Reduce Kinsta Hosting Costs with Hetzner Object Storage
Kinsta charges based on disk space, and media files eat up your quota quickly. Offload WordPress media to Hetzner Object Storage and cut your Kinsta costs while improving site performance.
The Kinsta Storage Problem
Kinsta is excellent hosting, but it charges based on disk space. Every image, PDF, video, and media file you upload counts toward your plan's storage quota. A photography portfolio with high-resolution images. An e-commerce site with product photos. A blog with years of embedded media.
When you hit your storage limit, you're forced to upgrade to a more expensive Kinsta plan. A site that needs 50GB might push you from the Starter plan at $35/month to the Pro plan at $115/month, just for media files you rarely touch after uploading.
The performance impact is real too. Large media libraries slow down Kinsta backups, increase database size, and can affect site speed. Your visitors wait longer for pages to load, and your hosting costs keep climbing as your media library grows.
Object storage solves this by moving media files off your Kinsta server and into a dedicated storage service. But most solutions require complex setup or cost more than they save.
Why Hetzner Object Storage for Kinsta Sites
Hetzner Object Storage is S3-compatible, which means it works with WordPress plugins built for object storage. But it's simpler to set up, cheaper to use, and designed for European users who want predictable pricing.
Storage costs €0.02 per GB per month. For a 50GB media library, that's €1 per month. Compare that to upgrading your Kinsta plan, and the savings are obvious. There are no data transfer fees within the same region, no request charges, and no minimum fees.
Data centers are in Europe, which means fast load times for European visitors. GDPR compliance is built in by default. The interface is straightforward, and support is handled by Hetzner's team.
For Kinsta users, the key advantage is cost savings. Move 50GB of media to Hetzner Object Storage, and you can stay on a lower Kinsta plan. The math is simple: €1 per month for Hetzner storage versus $80 more per month for a Kinsta upgrade.
How the Plugin Works with Kinsta
CloudStrap Offload Media connects your Kinsta WordPress site to Hetzner Object Storage automatically. You don't need to modify Kinsta settings, change server configurations, or understand object storage architecture.
After a simple setup process, the plugin handles everything. When you upload media through WordPress on Kinsta, it automatically stores the file in your Hetzner Object Storage bucket. The plugin rewrites URLs so your content continues to work, but files are served from Hetzner instead of your Kinsta server.
Your WordPress workflow on Kinsta doesn't change. Upload media through the media library, use the block editor, or add files through your theme. Everything happens in the background. You don't change how you work, but your Kinsta storage usage drops and your site gets faster.
With the Pro version, you can migrate your entire existing media library with one click. No manual file transfers, no broken links, no downtime. Your old media moves to Hetzner Object Storage, your Kinsta storage usage drops immediately, and your site keeps working exactly as before.
How It Works
Setting up Hetzner Object Storage with your Kinsta WordPress site takes about five minutes.
1. Create a Hetzner Object Storage Bucket
In Hetzner Cloud Console, go to Object Storage and create a new bucket. Give it a descriptive name like "mysite-media" and choose a region close to your audience. This bucket will store all your WordPress media files.
2. Get Your Access Credentials
In Object Storage, click "Manage credentials" and generate access keys. You'll get an Access Key and Secret Key. These credentials allow the WordPress plugin to connect to your bucket from your Kinsta site.
3. Install the Plugin in WordPress on Kinsta
Install CloudStrap Offload Media through the WordPress admin on your Kinsta site. Activate it, and you'll see a new menu item under Media. Go to Media → Hetzner Offload to configure the connection.
4. Connect to Your Bucket
Enter your bucket name and access credentials in the plugin settings. Click "Test Connection" to verify everything works. The plugin will confirm it can access your Hetzner Object Storage bucket from your Kinsta site.
5. Upload Media
Upload media through WordPress on Kinsta as you normally would. The plugin automatically stores each file in Hetzner Object Storage and updates the URL. Your media library looks the same, but files are served from Hetzner, not your Kinsta server.
Lite vs Pro
Lite (Free)
- Connect Kinsta site to Hetzner Object Storage
- Automatic offloading for new uploads
- URL rewriting
Pro
- Everything in Lite
- One-click migration of existing media
- Remove files from Kinsta server after offload
- Priority support
Who This Is For
This plugin is built for Kinsta users who want to reduce hosting costs by offloading media to object storage. If you're approaching your Kinsta storage limit, or if you've already upgraded to a more expensive plan just for media storage, this plugin can help you save money.
It's ideal for Kinsta sites with large media libraries: photography portfolios, e-commerce stores, content-heavy blogs, or any site that accumulates media over time. Agencies managing multiple Kinsta client sites appreciate the cost savings. Freelancers and business owners benefit from staying on lower Kinsta plans.
This isn't necessary for Kinsta sites with minimal media or sites that are already happy with their current plan. If you need advanced object storage features like versioning or complex lifecycle policies, you might need a more technical solution.
But for most Kinsta users who want simple, affordable object storage to reduce hosting costs, this plugin is the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this work with my Kinsta site?
Yes. The plugin works with any WordPress site on Kinsta. It's a standard WordPress plugin that doesn't require any special Kinsta configurations or permissions. Install it like any other plugin.
How much will I save on Kinsta?
It depends on how much media you have. If you can move 50GB of media to Hetzner Object Storage, you might be able to stay on a lower Kinsta plan. Hetzner storage costs €1 per month for 50GB, versus potentially $80 more per month for a Kinsta upgrade.
Will this affect my Kinsta backups?
Yes, in a positive way. When media files are offloaded to Hetzner Object Storage, they're no longer included in your Kinsta backups. This means smaller backups, faster backup times, and less storage used for backup retention.
Can I migrate my existing Kinsta media?
Yes, with Pro. The plugin can migrate your entire existing media library from your Kinsta server to Hetzner Object Storage with one click. After migration, you can remove files from your Kinsta server to free up space immediately.
Will my site performance improve?
Yes. When media files are served from Hetzner Object Storage instead of your Kinsta server, your Kinsta server has less work to do. This can improve site performance, especially for sites with large media libraries. Hetzner's infrastructure is optimized for serving static files quickly.
Ready to reduce your Kinsta hosting costs?
Start with the free Lite version. No credit card required, no commitment.