Linode vs DigitalOcean: Which VPS Provider Wins?
Linode (now Akamai Cloud) and DigitalOcean are both beloved by developers for simple, affordable VPS hosting. Here's how they stack up for the most common use cases.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | LN | DO |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $25/account | ✓$20/account |
| Delivery Time | 30min–12 hours | 30min–12 hours |
| Port 25 Available | Yes (Port 25 Open) | Yes (Open Port accounts) |
| Global Locations | 11 data centers | ✓15 data centers |
| Managed Kubernetes | LKE (Linode K8s Engine) | DOKS (DigitalOcean K8s) |
| Object Storage | Yes (S3-compatible) | Yes (Spaces) |
| Akamai CDN | ✓Yes (integrated) | Separate |
| Developer UX | Good | ✓Excellent |
| Pricing | ✓Slightly lower | Slightly higher |
Our Verdict
Linode is best for: teams wanting integrated Akamai CDN, slightly lower pricing, and straightforward VPS with S3-compatible object storage.
View LN Accounts →DigitalOcean is best for: developer experience, more global locations, managed app deployments, and the best UX in the VPS market.
View DO Accounts →Top LN Accounts
Linode $100 Credit
- All Regions Access
- 7 Days Replacement
- 30min–12hr Delivery
Linode Port 25 Open
- Full Access
- Worldwide Working
- 24/7 Support
Top DO Accounts
DigitalOcean Free Trial
- Unlimited Droplets
- Verified & Instant
- 30min–12hr Delivery
DigitalOcean Close Port 3
- Verified Account
- Worldwide Working
- 24/7 Support
DigitalOcean Close Port 10
- Verified Account
- 7 Days Replacement
- 30min–12hr Delivery
FAQs
Is Linode cheaper than DigitalOcean?
Linode is marginally cheaper for equivalent plans. The difference is typically $1-3/month per instance. For most users, both providers are comparable in cost.
Which has better developer tools?
DigitalOcean is widely considered to have the best developer experience — intuitive dashboard, excellent documentation, and one-click app deployments.
Can I get port 25 open on both?
Yes. Cloudrix offers port 25 open accounts for both Linode and DigitalOcean. This makes both suitable for email server deployments.
Does Linode have CDN?
Yes. Since Akamai acquired Linode, accounts now include access to Akamai's global CDN — a significant advantage for content delivery workloads.