vs
DigitalOcean vs Linode
Both are hourly clouds in dollars with managed databases and Kubernetes, and both charge $12.00 a month for 2 GB. DigitalOcean's smallest server is $4.00 for 512 MiB; Linode's Nanode is $5.00 for 1 GB. Linode, now Akamai's cloud, lists 25 datacenters to DigitalOcean's 13 and also sells dedicated-CPU plans.
Which one to pick
Pick DigitalOcean if
Cloud serversBilled in US dollars
- You want the smallest possible server: 512 MiB for $4.00 a month
- You need managed MongoDB, Kafka or OpenSearch
- 13 datacenters on four continents cover your users
Pick Linode if
Cloud serversBilled in US dollars
- You want 1 GB in the cheapest plan rather than 512 MiB
- You need dedicated-CPU plans
- You want more locations: 25 datacenters on five continents
The same server on both
Each host's cheapest entry plan with at least this much memory, with the IPv4 address added where it's extra.
MemoryDigitalOceanLinode
DigitalOceanLinode1 GB+
DigitalOcean
Basic 1 GiB 1 vCPU, 1 GB, 25 GB SSD$6.00
Linode
Nanode 1 GB 1 vCPU, 1 GB, 25 GB SSD$5.00
2 GB+
DigitalOcean
Basic 2 GiB 1 vCPU, 2 GB, 50 GB SSD$12.00
Linode
Linode 2 GB 1 vCPU, 2 GB, 50 GB SSD$12.00
4 GB+
DigitalOcean
No entry plan this size
Linode
Linode 4 GB 2 vCPU, 4 GB, 80 GB SSD$24.00
Where they differ most
With IPv4, per month
- DigitalOcean
- $4.00/month
- Linode
- $5.00/month
Continents
- DigitalOcean
- North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania
- Linode
- North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania
Automatic backups
- DigitalOcean
- 20% of the plan price
- Linode
- $2.00/month on the cheapest plan
CPU in entry plans
- DigitalOcean
- Shared
- Linode
- Shared and dedicated
Included traffic
- DigitalOcean
- Not stated on Basic 512 MiB
- Linode
- 1 TB on Nanode 1 GB
Managed databases
- DigitalOcean
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, Valkey, MongoDB, Kafka, OpenSearch
- Linode
- MySQL, PostgreSQL, Valkey
Every fact, side by side
A dot marks a row where they differ. Rows with an info mark open a note.
DigitalOceanLinodeWhat it really costs
Cheapest plan (differs)$4.00/month, Basic 512 MiB (1 vCPU, 0.5 GB, 10 GB SSD)$5.00/month, Nanode 1 GB (1 vCPU, 1 GB, 25 GB SSD)
With IPv4, per month (differs)$4.00/month$5.00/month
Promo and renewal Same price on renewalSame price on renewal
VAT in listed prices Prices exclude VATPrices exclude VAT
How you pay
Minimum term (differs)None (per-second)None (hourly)
What you get
Entry plan sizes (differs)1/0.5 GB, 1/1 GB, 1/2 GB, 2/2 GB1/1 GB, 1/2 GB, 2/4 GB, 2/4 GB
CPU in entry plans (differs)SharedShared and dedicated
Included traffic (differs)Not stated on Basic 512 MiB1 TB on Nanode 1 GB
Where it runs
Datacenters (differs)13 in 8 countries25 in 14 countries
Continents (differs)North America, Europe, Asia, OceaniaNorth America, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania
What comes with it
Managed databases (differs)PostgreSQL, MySQL, Valkey, MongoDB, Kafka, OpenSearchMySQL, PostgreSQL, Valkey
