HEAD-TO-HEAD · PRICES VERIFIED 2026-08-25
Runloop vs Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner)
Across 3 benchmark profiles, Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner) prices lower in 2 of 3 — by up to ~90% where the gap is widest. Both rows use identical workload inputs and USD list rates from the capture-dated catalog; verify current rates via each vendor's source link.
Monthly Cost Across Realistic Benchmarks
100 hr × 1 vCPU / 2 GiB
Runloop: $15.84 Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner): $153.59
Cheaper: Runloop500 hr × 2 vCPU / 4 GiB
Runloop: $158.40 Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner): $153.59
Cheaper: Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner)2,000 hr × 4 vCPU / 8 GiB
Runloop: $1,267.20 Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner): $153.59
Cheaper: Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner)Rate Card Snapshot
| Vendor | $/vCPU-hr | $/GiB-hr | Billing granularity | Concurrency note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runloop | $0.1080 | $0.0252 | per-second | Plan-based: Basic free + usage; Pro $250/mo + usage; Enterprise custom. |
| Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner) | — | incl. | — | Bounded only by host capacity — the point of self-hosting. |
Fit Notes
- Runloop — Skip unless you specifically want its Devbox/Blueprint workflow — the highest per-hour rates captured here, with add-on fees on top.
- Self-host Firecracker (Hetzner) — Skip if usage is bursty or spiky — the host bills 24/7 whether sandboxes run or not; below roughly half utilization the managed providers win on total cost and you still own the pager.
Run your own workload through the full interactive calculator, or browse all pairs on the comparisons hub.