Linode vs DigitalOcean 2025: Which VPS Provider is Better?
An in-depth comparison of Linode and DigitalOcean, two of the most popular VPS providers. We compare pricing, performance, features, and help you decide which is right for you.
Linode vs DigitalOcean 2025: 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 | Slightly better Geekbench scores | Consistent, reliable |
| 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 Benchmarks
Based on our performance benchmarking data, here’s how the two compare:
Geekbench 6 Single-Core Scores
| Provider/Plan | Single-Core Score |
|---|---|
| Linode 2GB | ~850-900 |
| DigitalOcean Basic 2GB | ~800-850 |
| DigitalOcean Premium 4GB | ~950-1000 |
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core Scores
| Provider/Plan | Multi-Core Score |
|---|---|
| Linode 4GB | ~1500-1600 |
| DigitalOcean Basic 4GB | ~1400-1500 |
| DigitalOcean Premium 4GB | ~1900-2000 |
Performance per Dollar
| Provider | Value Score (GB6 multi / USD) |
|---|---|
| Linode 2GB | ~75-80 |
| DigitalOcean Basic 2GB | ~65-70 |
| DigitalOcean Premium 4GB | ~40-45 |
Performance winner:
- For basic plans: Linode has a slight edge
- For premium performance: DigitalOcean Premium offers the best raw performance
- For value: Linode offers better performance per dollar
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:
- Start with the smallest plan that meets your needs
- Test thoroughly before scaling up
- 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:
- Create a Linode Nanode ($5) and a DigitalOcean Basic Droplet ($6)
- Deploy your application on both
- Test performance from your target location
- Compare the experiences
- 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:
- VPS Finder - Filter and sort by your requirements
- Performance page - Compare real benchmark scores
- Compare tool - Side-by-side comparison of specific plans
Example Comparison
Compare these entry-level plans:
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.
Data based on our latest benchmarks as of January 2025. Check our Performance page for current benchmark scores.
Need help with other providers? See our provider comparisons or browse all providers.