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IDrive vs Linode

IDrive logo

IDrive

Software

Affordable online backup with multiple device support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linode logo

Linode

Software

Affordable cloud hosting and infrastructure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward; Linode linode.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to akamai.com/cloud/pricing; the service is now sold as Akamai Cloud
  • They diverge on capability: IDrive covers Multiple device backup, Linode covers Compute instances.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IDrive and Linode actually diverge.

Attributes where IDrive and Linode differ
AttributeIDriveLinode
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, WebWeb, Api, Cli
Founded19952003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in IDrive

  • Multiple device backup
  • True archiving
  • Continuous protection
  • IDrive Express
  • Snapshots
  • File sharing
  • iOS
  • Android

Only in Linode

  • Compute instances
  • Object storage
  • Block storage
  • Kubernetes
  • Managed database
  • Load balancers
  • Firewalls
  • Private networks

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IDrive

  • Online backup for computers, servers and mobile devicesnot Linode
  • Backing up multiple machines under one accountnot Linode

Linode

  • Running Linux virtual machines on hourly billed shared or dedicated CPU plansnot IDrive
  • Managed Kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud accountnot IDrive
  • Hosting workloads in a specific one of the listed global regionsnot IDrive

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IDrive

  • The advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
  • The two year offer discounts only the first year, so the second year reverts to the full rate
  • Team plans tie user and computer counts to the storage tier, so 10 TB means exactly 10 computers
  • Business storage costs far more per terabyte than Personal, at $719.88 a year for 1.25 TB against $143.88 for 5 TB

Linode

  • linode.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to akamai.com/cloud/pricing; the service is now sold as Akamai Cloud
  • Charges accrue for any service on the account even when it is powered off, because RAM and network capacity stay reserved; only deleting the service stops billing
  • Network transfer beyond the monthly allotment is billed from $0.005 per GB and the rate varies by region
  • The Akamai Cloud pricing landing page shows no rates and directs visitors to regional pricing pages or sales

Pricing, plan by plan

IDrive

Free
  • Personal$4/month
    • 5TB storage
    • Unlimited devices
    • IDrive Express

Linode

Free
  • Nanode 1GB$5/month
    • 1GB RAM
    • 1 vCPU
    • 25GB SSD
  • Linode 4GB$20/month
    • 4GB RAM
    • 2 vCPU
    • 80GB SSD

Which should you pick?

Choose IDrive if

  • You need multiple device backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
  • You also want true archiving.
IDrive review

Choose Linode if

  • You need compute instances.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api, Cli.
  • You also want object storage.
Linode review

Questions people ask

Is IDrive or Linode better?
Neither clearly leads. IDrive starts at Free and Linode at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IDrive or Linode?
IDrive starts at Free and Linode at Free.
Does IDrive or Linode run on more platforms?
IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web. Linode runs on Web, Api, Cli.
Can I use IDrive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IDrive best used for?
IDrive is most often used for online backup for computers, servers and mobile devices, backing up multiple machines under one account. Of those, online backup for computers, servers and mobile devices and backing up multiple machines under one account are not what Linode is typically brought in for.
What can IDrive do that Linode cannot?
IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express. Linode covers Compute instances, Object storage, Block storage, Kubernetes. Both handle Web support.
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