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Software · head to head

Linode vs PlanetScale

Linode logo

Linode

Software

Affordable cloud hosting and infrastructure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PlanetScale logo

PlanetScale

Software

The MySQL-compatible serverless database

From
$15/month
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; PlanetScale eBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • They diverge on capability: Linode covers Compute instances, PlanetScale covers Database Branching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linode and PlanetScale actually diverge.

Attributes where Linode and PlanetScale differ
AttributeLinodePlanetScale
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Api, CliCloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Founded20032018

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 PlanetScale

  • Database Branching
  • Non-blocking Schema Changes
  • Insights
  • Horizontal Scaling
  • Connection Pooling
  • Query Caching
  • Automatic Backups
  • Global Replication

Both cover

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

PlanetScale

  • MySQL database hosting with automatic failover and replicationnot Linode
  • Vitess-based sharding for horizontal scaling across large datasetsnot Linode
  • Cloud provider flexibility across AWS, GCP, Azure with 60+ regionsnot Linode
  • Cost-effective database clusters using ARM64 architecture optionsnot 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

PlanetScale

  • EBS High Availability requires 3-node configuration with replication overhead
  • EBS Non-HA single-node option lacks redundancy and automatic failover
  • Pricing varies by cloud provider and region, requiring queries for specific rates
  • ARM64 architecture only available on EBS tier, not Metal deployments

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

PlanetScale

$15/month

No published plan breakdown. See the PlanetScale 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 PlanetScale if

  • You need database branching.
  • You work on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • You also want non-blocking schema changes.
PlanetScale review

Questions people ask

Is Linode or PlanetScale better?
Neither clearly leads. Linode starts at Free and PlanetScale at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Linode or PlanetScale?
Linode has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linode and $15/month for PlanetScale.
Does Linode or PlanetScale run on more platforms?
Linode runs on Web, Api, Cli. PlanetScale runs on Cloud-hosted (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Can I use Linode for free?
Yes. Linode has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PlanetScale starts at $15/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 PlanetScale is typically brought in for.
What can Linode do that PlanetScale cannot?
Linode covers Compute instances, Object storage, Block storage, Kubernetes. PlanetScale covers Database Branching, Non-blocking Schema Changes, Insights, Horizontal Scaling. Both handle Cloud deployment, Web support.
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