Hetzner Storage Box vs Proton Drive: Complete Comparison (2026)

Updated: March 12, 20268 min read

Choosing between Hetzner Storage Box and Proton Drive is a common decision for cloud storage buyers in 2026. Hetzner Storage Box has been in the market since 1997, giving it a 25-year head start over Proton Drive (founded 2022). Hetzner Storage Box serves 500K+ users while Proton Drive has 100M+ (Proton ecosystem) users globally. Hetzner Storage Box differentiates with sftp and rsync access and samba/cifs support, while Proton Drive leads with end-to-end encryption and proton ecosystem integration. In this head-to-head comparison, Hetzner Storage Box earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.

📦
Hetzner Storage Box
Cloud Storage
90
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED
Try Hetzner Storage Box Free →
VS
🟣
Proton Drive
Cloud Storage
88
hiltonsoftware.co Score
Try Proton Drive Free →

Quick Comparison

Hetzner Storage Box
Proton Drive
Starting Price
$3.81/mo (1TB)
$3.99/mo
Free Plan
No
Yes
Users
500K+
100M+ (Proton ecosystem)
Founded
1997
2022
Rating
4.5/5
4.4/5
Best For
European businesses and developers wanting cheap, ...
Proton users wanting encrypted cloud storage integ...

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Hetzner Storage BoxProton Drive
92Ease of Use89
91Features94
87Value for Money87
83Customer Support89
84Integrations88
88Scalability84
88Learning Curve85

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Hetzner Storage Box
+Extremely affordable pricing
+European data hosting (GDPR)
-No desktop sync client
-Technical setup required
Proton Drive
+Part of trusted Proton privacy ecosystem
+Swiss data protection laws
-Fewer features than Google Drive
-Desktop app still maturing
AI Verdict

After comparing Hetzner Storage Box and Proton Drive across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Hetzner Storage Box takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus Proton Drive's 88/100. Hetzner Storage Box's key advantages include "extremely affordable pricing" and "european data hosting (gdpr)". That said, Proton Drive has its own strengths — particularly "part of trusted proton privacy ecosystem" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.

On pricing, there's a clear difference: Proton Drive offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring cloud storage solutions. Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB) with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with sftp and rsync access and samba/cifs support.

Bottom line: Choose Hetzner Storage Box if you need european businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with sftp. Go with Proton Drive if your priority is proton users wanting encrypted cloud storage integrated with protonmail. Both are strong cloud storage tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.

CHOOSE HETZNER STORAGE BOX IF:

European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP.

CHOOSE PROTON DRIVE IF:

Proton users wanting encrypted cloud storage integrated with ProtonMail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hetzner Storage Box better than Proton Drive in 2026?
Hetzner Storage Box scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Proton Drive's 88/100. Hetzner Storage Box stands out for "extremely affordable pricing" and is best for European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP. Proton Drive is known for "part of trusted proton privacy ecosystem" and suits Proton users wanting encrypted cloud storage integrated with ProtonMail. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Hetzner Storage Box and Proton Drive?
Proton Drive offers a free plan while Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB), giving Proton Drive a lower barrier to entry. When comparing value, consider that Hetzner Storage Box (founded 1997, 500K+ users) includes features like SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots. Proton Drive (founded 2022, 100M+ (Proton ecosystem) users) offers End-to-end encryption, Proton ecosystem integration, File sharing. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Hetzner Storage Box and Proton Drive?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Hetzner Storage Box excels at SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots, while Proton Drive focuses on End-to-end encryption, Proton ecosystem integration, File sharing. Hetzner Storage Box's main advantage is "extremely affordable pricing", though some users note "no desktop sync client". Proton Drive's strength is "part of trusted proton privacy ecosystem", but "fewer features than google drive" can be a drawback. Both serve the Cloud Storage market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Hetzner Storage Box to Proton Drive?
Switching between Hetzner Storage Box and Proton Drive is possible since both operate in the Cloud Storage space. Before migrating, export your data from Hetzner Storage Box and check Proton Drive's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots (Hetzner Storage Box) vs End-to-end encryption, Proton ecosystem integration, File sharing (Proton Drive). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Hetzner Storage Box or Proton Drive?
Proton Drive's free plan makes it more accessible for small teams on a budget. It's best for Proton users wanting encrypted cloud storage integrated with ProtonMail. Hetzner Storage Box ($3.81/mo (1TB)) is worth considering if you need SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots and have the budget.

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