Linode Review: Features, Pros & Cons, Alternatives

If you’re planning to host your website and wondering whether Linode is a good option, this article is for you. There are many hosting providers out there offering great features at competitive prices, so picking the right one for your needs can be a bit tricky.

In this article, we’ll go over everything Linode offers to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your projects.

Linode is a cloud hosting company that started in 2003, founded by Christopher Acker. It’s based in New York City, and its main data center is in Atlanta. Linode has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and was featured in Forbes’ list of America’s Most Promising Companies in 2012 and 2013.

Let’s dive deeper into what Linode is and how you can use it.

What is Linode?

Linode is a popular cloud hosting provider that offers powerful virtual private servers (VPS) at competitive prices. It was founded in 2003 and has grown into a trusted name among developers, startups, and small to medium-sized businesses.

Unlike larger cloud platforms like AWS or Google Cloud, Linode focuses on simplicity, performance, and cost-effectiveness, making it a go-to choice for users who want reliable infrastructure without unnecessary complexity.

In March 2022, Linode was acquired by Akamai Technologies, a global leader in content delivery and cybersecurity. This move strengthened Linode’s offerings by combining Akamai’s global network and security expertise with Linode’s developer-friendly cloud services.

Linode- At a Glance

Free SSL	No
Uptime Guarantee	99.99%
Free Domain Name	No
Managed Hosting Feature	Yes
Free Trial	Yes, for 60-days (2 months)
Number/Location of Data Centers	1 in India, 2 in Europe, 3 in Asia, 5 in North America and Australia

Why do developers trust Linode?

Linode is a developer-friendly hosting platform that gives you all the tools you need to build, manage, and optimize your projects. It’s built for performance and can handle almost anything you throw at it.

One of the best things about Linode is its support team. If you run into a problem, they won’t brush you off or give you copy-paste replies. Instead, they take the time to understand your issue and help you solve it properly.

Linode has earned a solid reputation for being both reliable and transparent. Their pricing is straightforward, and they don’t make things more complicated than they need to be.

Many developers choose Linode because of its excellent customer support. Whether you need help through a support ticket, email, phone call, or even social media, their team is ready to assist. Plus, they also offer helpful resources and guidance, so you feel confident managing your hosting setup—whether you’re working solo or as part of a team.

Features of Linode

1. Virtual Machines (VPS)

Linode offers powerful and flexible virtual servers. You can choose between:

• Shared CPU: Best for low to medium workloads
• Dedicated CPU: Great for consistent performance
• High Memory: For apps that need more RAM
• GPU Plans: For machine learning, AI, or video processing

Each plan comes with SSD storage, a fast network, and full root access.

2. Managed Kubernetes (LKE)

Linode Kubernetes Engine lets you run containerized apps easily with a managed Kubernetes setup. You don’t need to manage all the complex parts—Linode handles the hard stuff for you.

3. Cloud Firewalls

You can add a free cloud firewall to protect your server before any traffic reaches it. Set custom rules to control who can access your apps.

4. Backups and Snapshots

Linode offers both automatic backups and manual snapshots. If something breaks, you can restore your server with just a few clicks.

5. Object and Block Storage

• Block Storage: Attach extra storage to your server, just like plugging in an external drive.
• Object Storage: Store and manage large amounts of unstructured data—perfect for backups, media files, or static websites.

6. Global Data Centers

Linode has data centers in over 10 locations, including:

• US (Newark, Atlanta, Dallas)
• Canada
• Germany
• UK
• India
• Japan
• Singapore
• Australia

This helps you host your apps closer to your users for faster performance.

7. One-Click Apps

You can quickly deploy pre-configured apps like:

• WordPress
• LAMP/LEMP Stack
• Docker
• Plesk
• Nextcloud
• cPanel

Great for saving time and skipping the manual setup.

8. Developer Tools

Linode gives you tools that make development easier:

• Linode CLI: Manage your server from the command line
• Powerful API: Automate tasks or integrate with your app
• Terraform Support: Use Infrastructure as Code to manage resources

9. DDoS Protection

Every plan comes with free protection against DDoS attacks. This keeps your apps safe from large-scale disruptions.

10. Custom Images

You can upload your own system images and deploy them across multiple servers. It’s great for cloning setups or scaling apps.

11. 24/7 Customer Support

Linode’s support team is available all day, every day. You can reach them by:

• Ticket
• Phone
• Email
• Social media

They’re known for being helpful, human, and not just reading from a script.

12. Simple and Transparent Pricing

No hidden charges. You pay a fixed amount every month. You can also check how much each resource costs before adding it—no surprises.

Linode Pricing & Plans

There are four types of plans accessible –

• Dedicated CPU plans,
• Shared CPU plans,
• High memory plans,
• GPU plans.

Dedicated CPU Plans

There are nine different plans available in this, which we have told in the following picture –

Shared CPU Plans

There are 10 different plans available in this, which we have shown by the picture in the following –

High Memory Plans

There are five different plans available in this, which we have presented through the picture in the following –

GPU Plans

There are four different types of plans available, which are shown in the picture below –

Use Cases for Linode

1. Hosting Websites and Web Apps

Linode is a solid choice for hosting everything from small blogs to large business websites and complex web apps. With full root access and one-click app installs (like WordPress or LAMP), developers have complete control over how the site runs.

2. Running SaaS Applications

If you’re building a SaaS product, Linode offers the performance and flexibility you need. You can scale resources easily, deploy containers with Kubernetes, and keep everything secure.

3. Game Server Hosting

Linode can handle game server hosting thanks to its high-speed network and dedicated CPU plans. It’s perfect for games that need low latency and strong performance.

4. Developer Environments & Testing

Developers can use Linode to spin up test environments, run staging servers, or build personal projects. You can easily create and destroy VMs as needed, which is great for experimenting.

5. VPN Hosting

Want to set up your own private VPN? Linode lets you host your own VPN server (like OpenVPN or WireGuard) for better privacy and control over your internet connection.

6. Cloud Storage & Backup Servers

You can use Linode’s Object or Block Storage to back up important files, databases, or entire websites. It’s useful for disaster recovery, media storage, or managing large data sets.

7. CI/CD & DevOps Pipelines

Linode works great for automating build, test, and deployment processes. With support for tools like Git, Jenkins, Ansible, and Terraform, you can set up a custom CI/CD pipeline on your own terms.

8. Machine Learning & AI Projects

If you’re working with deep learning models or heavy compute tasks, Linode’s GPU plans provide the power you need to train and deploy models.

9. Email and DNS Servers

You can host your own mail server or DNS server on Linode. It gives you full control and can be a cost-effective solution for advanced users.

10. Reselling or Client Projects

Agencies and freelancers often use Linode to host websites or services for clients. You can manage everything under one account and customize each server as needed.

Linode- Support

Before joining Linode, you may contact their customer support team by phone (both domestic and international numbers are provided), ticket, email, and IRC chat. Although their customer care representatives should be available by phone and email around the clock, you may anticipate a quicker response if you are already a client.

The “Community Q & A (opens in new tab)” area of the forum, which contains contributions from users from all over the world, may also be quite beneficial. Here, people discuss solutions for a wide range of problems and worries.

The forum is well-staffed even if it isn’t very popular because most inquiries are responded to within a day or less by members of Linode’s staff or other users. Another option is to go through the “Search Docs & Resources” area for quick solutions and in-depth instructions, some of which are surprisingly user-friendly for beginners.

Since developers are the primary audience for cloud computing services like Linode, they often don’t provide any technical help. If they do, getting access to it typically involves paying exorbitant amounts of money. However, Linode doesn’t provide several support tiers; regardless of how much you pay, you always get the same level of assistance.

A ticketing system is used by Linode to supply all of its technical support services. Technically, there is a chat option, but it is handled by a bot.

Although a more expensive option for managed services or extended technical assistance would have been good, most experienced developers would find this hands-off approach to be sufficient.

Alternatives of Linode

Provider	Starting Price	Supports Windows	Global Locations
Linode	$5/mo	No	13+
DigitalOcean	$4/mo	No	12+
Vultr	$2.50/mo	Yes	25+
Kamatera	Pay-per-minute	Yes	18+
UpCloud	$5/mo	No	8+

1. DigitalOcean

A developer-friendly cloud platform with a clean interface, one-click app installs, and managed databases. Ideal for beginners and small businesses who want fast, reliable cloud hosting without complex setups.

2. Vultr

Budget-friendly cloud provider offering flexible VPS, Windows support, and global data centers. Great for developers who want low-cost plans and advanced features like custom ISOs and GPU options.

3. Kamatera

Offers fully customizable cloud servers with per-minute billing and support for both Windows and Linux. Ideal for users who need flexible resources and instant scaling across multiple global regions.

4. UpCloud

Focused on high performance with ultra-fast MaxIOPS storage. Great for developers who need speed, reliability, and a powerful API. Also offers an intuitive dashboard and competitive pricing.

FAQs

Conclusion

Linode is a solid choice for developers and small businesses who want reliable cloud hosting with transparent pricing, solid performance, and responsive customer support. It may not be the most beginner-friendly option, and it doesn’t support Windows out of the box, but for Linux-based projects and technical users, it offers great value and control.

If you’re looking for alternatives, platforms like DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Kamatera provide similar services with their own unique advantages—whether it’s pricing, global reach, or ease of use.

At the end of the day, Linode is well worth considering if you’re after performance, flexibility, and developer-friendly features without the complexity or extra costs.