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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Linode vs pCloud

Linode logo

Linode

Cloud & Infrastructure

Affordable cloud hosting and infrastructure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
pCloud logo

pCloud

File Storage & Backup

Prices are final. No setup fees or other hidden charges

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; pCloud headline lifetime prices are discounted promotional prices; the Premium 500GB lifetime plan is listed at $299 struck through down to $199, and Ultra 10TB at $1,890 down to $1,190, so the full non-promotional price is materially higher

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linode and pCloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Linode and pCloud differ
AttributeLinodepCloud
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Api, CliWeb
CategoryCloud & InfrastructureFile Storage & Backup
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 pCloud

Nothing recorded that Linode does not also cover.

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 pCloud
  • Managed Kubernetes, block storage and object storage on a single cloud accountnot pCloud
  • Hosting workloads in a specific one of the listed global regionsnot pCloud

pCloud

No use cases recorded yet. See the pCloud review.

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

pCloud

  • Headline lifetime prices are discounted promotional prices; the Premium 500GB lifetime plan is listed at $299 struck through down to $199, and Ultra 10TB at $1,890 down to $1,190, so the full non-promotional price is materially higher
  • Ultra 10TB plan's download link traffic is capped at 2TB, the same limit as the much smaller Premium Plus 2TB plan, despite the 5x storage difference

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

pCloud

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the pCloud review.

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.
Linode review

Choose pCloud if

Nothing in the data separates pCloud from Linode on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

pCloud review

Questions people ask

Is Linode or pCloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Linode starts at Free and pCloud at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Linode or pCloud?
Linode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linode and On request for pCloud.
Does Linode or pCloud run on more platforms?
Linode runs on Web, Api, Cli. pCloud runs on Web.
Can I use Linode for free?
Yes. Linode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. pCloud starts at On request.
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 pCloud is typically brought in for.
What can Linode do that pCloud cannot?
Linode covers Compute instances, Object storage, Block storage, Kubernetes.
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