AppBreakup
Submit an app

Linode alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll VPS and cloud server providers

Top picks

Common reasons people leave Linode: rebranding to Akamai Cloud spreads docs across two sites, and costs more than budget hosts like Hetzner or Contabo. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Linode, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Vultr currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Vultr logoVultrPaid—NoWeb5 of 566.5
2Hetzner logoHetznerPaidFrom €5.99/month excl. VATNoWeb8 of 864.8
3OVHcloud logoOVHcloudPaidFrom $4.54/month (VPS-1)NoWeb9 of 961.8
4Amazon Lightsail logoAmazon LightsailPaid$5 USD/monthNoWeb, Linux, Windows8 of 857.5
5DigitalOcean App Platform logoDigitalOcean App PlatformFree plan + paid$5 a month (Paid Tier)NoWeb8 of 851.2
6Cloudways logoCloudwaysPaid—NoWeb3 of 350.0
  1. Vultr logo

    1. VultrTop pick

    Best for: Developers wanting hourly cloud servers or GPUs close to users in many regions

    PaidWeb

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    Similar hourly developer cloud with more regions and bare-metal options.

    Pros

    • Wide choice of regions worldwide
    • Bare metal and cloud GPUs alongside regular VMs
    • Custom ISO uploads and one-click marketplace apps
    • API, open-source CLI and Terraform provider

    Cons

    • Servers are unmanaged; you handle updates and security
    • Pricier than budget hosts like Contabo for the same RAM
    Visit Vultr Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Vultr a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Servers launched
    Over 80 million
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.vultr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer tools
    API, CLI, Terraform provider and SDKs
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.vultr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CLI licence
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Custom ISO
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.vultr.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    The Constant Company, LLC
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.vultr.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Hetzner logo

    2. Hetzner

    Best for: Developers and self-hosters who want cheap, fast servers in Europe and can manage Linux

    PaidWeb

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    Much cheaper servers if Europe-centred hosting and fewer managed services are fine.

    Pros

    • Some of the lowest cloud and dedicated server prices around
    • Owns its European data centre parks
    • Server Auction for refurbished dedicated machines
    • Hourly-billed cloud with API, CLI and Terraform support

    Cons

    • Few managed services such as databases or Kubernetes
    • US and Singapore locations cost more and only offer cloud products
    • Unmanaged by default, so security and updates are your job
    Visit Hetzner Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hetzner a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Founded
    1997, Germany
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud starting price
    From €5.99/month excl. VAT
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Dedicated server starting price
    From €59.00/month excl. VAT
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud locations
    Germany, Finland, US (2), Singapore
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data centres
    Owns parks in Nuremberg, Falkenstein and Helsinki
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    From €5.99/month excl. VAT (Cost-Optimized cloud)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Regular Performance plan
    From €6.49/month excl. VAT
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
    General Purpose plan
    From €43.49/month excl. VAT (dedicated vCPUs)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hetzner.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. OVHcloud logo

    3. OVHcloud

    Best for: European businesses and hobbyists wanting cheap VPS or dedicated servers with built-in DDoS protection

    PaidWeb

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    European cloud with included DDoS protection and bare-metal servers.

    Pros

    • Anti-DDoS protection included on every product
    • VPS plans include unlimited traffic and daily backup
    • Wide range from web hosting to bare metal and public cloud
    • European company with a data-sovereignty focus

    Cons

    • Large catalogue that is hard to navigate
    • Control panel and support are less polished than developer clouds
    • VPS bandwidth is capped once some regional monthly quotas are reached
    Visit OVHcloud Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is OVHcloud a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    9 of 9 verified
    Founded
    1999, France
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    VPS starting price
    From $4.54/month (VPS-1)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    VPS traffic
    Unlimited
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    DDoS protection
    Included on all products
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Kubernetes
    Managed Kubernetes Service
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    From $4.54 a month (VPS-1)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    VPS-2 plan
    From $8.50 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    VPS-3 plan
    From $12.32 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
    VPS-4 plan
    From $23.37 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026ovhcloud.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Amazon Lightsail logo

    4. Amazon Lightsail

    Best for: People who want a predictable-price VPS that can grow into the wider AWS ecosystem.

    PaidWeb, Linux, Windows

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    AWS's simple VPS with fixed monthly bundles, a natural pick for teams that may later move onto EC2 and other AWS services.

    Pros

    • Fixed monthly bundles including transfer
    • Static IP and DNS management included
    • Windows server plans available
    • Easy path to other AWS services

    Cons

    • Lower specs for the price than budget VPS hosts
    • Smaller transfer allowances in some Asian regions
    • AWS account and billing can be complex
    Visit Amazon Lightsail Compare with LinodeDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon Lightsail a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Starting price (with IPv4)
    $5 USD/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows plans
    From $9.50 USD/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Static IP
    Included in all plans
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free tier
    Yes, under AWS Free Tier
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $3.50 a month (IPv6-only Linux bundle)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Linux plan with IPv4
    From $5 a month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows plan
    From $9.50 a month (with IPv4)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, under the AWS Free Tier
    Checked Nov 8, 2026aws.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. DigitalOcean App Platform logo

    5. DigitalOcean App Platform

    Best for: Small teams who want simple, fixed-price app hosting next to DigitalOcean databases and Droplets

    Free plan + paidWeb

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    Push code and let DigitalOcean run it, instead of managing servers.

    Pros

    • Fixed monthly container prices
    • Free tier for static sites
    • Easy path to Droplets, Spaces and Kubernetes in the same account

    Cons

    • Fewer preview and collaboration features than Vercel or Render
    • Limited to DigitalOcean regions
    • Free tier covers static sites only
    Visit DigitalOcean App Platform Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is DigitalOcean App Platform a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free tier
    3 static site apps
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid tier
    From $5/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Git deploys
    GitHub and GitLab
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform type
    PaaS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $5 a month (Paid Tier)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 3 static site apps
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Dedicated egress IP
    $25 a month per app
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Development database
    $7 a month (512 MiB)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026digitalocean.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Cloudways logo

    6. Cloudways

    Best for: Agencies and developers hosting many WordPress or PHP sites on their own cloud servers

    PaidWeb

    50.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Linode

    Managed hosting that can run on Linode servers without you administering them.

    Pros

    • Choice of five cloud providers
    • Hourly billing with no long prepaid terms
    • Host many apps on one server without per-site fees

    Cons

    • Server-based setup is more technical than shared hosting
    • Mailboxes are not part of the server plans
    • Larger cloud providers like AWS cost noticeably more
    Visit Cloudways Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cloudways a good Linode alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Cloud providers
    DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, Google Cloud
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloudways.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloudways.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CDN and security
    Cloudflare Enterprise
    Checked Nov 8, 2026cloudways.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Linode alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Vultr logo

Best Linode alternative for most people

Vultr

Similar hourly developer cloud with more regions and bare-metal options.

DigitalOcean App Platform logo

Best Linode alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

DigitalOcean App Platform

Push code and let DigitalOcean run it, instead of managing servers.

Amazon Lightsail logo

Best Linode alternative for Windows

Amazon Lightsail

AWS's simple VPS with fixed monthly bundles, a natural pick for teams that may later move onto EC2 and other AWS services.

Amazon Lightsail logo

Best Linode alternative for Linux

Amazon Lightsail

AWS's simple VPS with fixed monthly bundles, a natural pick for teams that may later move onto EC2 and other AWS services.

Hetzner logo

Best Linode alternative for working in the browser

Hetzner

Much cheaper servers if Europe-centred hosting and fewer managed services are fine.

Linode alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Linode?

Vultr ranks first right now. Similar hourly developer cloud with more regions and bare-metal options. Hetzner and OVHcloud follow it in our ranking.

Linode vs Vultr: what's the difference?

Both Linode and Vultr are paid products. Both run on Web.

Is Linode free?

Linode is a paid product. Pricing: CPU, transfer, storage and RAM bundled; Cloud credits: Up to US$5,000 for qualifying businesses. Checked on Linode's own site, November 2026.

How much do Linode alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Linode alternatives: Hetzner, From €5.99/month excl. VAT; OVHcloud, From $4.54/month (VPS-1); Amazon Lightsail, $5 USD/month; DigitalOcean App Platform, $5 a month (Paid Tier). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Linode?

Yes. DigitalOcean App Platform (free plan + paid) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Linode?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Linode alternatives work on Linux?

Amazon Lightsail runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Linode?

The complaints we hear most: rebranding to Akamai Cloud spreads docs across two sites; costs more than budget hosts like Hetzner or Contabo; fewer managed services than AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Linode, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.