Linode (Akamai Cloud) and Vultr are both popular alternatives to DigitalOcean, appealing to developers who want simple, affordable cloud hosting. Linode's acquisition by Akamai has strengthened its network infrastructure, while Vultr maintains a broader global footprint and bare metal offerings.
Provider A
Akamai Cloud (Linode)
4 wins
Provider B
Vultr
4 wins
Linode and Vultr are evenly matched, each winning 4 of 10 categories with 2 tied. Linode leads on entry price, port 25 open, network quality. Vultr leads on bare metal, global locations, gpu instances. The best choice depends on your workload — read the full breakdown below.
Head to Head
$25 ($100 credit)
Winner$30 ($200 credit)
Yes ($130)
WinnerNot offered separately
Yes (Dedicated CPU)
Yes (included in credits)
Winner11 regions
32 locations
WinnerAkamai backbone
WinnerOwn network
Yes (RTX 6000)
Yes (A100, A40)
Winner30min–12 Hours
Tie30min–12 Hours
Tie7 Days
Tie7 Days
Tie$100
$200–$300
WinnerAkamai CDN native
WinnerNo native CDN
Strengths & Trade-offs
Where it wins
Where it falls behind
Where it wins
Where it falls behind
In Depth
Linode takes this category with $25 ($100 credit), compared to $30 ($200 credit) on Vultr. If entry price is a priority for your workload, Linode is the stronger pick.
Linode takes this category with Yes ($130), compared to Not offered separately on Vultr. If port 25 open is a priority for your workload, Linode is the stronger pick.
Vultr takes this category with Yes (included in credits), compared to Yes (Dedicated CPU) on Linode. If bare metal is a priority for your workload, Vultr is the stronger pick.
Vultr takes this category with 32 locations, compared to 11 regions on Linode. If global locations is a priority for your workload, Vultr is the stronger pick.
Linode takes this category with Akamai backbone, compared to Own network on Vultr. If network quality is a priority for your workload, Linode is the stronger pick.
Vultr takes this category with Yes (A100, A40), compared to Yes (RTX 6000) on Linode. If gpu instances is a priority for your workload, Vultr is the stronger pick.
Vultr takes this category with $200–$300, compared to $100 on Linode. If credits offered is a priority for your workload, Vultr is the stronger pick.
Linode takes this category with Akamai CDN native, compared to No native CDN on Vultr. If cdn integration is a priority for your workload, Linode is the stronger pick.
Background
Akamai Cloud (Linode) is a leading cloud platform. Our verified Linode accounts come pre-activated with credits applied and limits raised, so you can deploy production workloads within hours instead of waiting on signup approvals and quota requests.
Vultr is a leading cloud platform. Our verified Vultr accounts come pre-activated with credits applied and limits raised, so you can deploy production workloads within hours instead of waiting on signup approvals and quota requests.
Decision Guide
Final Verdict
Linode wins on port 25 open availability, Akamai network quality, and native CDN integration. Vultr wins on global location count, higher credit amounts, and bare metal GPU options. For email infrastructure, Linode is better. For maximum global reach and credits, Vultr offers more value.
Choose Linode for port 25 open email infrastructure and Akamai CDN-backed performance. Choose Vultr for more global locations, higher credit amounts ($200–$300), and bare metal/GPU access within the credit balance.
Got Questions?
More Comparisons