example YouTube H.264 setting | Approximate traffic for 30 days | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 at 8 Mbps | 2.59 TB | YouTube’s recommended bitrate; calculated from bitrate and 30 days |
| 1080p30 at 14 Mbps | 4.54 TB | YouTube’s recommended bitrate; calculated from bitrate and 30 days |
YouTube’s recommendations are not mandatory minimums, and the actual bitrate depends on the encoder and content. Use the bitrate you will actually send in the calculation, then leave room for overhead and any additional traffic. The calculation is bitrate × 2,592,000 seconds ÷ 8. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists 8 Mbps for H.264 720p30 and 14 Mbps for H.264 1080p30.
How the two providers compare
| Factor | Hetzner Cloud | AWS Lightsail |
|---|---|---|
| Included transfer | Listed EU CX, CPX, and CAX cloud servers include 20 TB. Listed US CX/CPX plans include 1–5 TB, and Singapore CX/CPX plans include 0.5–5 TB, depending on plan. | Listed public-IPv4 Linux bundles start at 1 TB and go through 2, 3, and 4 TB in the entry price steps. Larger bundles include more. Some regions receive half the standard allowance. |
| Entry bundle examples | Not stated here; confirm the exact current plan, region, and tariff. | $5/month with 1 TB; $7/month with 2 TB; $12/month with 3 TB; $24/month with 4 TB, according to AWS’s listed bundle documentation. |
| Public IPv4 | Not automatically included with a Cloud server. Hetzner’s overview lists a Primary IPv4 at €0.50/month excluding VAT; IPv6 Primary IPs are not charged in that documentation. | Included in the listed public-IPv4 bundle prices. |
| Transfer accounting | Allowance varies by listed plan and location; check the exact tariff. | Both inbound and outbound data count toward the instance allowance, but AWS bills only excess outbound transfer. |
Sources: Hetzner traffic table, Hetzner Cloud server overview, AWS Lightsail bundles, and AWS transfer allowance FAQ. Published quotas and prices can change; verify the selected region and plan in the provider’s current pricing interface before committing.
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 match#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.
Which one fits a continuous feed?
Hetzner Cloud
For a deployment in an EU location covered by the listed 20 TB allowance, the traffic budget is much larger than the approximately 4.54 TB a single 14 Mbps feed would use in a 30-day month. That EU figure should not be generalized to other regions: the listed US and Singapore allowances vary by plan and can be below the traffic needed for 1080p30. Include the separate IPv4 charge if your setup requires a public IPv4 address.
AWS Lightsail
Lightsail presents a simpler bundle ladder with a public IPv4 included in the listed prices. But a 14 Mbps stream’s calculated 4.54 TB/month exceeds the 4 TB allowance of the cited $24 bundle, even before overhead. Lower bundles are also below that amount. AWS counts inbound as well as outbound data toward the allowance, while charging for excess outbound transfer; check the regional exception because some locations receive half the standard allowance.
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.
Decision rule
- Estimate the feed’s sustained bitrate and monthly transfer first. Add overhead, any backup feed, and other instance traffic.
- Compare allowances for the exact location, not just the provider name: Hetzner varies sharply by region, and AWS has regions with half the standard Lightsail allowance.
- Compare complete recurring cost: instance or bundle, public IPv4 if billed separately, excess transfer, snapshots or backups, and any other infrastructure you actually use.
- Choose CPU and memory based on the workload. Encoding video can be compute-intensive; relaying an already encoded feed is a different workload. The published figures here do not establish a suitable instance size for an unspecified encoder.
Configure the YouTube sender and recovery plan
Provider transfer capacity does not configure or guarantee a healthy YouTube broadcast. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (no more than four seconds), and RTMPS. It also recommends leaving 20% bandwidth headroom. These are YouTube’s operational recommendations, not provider performance guarantees.
- Choose the stream settings. Set resolution and frame rate, then select the codec and bitrate appropriate to the content. Use YouTube’s encoder settings guidance for the current recommendations.
- Use a secure ingest connection. Select RTMPS where the encoder supports it, and enter the YouTube stream key carefully. Treat the key as a password; do not publish it in scripts, logs, or screenshots.
- Leave network headroom. YouTube recommends 20% above the stream’s required bandwidth. Check sustained outbound capacity, not only a short speed test.
- Test and monitor. Start a test broadcast, inspect YouTube’s stream health, and monitor the encoder process and network path. YouTube warns that a connectivity disruption can break a stream; build an alert and restart/reconnect procedure.
- Make recovery explicit. Configure the service manager or supervisor to restart a failed encoder, and confirm that the encoder reconnects to YouTube after an interruption. A server availability target alone does not implement this recovery.
Availability is not end-to-end stream uptime
Hetzner’s Cloud and vServer Service Agreement states a commercially reasonable 99.9% monthly availability target for each Cloud Server, subject to its contract definition and exclusions. That term concerns the server under the agreement; it is not a promise that an encoder, network route, YouTube ingest endpoint, stream key, or complete broadcast will stay uninterrupted. Review the Hetzner service agreement and make a monitoring and reconnect plan for the parts you operate. YouTube’s streaming tips likewise advise using a reliable network and testing and monitoring stream health.
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.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep uploaded video playing on a YouTube channel rather than manage a VPS and encoder, StreamNeo is a purpose-built alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot rather than quality tiers; it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. Start the free day with StreamNeo.
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.
