Software · head to head
Linode vs Akamai
The short version
- Only Linode has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Linode linode.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to akamai.com/cloud/pricing; the service is now sold as Akamai Cloud; Akamai only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
- They diverge on capability: Linode covers Compute instances, Akamai covers CDN.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linode and Akamai actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Linode
- Compute instances
- Object storage
- Block storage
- Kubernetes
- Managed database
- Load balancers
- Firewalls
- Private networks
Only in Akamai
- CDN
- DDoS Protection
- Web Application Firewall
- Bot Management
- Image Optimization
- Video Platform
- API Gateway
- Analytics
Both cover
- DDoS protection
- SSL/TLS
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- Api support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Linode
- Running Linux virtual machines on hourly billed shared or dedicated CPU plansnot Akamai
- Managed Kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud accountnot Akamai
- Hosting workloads in a specific one of the listed global regionsnot Akamai
Akamai
- Content delivery and web performance through Ion and adaptive media deliverynot Linode
- DDoS protection, bot management and API securitynot Linode
- Running compute, Kubernetes and managed databases on Akamai's cloudnot Linode
- Edge compute with EdgeWorkersnot Linode
- Zero trust access for enterprise applicationsnot Linode
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Akamai
- Only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
- Cloud pricing varies by region across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific rather than being a single rate
Pricing, plan by plan
Linode
Free- Nanode 1GB$5/month
- 1GB RAM
- 1 vCPU
- 25GB SSD
- Linode 4GB$20/month
- 4GB RAM
- 2 vCPU
- 80GB SSD
Akamai
$1000/month- CDN$1000/month
- Content delivery
- Global edge network
- Real-time analytics
- Security Suite$2000/month
- DDoS protection
- WAF
- Bot management
Which should you pick?
Choose Linode if
- You need compute instances.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Api, Cli.
- You also want object storage.
Questions people ask
- Is Linode or Akamai better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linode starts at Free and Akamai at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linode or Akamai?
- Linode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linode and $1000/month for Akamai.
- Does Linode or Akamai run on more platforms?
- Linode runs on Web, Api, Cli. Akamai runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use Linode for free?
- Yes. Linode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akamai starts at $1000/month.
- What is Linode best used for?
- Linode is most often used for running linux virtual machines on hourly billed shared or dedicated cpu plans, managed kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud account, hosting workloads in a specific one of the listed global regions. Of those, running linux virtual machines on hourly billed shared or dedicated cpu plans and managed kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud account are not what Akamai is typically brought in for.
- What can Linode do that Akamai cannot?
- Linode covers Compute instances, Object storage, Block storage, Kubernetes. Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. Both handle DDoS protection, SSL/TLS, Cloud deployment, Web support.