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Linode

High-performance cloud hosting with scalable VPS, robust infrastructure, and developer-friendly tools.

Our take: Linode was acquired by Akamai in 2022 and is rebranding to Akamai Cloud — linode.com/pricing now redirects to akamai.com/cloud/pricing.

Best forLinode is ideal for developers, startups, and businesses that require flexible, scalable, and high-performance cloud hosting
ReviewedPricing: Paid
7.5 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try LinodeFrom $5/mo; $100 free credits for new accounts
The bottom line

Solid, no-frills IaaS cloud for developers who want predictable pricing and full Linux server control without hyperscaler complexity.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

G2
4.6 out of 5
400+ reviews
Trustpilot
2.4 out of 5
200+ reviews

3.9 / 5 aggregate · across 2 sources

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isLinode (Akamai Cloud) — developer-focused IaaS cloud platform offering VPS, GPU, object storage, managed databases, and Kubernetes.
Our takeLinode was acquired by Akamai in 2022 and is rebranding to Akamai Cloud — linode.com/pricing now redirects to akamai.com/cloud/pricing.
It is a full-stack IaaS provider, closer to DigitalOcean or AWS Lightsail in scope. Entry pricing at $5/mo (Nanode 1 GB Shared CPU) is accurate; new accounts receive $100 in promotional credits, making the effective start free. Billing is hourly capped at the monthly rate.
Why we rate itLinode has earned a loyal developer following through a decade of predictable pricing, clean API/CLI, solid documentation, and data centers across four continents.
The Akamai acquisition brings edge-network reach; the core VPS product remains unchanged and competitively priced.
The catchNo managed hosting — you provision and maintain your own server.
Support via tickets only on base plans; advanced managed support costs $100/instance/month. Brand transition to Akamai Cloud is ongoing, which can cause UI and documentation inconsistency.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Developers and startups wanting affordable, full-control Linux VPS
  • Teams running production workloads who need predictable, capped monthly billing
  • Engineers evaluating GPU compute or managed Kubernetes (LKE) at mid-market prices
Not good for
  • Non-technical users who need managed/shared hosting with a GUI site builder
  • Enterprises requiring deep AWS/GCP native service integrations (IAM, Lambda, BigQuery, etc.)
  • Teams needing 24/7 phone or live-chat support on entry-tier plans
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Fast: a Nanode can be provisioned and SSH-accessible within 60 seconds of signup; $100 credit removes payment friction for new users.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Egress costs and per-instance managed-support fees ($100/instance/month) make large multi-instance fleets expensive; G8 dedicated plans move to pure hourly billing with no monthly cap.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: standard Linux environments, open Terraform/Ansible/Kubernetes tooling, and S3-compatible object storage make migration straightforward.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, try it on the official site.
Try Linode

A look inside

Linode product screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Linode and what does it offer?

Linode is a cloud hosting provider that offers virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated CPU instances, and cloud storage solutions. It provides scalable infrastructure for developers, businesses, and agencies to deploy websites and applications efficiently.

How does Linode help with cloud hosting?

Linode simplifies server management by providing pre-configured server images, easy deployment options, and a user-friendly control panel. It allows users to scale resources based on demand, reducing the complexity of server administration.

What features does Linode offer?

Linode offers cloud compute instances, block storage, object storage, backups, load balancers, DDoS protection, global data centers, and API access. These tools help manage, secure, and optimize cloud infrastructure effectively.

Is Linode suitable for beginners?

Yes, Linode is beginner-friendly for users who want to manage cloud servers with minimal hassle. While some technical knowledge can help with advanced configurations, its intuitive dashboard and documentation make it accessible for newcomers.

Who should use Linode and what benefits can they expect?

Linode is ideal for developers, startups, small to medium businesses, and agencies seeking reliable, scalable, and affordable cloud hosting. Users can expect fast server deployment, global reach, flexible pricing, performance optimization, and ease of management, making it suitable for websites, apps, and other digital services.

Alternatives

  • Step up

    Akamai Cloud Dedicated G8 or LKE Enterprise for production-grade SLAs and edge delivery bundled with compute.

  • Lighter alternative

    DigitalOcean Droplets for a similar dev-friendly VPS experience with a more polished UI and marketplace apps.

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Tags

#CloudHosting#DeveloperTools#Infrastructure

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