Snapshots Remain Free of Charge for centron Customers

centron customers can breathe easy: snapshots will continue to be available free of charge — ensuring maximum data reliability without additional costs.

In the hosting and cloud services sector, recent changes at competitors caused concern. Hetzner, one of Germany’s major hosting providers, announced adjustments to its snapshot billing model. As of May 31, 2024, existing customers will have to pay for snapshot storage that was previously free for years — a significant shift for many users.

Hetzner’s New Billing Model

Hetzner plans to switch its billing for cloud products from monthly to hourly rates to achieve more precise cost allocation. However, this also means that long-time users lose their previously free 1,800 GB monthly snapshot allowance. The company emphasized that only a small customer segment is affected and that those customers were notified directly by email.

Source: Golem.de

Comparison with Other Cloud Providers

Hetzner is not alone in charging for snapshots. Global providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure have long followed a pay-per-use model. AWS stores snapshots incrementally to minimize storage costs, while Azure calculates pricing based on unique data blocks and pages. Both approaches focus on efficiency — but they add recurring expenses for users.

Source: NetApp

Good News for centron Customers

At centron, snapshots remain permanently free of charge. We consider this functionality essential for system reliability and customer satisfaction. Free snapshots help ensure fast data restoration in the event of corruption, infection, or accidental deletion — without hidden costs. This policy underscores our commitment to transparency, stability, and security for all customers.

Why Free Snapshots Matter

For companies relying on high data availability, free snapshots are a major advantage. They enable efficient backup management and immediate recovery options without additional expenses. centron’s snapshot service helps businesses maintain productivity, protect critical workloads, and minimize downtime.

Learn more about our Managed Server plans and discover how centron ensures reliable backup and recovery across all cloud environments.