Linode is one of the oldest cloud service providers in the market. It has managed to keep up with customers’ demands and has stayed relevant and competitive despite plenty of Linode competitors entering the industry.
Its efforts at staying competitive have undoubtedly been bolstered now as Akamai recently acquired Linode, combining Linode’s cloud infrastructure with Akamai’s extensive content delivery network (CDN) and security services.
That said, it hasn’t expanded its range of services the way Akamai competitors like AWS have, and its target customers haven’t grown past developers and small businesses. While this streamlined structure of services offers simplicity, it also limits Linode as a service provider.
Its limited services are one reason users may consider alternatives to Akamai. To understand this better, let’s delve into Linode’s background, its shortcomings, and which cloud service providers are the best Linode alternatives.
Linode’s Background and Its Akamai Merger
Founded in 2003, Linode is one of the most popular and trusted cloud service providers. It offers consistent, high-performance SSD Linux servers and boats top-notch customer support services.
Linodes services are mainly aimed at developers and small to medium-sized businesses. It offers storage, networking, computing, and management services, which are merely the basics. Overall, it provides a straightforward set of around 35 services.
However, things are changing at Linode with Akamai’s 2022 acquisition of Linode. On the surface, this looks like a good deal, as it translates into improved security, increased global reach, and a comprehensive CDN.
On the other hand, it also means Linode will continue to be a less attractive option for customers seeking services in rapidly growing areas such as analytics and e-commerce. These fields demand specialized infrastructure and tools that Linode does not prioritize or extensively offer.
Additionally, integration challenges and potential disruptions in service quality during the transition period might lead to a loss of users. Many customers might opt to switch to Akamai alternatives that offer more consistent services and may be hesitant to return due to the complexities and inconveniences that come with migrating between cloud service providers.
Why You Should Consider Linode Alternatives
Linode is in no way a lousy cloud service provider; however, many elements and issues with Linode make it a suboptimal choice for many users. While these traits may not necessarily be an issue for everyone, they certainly concern a decent number of potential customers. That makes it all the more important that you’re aware of them if you’re considering Linode as your service provider.
Challenging For Windows Users
Linode’s services are offered through Linux-focused virtual machines, making it a less-than-ideal choice for Windows users. While you technically can install Windows on its servers, you won’t get an ounce of built-in support. This means you’ll need to have the technical expertise to deal with any problems that come up while installing and managing your Windows server.
Lack of support aside, many Linode alternatives offer Windows servers, which also include Windows licenses, so you don’t have to pay extra for them, something you’ll need to do if you opt for Linode.
Complicated For Beginners
Since Linode focuses on developers, its services are tailored to those with plenty of experience in that field. While that may seem more comfortable to the veterans and experts, if you’re only starting out, Linode’s complicated systems administration tasks will probably be a headache.
With Linode, even the simplest tasks, like launching a basic WordPress site, can be quite a hassle if you don’t have a lot of free time and decent IT knowledge to handle things like server monitoring and upkeep, file organization, security, and software installation.
Concerning Security Background
Akamai and Linode have a long, disturbing history of security breaches, which is concerning, to say the least. These security incidents include the March 2012 Bitcoin Theft, where around 43,000 Bitcoins were stolen from customer accounts; the 2013 ColdFusion exploit, which, despite no loss of information or theft, raised plenty of concern; the December 2015 DDoS attacks, which were a series of attacks that caused substantial service disruptions; and the 2016 Unauthorized Access, where attackers had gained access through compromised credentials.
The incidents mentioned are only a few of the key ones that Linode has suffered. Despite Linode and Akamai’s efforts to improve security since then, security incidents have occurred as recently as 2023, when Linode and Hetzner traffic was intercepted through a Man-in-the-middle attack. If you are interested in learning more about the German provider, we have a detailed blog post about Hetzner alternatives and why you should consider them.
While security breaches are a constant no matter how tough your security is, the frequency of these attacks and security breaches is simply too high at Akamai and Linode. There really is no reason to risk your data and valuable assets like Bitcoins when there are many Linode alternatives with a much better security track record.
Only One Payment Method
Linode really shoots itself in the foot by limiting its payment method to credit cards. People from many countries may not be able to open accounts and acquire credit cards from international banks. Linode doesn’t even support PayPal, which is a universal payment method at this point.
This is all while almost every Linode alternative accepts PayPal and cryptocurrency payment methods, allowing anyone from any country, no matter how unprivileged, to grow and improve their business and, subsequently, their lives.
Short Money-Back Guarantee Period
A money-back guarantee shows how confident a company is in its services and products. When a company like Linode only offers a short refund period of seven days, it suggests that even the company doesn’t think you’ll be satisfied with its services. Moreover, this red flag shows that it doesn’t care about its customers either.
Best Linode Alternative: Cloudzy vs. Linode
Linode’s limited range of services and security issues allow many cloud service providers to flourish by offering a wide variety of secure, dependable cloud services. That said, if you want service diversity, Windows support, and ironclad security, all at an affordable and competitive price, then Cloudzy is the top Linode alternative for you.
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Get Started HereFantastic Features
Cloudzy servers boast internet connections measuring up to 10 Gbps, enterprise NVMe SSD storage, potent 3.23 GHz AMD EPYC processors, DDR4 RAM, and 99.95% uptime. These qualities give you the best playground for testing/staging and development, trading, and custom software solutions.
Cloudzy also features one-click apps, and floating IP addresses, making your cloud service experience as smooth as possible.
Built-in Support For Windows and Linux
Unlike Linode, Cloudzy makes an effort to cover every OS for your comfort. It offers everything from Linux distros to Windows servers, free and pre-installed, so you don’t have to pay extra for a Windows license.
Even if you operate on a different operating system than Windows or Linux, Cloudzy features the Custom ISO option, which allows you to upload your own OS ISO file. This feature makes Cloudzy the best Linode alternative regardless of your operating system.
Simple & Intuitive Design
Dedicated to making your cloud service experience as easy and effortless as possible, Cloudzy has developed an intuitive and user-friendly panel that gives you control over every aspect of your server.
Cloudzy’s handy panel allows you to create cloud-based servers, manage your credit, scale your resources, track your server activities, and add bandwidth without even having to change plans.
Moreover, if you face any problems or issues at any point, Cloudzy’s 24/7 team of expert customer support agents is accessible directly through the panel.
Best Rates In the Business
High quality at an affordable price is a sentiment that Cloudzy has always been faithful to. Cloudzy prioritizes accessibility and affordability for its customers by providing the best bang for buck in the cloud service industry.
While Cloudzy’s 1 GB plan offers the same as Linode’s at only five cents less, which isn’t much cheaper, Cloudzy’s higher-tier plans offer plenty more at a significantly lower price than Linode. With Cloudzy’s 2 GB plan, you get an extra 10 GB of storage and one more TB of bandwidth for $2 less than Linode’s 2 GB plan.
Continuing this trend, Cloudzy’s 4 GB plan gives you an extra 40 GB of storage and another extra TB of bandwidth for $4 less than Linode. If you want to make the most of Cloudzy’s rates, however, its Professional 8 GB plan offers nearly twice the storage and an extra 2 TB of bandwidth at a bargain for $11 less than Linode’s 8 GB plan.
Further cementing Cloudzy’s claim as the best Linode alternative is that these impressive figures aren’t only for its Linux VPS. Its Windows VPS, which Linode doesn’t even support, also offers considerably more at a much more affordable rate than other Linode alternatives.
If you’re still not convinced, Cloudzy currently has a promotion where you can save up to 20% on every cloud VPS.
Straightforward Billing System
Many cloud service providers, like AWS, hide certain costs that catch you off-guard when you receive the bill. Cloudzy, on the other hand, has always been transparent about its services and their costs, using its on-demand PAYG (pay-as-you-go) billing system to ensure that you only pay for what you need.
Cloudzy’s PAYG billing system is the most flexible cloud pricing model among other Linode alternatives. It doesn’t require a long-term commitment and allows Cloudzy to provide its services at affordable prices with extensive scalability.
Flexible Payment Options & Extended Money-Back Guarantee
Compared to Linode, which seems uncertain about its services meeting your needs, Cloudzy confidently offers double the money-back guarantee period. This extended guarantee underscores Cloudzy’s commitment to customer satisfaction, ensuring you won’t regret choosing its services.
Furthermore, Cloudzy values its customers no matter where they are by allowing more than just one form of payment. In addition to credit card payments, Cloudzy also accepts PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies.
| Feature | Cloudzy | Linode |
| Customer Support | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Uptime | 99.95% | 99.99% |
| Service Variety | Linux, Windows, RDP, Forex, Cloud Server | Linux Only |
| Refund Policy | 14-Day Credit Refund Period | 7-Day Credit Refund |
| Security | Robust Security Infrastructure | Various Security Breaches |
| Payment Methods | Credit Card Mastercard Visa Paypal American Express Bitcoin Crypto Currencies |
Credit Card |
| Price Plans | 1GB: $4.95/m 2 GB: $9.95/m 4 GB: $19.95/m 8 GB: $36.95/m 16 GB: $69.95/m |
1GB: $5/m 2GB: $12/m 4GB: $24/m 8GB: $48/m 16GB: $96/m |
Other Alternatives to Linode
While Cloudzy is an all-in-one solution to your cloud service needs, I’ve made a list of some of the other top Linode alternatives, each with its own unique specialty.
Vultr – A Cheaper Alternative to Linode
As with Linode, if you only want simple cloud hosting at an affordable price, then Vultr is an option worth considering. It offers SSD cloud servers, dedicated servers, and bare metal servers. Vultr really is the cheaper version of Linode. Like Linode, its services are also pretty limited, and many users may have a difficult time wrapping their heads around Vultr’s services, as you’ll need technical expertise.
Vultr Pros
- Extensive cloud coverage
- Wide variety of cheap options with a PAYG billing system
- Easily scalable options
Vultr Cons
- Limited customer support options, especially for lower-tier plans
- Requires technical expertise to manage
- Limited, bare-minimum cloud services
Hostinger – Best for Beginners and Cheap Web Hosting
Hostinger is an affordable and beginner-friendly alternative to Linode. It offers a variety of web hosting services with the goal of being intuitive and easy to use. However, this simplicity also means that experienced developers will find Hostinger’s services limiting as it doesn’t provide advanced features like machine learning and analytics.
Hostinger Pros
- User-friendly and easy-to-navigate “hPanel”
- Very low-budget web hosting
- Free SSL certificates and automatic backups
Hostinger Cons
- Lacks features for experienced users
- Slow, unresponsive customer support
- Limited cloud coverage with only nine locations
Google Cloud – Best for Enterprises
Google Cloud is one of the most powerful and comprehensive alternatives to Linode. It offers extensive cloud coverage and a plethora of services and features perfect for enterprises. However, advanced features like some of the best data analytics and machine learning services also come with hefty price tags.
Google Cloud Pros
- Top-of-the-line ML, AI, and analytics services
- High performance and scalability
- Integration with open source and other Google services
Google Cloud Cons
- Complex pricing structure
- Steep learning curve
- Fast and competent customer support is a premium
Liquid Web – Best for High-Traffic
Another great alternative to Linode is Liquid Web, with its high-performance servers and a plethora of built-in features and add-ons. It also boasts high-level customer support and robust infrastructure, making it a decent option for high traffic and heavy loads.
Liquid Web Pros
- Quick and responsive customer support
- Comprehensive managed services like security, backups, monitoring, etc
- Free access to Nexcess Edge CDN
Liquid Web Cons
- Premium services are more expensive than others
- Complicated for beginners
- Unsuitable for small businesses
Amazon AWS – Best for Comprehensive services
Amazon AWS is only a great option if you have a dedicated IT and accounting team, as its massive range of over 240 products and services can be very difficult to wrap your head around. That said, its services are perfect for enterprises as they have extensive cloud coverage and global reach.
AWS Pros
- High scalability and flexibility
- Extensive global reach and market adoption
- Detailed documentation and strong community support
AWS Cons
- Complex pricing structure and hidden fees
- Unresponsive free customer support
- Vendor lock-in
Cloudzy – The Most Reliable and Affordable Linode Alternative
Linode has done well to stay relevant throughout all these years; however, it’s starting to fall behind due to backward thinking, with issues like limited services, a singular payment method, lack of Windows support, and a short money-back guarantee.
Understandably, many opt for alternatives to Akamai’s Linode, and that’s where Cloudzy comes in. Cloudzy offers everything Linode does and everything it doesn’t. With Cloudzy, you get the same high performance and excellent customer support at a much lower rate, as well as several payment methods, Windows and other OS support, twice the money-back guarantee period, and robust security.
FAQ
Is Linode still good?
Linode is still among the top cloud service providers, especially for experienced users and developers. Its new merger with Akamai will also make Linode a much more attractive option for that specific group of users. However, whether focusing on and limiting its services to developers only will be a good strategy, in the long run, is up for debate.
Does Linode support Windows?
No, Linode servers are Linux-focused and do not provide support for Windows. That said, you can install it on Linode’s servers; however, you’ll be on your own if you face any issues when installing or managing Windows.
Which Linode (Akamai) alternative is the best?
While there are plenty of alternatives to Linode today, Cloudzy is the cloud service provider that effectively addresses all of Linode’s problems. Not only do Cloudzy’s servers support all operating systems, but you also get any Windows version you like for free, built-in. Windows support aside, Cloudzy offers 24/7 customer support, better rates than any Akamai alternative, a 14-day money-back guarantee, and easily scalable, flexible plans.
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