Linode (Akamai) vs Vultr
Both are alternatives to AWS (EC2 compute). Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Linode (Akamai)
The veteran — two decades of straightforward VPS, now on Akamai's edge.
Linode ran dependable, plainly priced VPS for twenty years before Akamai bought it; plans from $5/mo ($12 for 2 GB) with the reliability record intact. The honest note: product pace has slowed post-acquisition, and the platform extras are thinner than DigitalOcean's.
Vultr
The widest region map — 32 data centres including Asia and South America.
When latency to Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul, or São Paulo matters, Vultr's 32 regions are the draw. Pricing starts around $2.50–6/mo, billing is hourly, and GPU instances are available for AI workloads — a practical AWS exit that keeps global reach.
Side by side
| Linode (Akamai) | Vultr | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 55 | 52 |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Local-first | No | No |
| License | Proprietary service | Proprietary service |
| Pricing | From $5/mo; 2 GB plan $12/mo | From ~$2.50–6/mo; hourly billing; GPU instances available |
Linode (Akamai) edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Linode (Akamai)
Strengths
- +Twenty-year reliability track record
- +Straightforward pricing
- +Akamai's global edge network behind it
Trade-offs
- −Slower product evolution since the acquisition
- −Fewer platform extras than rivals
Vultr
Strengths
- +32 regions — the widest map in this comparison
- +Hourly billing and GPU options
- +Competitive entry pricing
Trade-offs
- −Ticket-first support
- −Bandwidth caps vary by plan and region
Facts verified 2026-07-19. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.