How to Activate Your Hetzner Referral Link and Start Earning Credits

Getting paid for recommending Hetzner’s cloud and dedicated servers is easier than you think. In this guide we’ll walk you through the entire process – from signing up for the referral program to activating your link and tracking earnings.

Why Join the Hetzner Referral Program?

• Generous payouts: Up to €5 credit per successful referral.
• Automatic tracking: Built‑in dashboard shows clicks, sign‑ups, and credits.
• Low barrier to entry: No minimum traffic required – even a small blog can earn.

Step‑by‑Step Activation Guide

1. Create a Hetzner Account

If you don’t already have an account, go to hetzner.com and click “Register”. Fill in your personal details, verify your email, and set up two‑factor authentication for extra security.

2. Enroll in the Referral Program

1. Log in to the Hetzner Customer Console.
2. Navigate to ‘Referral Program’ under the “Account” menu.
3. Read the terms of service and click “Accept”.

3. Generate Your Unique Referral Link

After acceptance, the dashboard will display a personalized URL, e.g. https://hetzner.com/?ref=YOURID. Copy this link – it’s the key to tracking your referrals.

4. Activate the Link on Your Site

• Blog post or review: Embed the link in anchor text like “Get €5 credit with Hetzner”.
• Video description: Add the URL in the description box.
• Social media: Shorten the link with a service like Bitly for a cleaner look.

Make sure the link opens in a new tab (target="_blank") to keep visitors on your page.

5. Verify Clicks and Conversions

Return to the Referral Dashboard after a few days. You’ll see a real‑time count of:

• Clicks on your link
• New accounts created using your link
• Credits earned (in €)

If you don’t see activity, double‑check that the link is spelled correctly and that your visitors are reaching the correct Hetzner sign‑up page.

Tips to Maximize Referral Earnings

• Target the right audience: Developers, sysadmins, and startups looking for reliable infrastructure.
• Create comparison content: Show Hetzner vs. competitors (e.g., DigitalOcean, Linode) and highlight cost savings.
• Offer a tutorial: Walk readers through deploying a simple web app on Hetzner – the more value you provide, the higher the conversion rate.
• Use tracking parameters: Append utm_source=blog to your link for deeper analytics in Google Analytics.

Common Issues & How to Fix Them

Referral credit not showing

Credits are only awarded after the referred account has an active, paid invoice. If the new user cancels during the free trial, no credit is issued.

Broken link

Make sure the referral parameter (e.g., ?ref=YOURID) is not truncated by a CMS plugin or URL shortener.

FAQ

Do I need to be a Hetzner customer to join the program?

No. You can sign up for the referral program as a non‑customer and start earning as soon as you get your link.

How much do I earn per referral?

Each successful referral that results in a paid invoice earns you €5 credit, which is automatically added to your account.

Is there a limit to the number of referrals?

There’s no hard limit; you can refer as many users as you want.

When are credits applied?

Credits appear within 24‑48 hours after the referred customer’s first paid invoice.

Can I withdraw the credit as cash?

Credits are only usable for Hetzner services. They cannot be exchanged for cash.

Conclusion

Activating a Hetzner referral link is straightforward, and with the right content strategy you can turn simple clicks into a steady stream of credits. Follow the steps above, keep your audience informed, and watch your earnings grow.

Ready to Start Earning?

Generate your link now, embed it in a tutorial, and share it with your community. Join the Hetzner Referral Program today and turn your influence into valuable hosting credits.

Internal linking ideas: "How to Choose the Right Hetzner Server for Your Project" and "Deploying WordPress on Hetzner Cloud".

External reference suggestion: Hetzner’s official referral program page for the latest terms and payout details.