Akamai Cloud (Linode)
6.9/10Developer-focused cloud platform from Akamai, formerly Linode, offering virtual machines, managed Kubernetes, databases, and object storage at flat, predictable prices.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Akamai Cloud is the cloud computing platform Linode became after Akamai Technologies bought it in 2022. It rents shared and dedicated CPU virtual machines, GPU instances, managed Kubernetes (LKE), managed MySQL, PostgreSQL and Valkey databases, S3-compatible object storage, NodeBalancer load balancers and block storage. Customers can manage everything from a web console, an API, a CLI or Terraform. It suits developers, startups and small to mid-sized SaaS teams who want plain virtual machines without the complex pricing of the large hyperscalers. Billing is hourly with a monthly cap. Shared plans start at 5 US dollars a month for the 1 GB Nanode, and most plans bundle a transfer allowance. Egress beyond that allowance costs 0.005 US dollars per GB. The newer G8 and GPU plans include no bundled transfer. LKE's standard control plane is free. A high-availability control plane starts at 60 US dollars per cluster per month, and LKE Enterprise costs 300 US dollars per cluster. Backups, object storage and managed services are paid add-ons. Reviewers often praise its value, speed and documentation. The main limitation is a narrower set of managed and enterprise services than AWS, Azure or Google Cloud. Some users also report limited customization and say the dedicated plans are expensive.
Our Rating
Who Akamai Cloud (Linode) is best for
Good fit
- Developers9/10
Developers can provision raw virtual machines through an API, a CLI and Terraform, and reviewers praise the documentation.
- Startups8/10
Plans start at 5 US dollars with hourly billing, and new accounts get 100 US dollars in trial credit.
- SaaS Companies7/10
Managed Kubernetes, managed databases and object storage cover a typical SaaS stack.
Less suited
- Small Business6/10
Prices are low, but the platform is unmanaged by default and needs technical skills.
- Enterprise5/10
Reviewers say advanced enterprise and managed services are missing compared with the hyperscalers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Entry-level shared VMs start at 5 US dollars a month with hourly billing, and reviewers compare the price favorably with AWS and Google Cloud.
- Most shared plans bundle 1 to 5 TB of transfer, and overage costs only 0.005 US dollars per GB.
- The standard LKE control plane is free, so a Kubernetes cluster costs only its worker nodes and attached resources.
- Reviewers describe the documentation as thorough, well written and searchable.
Cons
- Reviewers say it offers fewer managed and advanced enterprise services than the hyperscalers.
- Backups cost extra, and users note there is no option to back up to local storage.
- The newer G8 and GPU plans include no bundled transfer.
- Some reviewers say the dedicated plans are expensive and customization is limited.
Key Features
Akamai Cloud (Linode) Pricing
Shared CPU Nanode 1 GB
- 1 vCPU
- 1 GB RAM
- 1 TB transfer
- 25 GB storage
- 0.0075 US dollars per hour
Frequently Asked Questions
Akamai advertises 100 US dollars in credits for new accounts, subject to promotion terms.
Instances are billed hourly up to a monthly cap. For example, the 1 GB Nanode costs 0.0075 US dollars an hour, capped at 5 US dollars a month.
The standard control plane is free. A high-availability control plane starts at 60 US dollars per cluster per month, and LKE Enterprise costs 300 US dollars per cluster per month.
No. The Backups add-on starts at 2 US dollars a month for a 1 GB shared instance and costs more for larger plans.
Egress beyond the bundled allowance costs 0.005 US dollars per GB in most regions. Jakarta and São Paulo charge more.
MySQL, PostgreSQL and Valkey, priced by plan size and number of nodes.
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