Software · head to head
Linode vs Contabo
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; Contabo fully unmanaged infrastructure requires all setup and maintenance by customer
- They diverge on capability: Linode covers Compute instances, Contabo covers VPS Hosting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linode and Contabo actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2003).
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
- Managed database
- Load balancers
- Firewalls
- Private networks
- Terraform
Only in Contabo
- VPS Hosting
- Dedicated Servers
- Object Storage
- Snapshots
- DDoS Protection
- Custom ISO
- Multiple Locations
- SSD Storage
Both cover
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- Firewall
- 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 Contabo
- Managed Kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud accountnot Contabo
- Hosting workloads in a specific one of the listed global regionsnot Contabo
Contabo
- Web hostingnot Linode
- Game serversnot Linode
- Development environmentsnot Linode
- VPN serversnot 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
Contabo
- Fully unmanaged infrastructure requires all setup and maintenance by customer
- No formal SLA with financial compensation for downtime violations
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
Contabo
€4.5/month- Cloud VPS$4.5/month
- 4 vCPU
- 8 GB RAM
- 100 GB SSD
- Cloud VDS$39/month
- Dedicated cores
- 24 GB RAM
- 180 GB NVMe
- Dedicated Server$149/month
- AMD CPU
- 64 GB RAM
- 1 TB NVMe
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.
Choose Contabo if
- You need vps hosting.
- You work on Linux, Windows.
- You also want dedicated servers.
Questions people ask
- Is Linode or Contabo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linode starts at Free and Contabo at €4.5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linode or Contabo?
- Linode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linode and €4.5/month for Contabo.
- Does Linode or Contabo run on more platforms?
- Linode runs on Web, Api, Cli. Contabo runs on Linux, Windows.
- Can I use Linode for free?
- Yes. Linode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Contabo starts at €4.5/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 Contabo is typically brought in for.
- What can Linode do that Contabo cannot?
- Linode covers Compute instances, Object storage, Block storage, Managed database. Contabo covers VPS Hosting, Dedicated Servers, Object Storage, Snapshots. Both handle Kubernetes, Docker, Kubernetes, Firewall.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Contabo: What is the base pricing for Contabo VPS?
Contabo Cloud VPS starts at EUR 4.50 per month (approximately $4.95 USD) with 4 vCPU cores and 8 GB RAM. Prices scale up to EUR 39+ per month for dedicated performance VPS with higher specs.
SourceContabo: Does Contabo raise prices at renewal?
No. Unlike many hosting providers, Contabo does not increase renewal prices. The promotional price you get at sign-up is locked in for future renewals.
SourceContabo: What data center locations does Contabo offer?
Contabo operates 9 global data center regions including multiple EU locations, US East/Central/West Coast, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.
SourceContabo: Does Contabo provide managed services?
No. Contabo VPS is fully unmanaged. You handle all setup, security patching, and system maintenance. Managed hosting adds 2 hours per month of dedicated support for a fee.
SourceContabo: What is Contabo's uptime guarantee?
Contabo maintains a 99.996% uptime guarantee across all plans. The platform includes unlimited traffic and free DDoS protection.
Source