Too Close to Call
Score Comparison
Criteria
Linode (Akamai)
AWS Lightsail
Overall Score
8.4
8.3
Performance
8.6
8.5
Features
8.2
8.8
Ease of Use
8.5
7.8
Pricing/Value
8.6
8.2
Support
8.0
8.0
Pricing & Features
Specification
Linode (Akamai)
AWS Lightsail
Starting Price
$5/mo
Free / $5/mo
Free Tier
Pricing Model
Subscription
Subscription
Making Your Decision
When to Choose Linode (Akamai)
Price-conscious developers who want reliable performance and good support
Linode (now part of Akamai) offers solid VPS hosting with competitive pricing and reliable performance. A great middle-ground choice for those who find AWS too complex but need more than basic shared hosting.
Strengths
- Consistent performance with dedicated CPU options
- Competitive pricing with generous bandwidth
- Now backed by Akamai CDN infrastructure
- Strong uptime track record
Limitations
- Fewer one-click apps than competitors
- Akamai acquisition creating some uncertainty
- Control panel less polished than DigitalOcean
When to Choose AWS Lightsail
Developers wanting simple VPS with option to scale into full AWS
AWS Lightsail offers the reliability of Amazon infrastructure with predictable pricing. Ideal for those who may eventually need AWS services but want a simple starting point.
Strengths
- Predictable flat-rate pricing unlike standard AWS
- Easy path to full AWS services when needed
- Includes free data transfer (up to 3TB)
- One-click WordPress, LAMP, and Node.js stacks
Limitations
- Limited customization compared to EC2
- Support costs extra without Business/Enterprise plan
- AWS Console can still feel overwhelming
