Linode (Akamai Cloud) vs UpCloud: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Linode (Akamai Cloud) and UpCloud to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
7/10
Developer-focused cloud platform, now run by Akamai, offering VPS compute, managed Kubernetes, managed databases and object storage at flat, predictable prices.
UpCloud
7/10
A Finnish cloud infrastructure provider offering cloud servers, managed Kubernetes, managed databases, object storage, and networking to developers and businesses.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Reliability | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | $5/mo Nanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/mo Starter |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $5/mo Nanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/mo Starter |
| Features | ||
| API and CLI | ||
| Automatic Backups | ||
| Cloud Compute | ||
| Managed Databases | ||
| Managed Kubernetes | ||
| Multiple Regions | ||
| Object Storage | ||
| Uptime SLA | ||
| VPS Hosting | ||
| Content Delivery Network | Not listed | |
| DDoS Protection | Not listed | |
Linode (Akamai Cloud) vs UpCloud cost by team size
| Team size | Linode (Akamai Cloud) | UpCloud |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/moStarter |
| 5 users | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/moStarter |
| 10 users | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/moStarter |
| 25 users | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/moStarter |
| 50 users | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) | €3/moStarter |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Linode (Akamai Cloud)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Customization score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose UpCloud
- Higher Support score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Reliability score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
Pros
- Flat published prices, starting at 5 dollars a month for a 1 GB Nanode, with hourly billing
- The standard Kubernetes control plane in LKE is free
- Egress overage costs only 0.005 dollars per GB, and most shared plans include 1 to 5 TB of transfer
- Its documentation, API, CLI and Terraform support are strong, which suits developers who automate their infrastructure
- DDoS protection is included, and inbound bandwidth is 40 Gbps on all plans
Cons
- Some 2025 reviews report new accounts flagged as fraud or suspended, with tickets taking 24 to 48 hours
- No live chat support is offered, and standard support has no published response-time SLA
- Reviewers say managed services and advanced enterprise features are fewer than on the hyperscalers
- Managed databases cost more than on budget providers, with HA starting around 246 dollars a month according to one third-party guide
- The Akamai rebrand has confused some customers and, by their account, hurt trust
UpCloud
Pros
- Independent benchmarks recorded very low p99 disk latency on its MaxIOPS storage
- Advertises a 100% uptime SLA with 50x credits for downtime
- Fixed plan prices include data transfer, which keeps bills predictable
- Official Terraform provider, REST API, and CLI support infrastructure as code
- Broad managed portfolio covering Kubernetes, four database engines, object storage, and a CDN
- EU headquarters, ISO 27001 certification, and GDPR focus suit European buyers
Cons
- Reviewers find it several times more expensive than Hetzner for similar specs
- Fewer locations than larger providers, concentrated in Europe
- Smaller community and fewer third-party reviews than DigitalOcean or Vultr
- One user reports outbound port 25 is blocked by default, which hinders mail servers
- Pricing is changing in November 2026, so older published prices may be out of date
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Linode (Akamai Cloud) and UpCloud both score 7/10 on our Hosting & Infrastructure criteria. The largest gap is in Cost: 8/10 for Linode (Akamai Cloud) and 6/10 for UpCloud.
No, neither Linode (Akamai Cloud) nor UpCloud lists a free plan.
