Linode vs DigitalOcean 2026: Which VPS Provider is Better?

Linode vs DigitalOcean 2026: Complete Comparison

Linode and DigitalOcean are two of the most popular VPS providers, both known for developer-friendly interfaces, straightforward pricing, and reliable performance. But which one is right for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll analyze both providers across pricing, performance, features, and help you make an informed decision.

Quick Summary

Aspect	Linode	DigitalOcean
Starting price	$5/month	$6/month
Entry-level specs	1 vCPU, 1GB RAM	1 vCPU, 1GB RAM
Performance	Varies by plan family (shared vs dedicated CPU)	Varies by plan family (basic vs premium tiers)
Data centers	11 locations	12 locations
Refund policy	No formal refund policy	No formal refund policy
Best for	Performance-focused users	Beginners and ease of use

Detailed Comparison

Pricing and Plans

Linode Pricing Structure

Plan	vCPU	RAM	Storage	Transfer	Price
Nanode 1GB	1	1GB	25GB SSD	1TB	$5/mo
Linode 2GB	1	2GB	50GB SSD	2TB	$20/mo
Linode 4GB	2	4GB	80GB SSD	4TB	$40/mo
Linode 8GB	4	8GB	160GB SSD	5TB	$80/mo
Linode 16GB	6	16GB	320GB SSD	8TB	$120/mo
Linode pricing notes:

• No hourly billing for new accounts (hourly available after 90 days)
• All plans include SSD storage
• Bandwidth is pooled across all Linodes in your account
• Automatic backups cost extra ($2-4/month depending on plan size)

DigitalOcean Pricing Structure

Plan	vCPU	RAM	Storage	Transfer	Price
Basic 1GB	1	1GB	25GB SSD	1TB	$6/mo
Basic 2GB	1	2GB	50GB SSD	2TB	$12/mo
Basic 4GB	2	4GB	80GB SSD	4TB	$24/mo
Premium 4GB	2	4GB	80GB NVMe	4TB	$48/mo
Premium 8GB	4	8GB	160GB NVMe	5TB	$96/mo
DigitalOcean pricing notes:

• Hourly billing available for all plans
• Two tiers: Basic (SSD) and Premium (NVMe)
• Premium tier offers faster storage but costs 2x
• Automatic backups cost 20% extra Pricing winner: Linode offers slightly lower prices, especially at entry levels.

Performance (how to compare fairly)

Both providers sell multiple plan families, and real performance depends on the CPU model, host load, and whether you’re on a shared or dedicated CPU tier. Instead of trusting a single synthetic number:

• Use Performance to compare specs/value (benchmarks show on plan pages when available).
• For CPU-sensitive workloads (game servers, some build pipelines), prioritize higher-quality CPU tiers and validate with a repeatable test.
• For I/O-heavy workloads (databases, CI caches), prioritize NVMe and run a quick fio check.
• For latency-sensitive apps, start with the closest region and confirm via latency tiers. After purchase, validate with a repeatable script (like YABS) and your real workload, and re-run at different times to catch noisy-host effects. See How to benchmark a VPS.

Data Center Locations

Linode Data Centers (11 locations)

• North America: Newark, Dallas, Fremont, Atlanta, Toronto
• Europe: London, Frankfurt, Paris
• Asia: Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai
• South America: São Paulo

DigitalOcean Data Centers (12 locations)

• North America: NYC, San Francisco, Toronto
• Europe: Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, Paris
• Asia: Singapore, Bangalore
• Australia: Sydney Data center winner: Tie - Both have excellent global coverage. Choose based on which provider has a location closer to your target audience (check our latency tier system).

Features and Tools

Linode Features

Linode Marketplace:

• One-click deployments for popular apps
• 150+ images including WordPress, Docker, LAMP stack
• Community-contributed images Linode CLI:
• Comprehensive command-line interface
• Full API coverage via CLI
• Automation-friendly Backup and Migration:
• Paid automated backups
• Free clone/resize within same data center
• Easy migration between data centers Additional features:
• NodeBalancers (load balancers)
• Object Storage (S3-compatible)
• Managed Database service
• Kubernetes service

DigitalOcean Features

DigitalOcean Marketplace:

• One-click apps (100+ pre-configured images)
• Popular apps: WordPress, LAMP, Docker, MongoDB
• Developer-focused tools DigitalOcean CLI (doctl):
• Full API access
• Scriptable and automation-friendly
• Good documentation Backup and Snapshot:
• Paid automated backups (20% extra)
• Manual snapshots (billed by storage used)
• Easy snapshot-based cloning Additional features:
• Load Balancers
• Spaces (S3-compatible object storage)
• Managed Databases
• App Platform (PaaS)
• Kubernetes Features winner: Tie - Both offer similar feature sets. DigitalOcean has App Platform (PaaS), while Linode’s CLI is slightly more mature.

Ease of Use

DigitalOcean

Strengths:

• Very clean, intuitive interface
• Excellent documentation and tutorials
• Great for beginners
• Simple pricing structure Weaknesses:
• Fewer customization options in some areas
• Dashboard can feel simplified for advanced users

Linode

Strengths:

• Clean but powerful interface
• Advanced options available when needed
• Good documentation
• More granular control Weaknesses:
• Slightly steeper learning curve
• Less “hand-holding” than DigitalOcean Ease of use winner: DigitalOcean - Better for absolute beginners and those who want simplicity.

Support and Documentation

DigitalOcean

• Documentation: Extensive tutorial library (2000+ tutorials)
• Community: Very active community Q&A
• Support: Ticket-based support (all plans)
• Response time: Typically 1-2 hours for critical issues

Linode

• Documentation: Comprehensive guides and documentation
• Community: Active community forums
• Support: Ticket-based support (all plans)
• Response time: Similar to DigitalOcean Support winner: Tie - Both have excellent documentation and similar support quality.

Refund Policy

Important note: Neither provider offers a formal, no-questions-asked refund policy.

• Linode: No formal refund policy. Refunds handled case-by-case.
• DigitalOcean: No formal refund policy. Refunds handled case-by-case. What this means: You’re committing when you sign up. Make sure to:

1. Start with the smallest plan that meets your needs
2. Test thoroughly before scaling up
3. Consider using our VPS Finder to compare alternatives Refund policy winner: Tie - Neither provider has strong refund policies.

Use Case Recommendations

Choose Linode If:

• You want slightly better performance per dollar
• You need a data center in São Paulo (South America)
• You prefer a more technical, flexible interface
• You want advanced CLI and API capabilities
• You’re comfortable with Linux and system administration Ideal for: Developers, system administrators, performance-conscious users

Choose DigitalOcean If:

• You’re a beginner or want simplicity
• You value extensive tutorials and documentation
• You want App Platform (PaaS) capabilities
• You prefer the cleanest, most intuitive interface
• You’re migrating from shared hosting Ideal for: Beginners, developers who want simplicity, small businesses

Alternative: Consider Both

The best approach? Try both with their smallest plans:

1. Create a Linode Nanode ($5) and a DigitalOcean Basic Droplet ($6)
2. Deploy your application on both
3. Test performance from your target location
4. Compare the experiences
5. Scale up on the one you prefer Total cost for testing: ~$11 for one month of both.

How to Compare Plans

Use our tools to make a data-driven decision:

1. VPS Finder - Filter and sort by your requirements
2. Performance page - Compare specs/value (benchmarks when available)
3. Compare tool - Side-by-side comparison of specific plans

Example Comparison

Compare these entry-level plans:

• Linode Nanode 1 GB
• DigitalOcean basic s-1vcpu-1gb Use our A vs B comparison tool for detailed specs.

Conclusion

Both Linode and DigitalOcean are excellent VPS providers that offer:

• Reliable performance
• Competitive pricing
• Good documentation
• Strong communities
• Global data centers Choose Linode for: Slightly better value, more flexibility, advanced features Choose DigitalOcean for: Ease of use, extensive tutorials, App Platform Bottom line: You can’t go wrong with either. The best choice depends on your specific needs, technical comfort level, and which data center locations work best for your audience. Ready to decide? Use our VPS Finder to compare Linode and DigitalOcean plans based on your exact requirements, or browse all Linode plans and DigitalOcean plans.

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Data note: prices and plan families change. Use plan pages for last-checked dates and recent updates, and always confirm on the provider checkout page. Need help with other providers? Browse all guides or see all providers.