Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
For one already-encoded video stream that a Hetzner Cloud VM only relays to YouTube, CPX12 is a reasonable low-resource plan to evaluate first—not a guaranteed minimum. If the VM must encode the video, no official benchmark establishes an exact Hetzner size; compare larger shared-vCPU CPX and dedicated-vCPU CCX plans with your actual encoder workload before choosing.
The key sizing question is whether the server relays an encoded feed or performs the encoding. That difference changes the CPU demand far more than the phrase “24/7 livestream” suggests.
Choose a size based on what the VM does
One pre-encoded stream: evaluate CPX12
Hetzner’s July 2026 update lists CPX12 with 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, and 40 GB disk in the European locations FSN1, HEL1, and NBG1. Hetzner describes it for low-resource, single-purpose uses. For a VM that only relays one already-encoded feed, those specifications make CPX12 a reasonable starting hypothesis to test, not a performance guarantee or a certified video-streaming configuration. Hetzner’s CPX12 announcement does not report a livestream benchmark.
During a representative run, watch CPU and memory use, outbound network behavior, reconnections, and YouTube stream health. If your relay software, buffering, local recording, or other services add work, account for that complete workload rather than assuming the base stream is the only demand.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- TRUE PLUG-AND-PLAY HOME SERVER: Forget complex VPS setups or command lines. Simply connect power and Ethernet to start hosting immediately with zero technical skills required. This managed, all-in-one appliance is the easiest way to run blogs (compatible with WordPress), private applications, and bots directly from home using your own domain.
- NO MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FEES: Stop renting server space. Enjoy a one-time hardware purchase model with absolutely no recurring hosting fees for typical usage. The system includes a generous monthly traffic allowance that covers the needs of almost all personal and small business websites, allowing the device to pay for itself quickly.
- INSTANT ONE-CLICK APP LIBRARY: Instantly deploy over 50 curated open-source applications without hassle. The diverse ecosystem includes essential tools, compatible with WordPress, Ghost, Nextcloud (for private cloud storage), Joomla, and OpenClaw. Perfect for content management, e-commerce, private email, and business tools.
- INCLUDES FREE SSL & ENTERPRISE SECURITY: Get professional performance and safety without the extra costs. Seamlessly integrate your existing custom domain or utilize the included free subdomain. Your sites are automatically secured with free SSL certificates, built-in DDoS protection, and global CDN acceleration.
- TOTAL DATA PRIVACY & OWNERSHIP: Keep your digital assets secure on your own local hardware, not on third-party "big tech" servers. Designed for privacy-conscious individuals, creators, and small businesses seeking platform independence. Includes an intuitive web management portal for complete peace of mind.
Encoding on the VM: benchmark CPX and CCX
When the VM must encode the source video, do not treat CPX12 as proven adequate. Compare a larger shared-vCPU CPX plan with a CCX plan, which Hetzner identifies as using dedicated vCPUs. Dedicated CPU availability may matter for predictable capacity, but it does not prove that any particular size can encode your chosen format and frame rate.
No official Hetzner or YouTube benchmark ties a specific plan to a supported resolution or frame rate. The defensible choice is the smallest plan that sustains your actual encoder workload in a realistic test, without persistent CPU saturation or stream-health problems.
Establish the stream workload before ordering
Write down the workload you will actually run. Without these inputs, a server-size recommendation is necessarily provisional:
- Whether the VM relays already-encoded video or encodes it.
- Codec, resolution, frame rate, and target bitrate.
- Number of simultaneous feeds or outputs.
- Whether the VM also stores recordings, buffers media, or runs other applications.
- Chosen Hetzner location, current plan price, and included traffic allowance.
Compare candidate servers by shared versus dedicated CPU, observed encoding headroom, outbound capacity and location-specific traffic, memory and disk for the whole application, current regional price, and your recovery and monitoring setup. Do not select on vCPU count alone.
Rank #3
- TRUE PLUG-AND-PLAY HOME SERVER: Forget complex VPS setups or command lines. Simply connect power and Ethernet to start hosting immediately with zero technical skills required. This managed, all-in-one appliance is the easiest way to run blogs (compatible with WordPress), private applications, and bots directly from home using your own domain.
- NO MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FEES: Stop renting server space. Enjoy a one-time hardware purchase model with absolutely no recurring hosting fees for typical usage. The system includes a generous monthly traffic allowance that covers the needs of almost all personal and small business websites, allowing the device to pay for itself quickly.
- INSTANT ONE-CLICK APP LIBRARY: Instantly deploy over 50 curated open-source applications without hassle. The diverse ecosystem includes essential tools, compatible with WordPress, Ghost, Nextcloud (for private cloud storage), Joomla, and OpenClaw. Perfect for content management, e-commerce, private email, and business tools.
- INCLUDES FREE SSL & ENTERPRISE SECURITY: Get professional performance and safety without the extra costs. Seamlessly integrate your existing custom domain or utilize the included free subdomain. Your sites are automatically secured with free SSL certificates, built-in DDoS protection, and global CDN acceleration.
- TOTAL DATA PRIVACY & OWNERSHIP: Keep your digital assets secure on your own local hardware, not on third-party "big tech" servers. Designed for privacy-conscious individuals, creators, and small businesses seeking platform independence. Includes an intuitive web management portal for complete peace of mind.
Set YouTube ingest settings and network headroom
YouTube’s current live encoder guidance recommends different ingest bitrates by codec, resolution, and frame rate. For H.264, its recommendations include 10 Mbps for 1080p30 and 17 Mbps for 1080p60. These are YouTube ingest settings, not estimates of how much CPU a VM needs to encode the stream. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the current guidance.
- Use RTMPS where supported, constant bitrate encoding, and a two-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed four seconds.
- Ensure the outbound path can sustain the total stream bitrate and leave the 20% upload-bandwidth headroom YouTube recommends.
- Test with representative audio and movement, then monitor YouTube’s stream health during the test.
A bitrate target does not guarantee that a particular server or network path can sustain it. YouTube warns that a connectivity disruption can break a stream; its streaming tips recommend testing under conditions like the real broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Size disk and cost for the whole deployment
The CPX12 listing’s 40 GB disk is a plan specification, not a demonstrated requirement for relaying a stream. The cited YouTube and Hetzner materials do not establish a required disk size for relay-only use. Size storage according to actual needs such as local recordings, buffers, logs, and application files.
Hetzner says updated prices for new cloud orders and rescales apply from June 15, 2026; price and included traffic vary by location and may change. Check the current plan details for your selected region before calculating a monthly cost. Avoid comparing plans on headline price alone if their traffic allowances, storage needs, or CPU behavior differ.
Recommended Free Tools
Test reliability rather than assuming “24/7” means uninterrupted
- Configure the relay or encoder with the chosen YouTube ingest settings and stream key.
- Run a representative test with the same resolution, frame rate, audio, motion, bitrate, and number of outputs planned for the live channel.
- Observe CPU, memory, outbound traffic, reconnect behavior, and YouTube stream health throughout the test.
- Simulate or account for process and network interruptions, and decide how the service will restart and reconnect. A 24/7 label by itself does not provide high availability.
- Repeat the test after material changes to the codec, output settings, stream count, software, or server size.
YouTube’s own guidance is direct: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream.”
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is to keep uploaded videos looping on a YouTube channel rather than operate your own relay or encoder VM, StreamNeo is the first option to consider: it runs the stream from the cloud, supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud.
Nothing needs to stay on at home. There are no quality tiers or re-encoding; each slot includes 10 GB of pooled storage across active slots, looping and playlists, and team support. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo supports YouTube streams from uploaded videos, not camera broadcasts. Start the free day with StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
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.
