Vultr vs Linode: which developer cloud is cheaper, and which is better for databases, Kubernetes and GPUs
Short answer: Vultr is cheaper to start ($2.50 a month for an IPv6-only server, $5 for 1 GB) and its Kubernetes control plane is free. Linode, now sold by Akamai as Akamai Cloud, starts at $5 a month for 1 GB, is within a dollar of Vultr on managed databases, and suits teams already on Akamai’s CDN and security. Prices checked November 10, 2026 on both providers’ own pricing pages.
Key takeaways
✓ Prices checked November 10, 2026
| What you are buying | Vultr | Linode (Akamai Cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest server | $2.50/mo: 1 vCPU, 0.5 GB, 10 GB, 0.5 TB transfer, IPv6 only | $5/mo Nanode: 1 CPU, 1 GB, 25 GB, 1 TB transfer |
| 1 GB server | $5/mo: 1 vCPU, 25 GB, 1 TB | $5/mo: 1 CPU, 25 GB, 1 TB |
| 2 GB server | $10/mo: 1 vCPU, 55 GB, 2 TB | $12/mo: 1 CPU, 50 GB, 2 TB |
| Faster entry tier | High Frequency $6/mo: 1 vCPU, 1 GB, 32 GB, 1 TB | Dedicated CPU from $36/mo: 2 CPU, 4 GB, 80 GB, 4 TB |
| Managed MySQL / PostgreSQL | From $15/mo (1 GB, 1 vCPU, 25 GB, MySQL) | From $16/mo (shared 1 GB, 1 CPU, 9 GB usable) |
| Managed Kubernetes | Control plane free; pay for worker nodes | Standard control plane free; HA from $60/mo per cluster; LKE Enterprise $300/mo per cluster |
| Cheapest GPU | NVIDIA A16, from $0.471/hr | NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada, $0.52/hr |
| Extra transfer | $0.01 per GB | $0.005 per GB |
| Owner | Independent | Akamai (bought Linode in 2022) |
When Vultr wins
Price at the bottom end. Vultr’s $2.50 server is the cheapest real VPS either company sells, though it is IPv6 only; the same box with a normal IPv4 address is $3.50. At 2 GB Vultr is $10 against Linode’s $12, and Vultr adds 5 GB more disk. Its High Frequency plans start at $6 a month for 1 GB on faster CPUs and storage, which is the cheapest way on either cloud to get a quicker small server.
Vultr also wins on Kubernetes cost for small teams, because its control plane is free and stays free. And its cheapest GPU (an NVIDIA A16 at $0.471 an hour) undercuts Linode’s cheapest GPU slightly.
When Linode wins
You already use Akamai for CDN, DNS or security, and want one bill and one support team. That integration is the main reason to pick Linode over Vultr since Akamai bought it. Linode’s extra transfer is also cheaper: $0.005 per GB beyond your allowance, half Vultr’s $0.01 per GB. If your app pushes a lot of data out, that adds up.
Managed databases: Vultr vs Linode
The small end is a near tie. Vultr’s cheapest managed MySQL is $15 a month for 1 GB, 1 vCPU and 25 GB of storage. Linode’s cheapest managed MySQL or PostgreSQL is $16 a month for a shared 1 GB node with 9 GB usable. Vultr gives you more disk for a dollar less. For a growing service, both add replica nodes for failover at higher prices, so price the plan size you expect to reach in a year, not the entry plan.
Kubernetes and containers
Both run managed Kubernetes and neither charges for a standard control plane, so a small cluster costs only its worker nodes on either cloud. The difference shows up when you need more: Linode charges from $60 a month per cluster for a high-availability control plane and $300 a month for LKE Enterprise. For scaling containerized apps on a budget, Vultr is the cheaper place to start. For a team that wants an enterprise tier with Akamai behind it, Linode has one to buy.
AI and ML workloads
For development and smaller inference jobs, both sell hourly GPUs: Vultr from $0.471 an hour (NVIDIA A16, 16 GB of GPU memory), Linode from $0.52 an hour (NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada). Vultr also lists larger GPUs, billed by the hour, for training work. Check that the GPU you need is available in your region before you commit, since GPU stock varies by location on both clouds.
Where they tie
Both are mature developer clouds with Linux servers you set up yourself, hourly billing, snapshots, backups, load balancers and object storage. The 1 GB server is $5 on both with the same disk and transfer. Both are stable choices for small and mid-size workloads.
The bottom line
On price alone, Vultr: cheaper at the low end, cheaper at 2 GB, free Kubernetes control plane. If you already live in the Akamai ecosystem or want an enterprise Kubernetes tier, Linode. If you want WordPress without managing a server yourself, Cloudways runs managed WordPress on top of Vultr and Linode servers, among others. Cloudways plans start at $11 a month, and its DigitalOcean servers start at $14. See Cloudways pricing.
Vultr pricing · Linode (Akamai Cloud) pricing
Related comparisons
Common questions
Is Vultr or Linode cheaper?
Vultr, at the low end. Its cheapest server is $2.50 a month (IPv6 only) against Linode’s $5, and its 2 GB server is $10 against Linode’s $12. At 1 GB both cost $5 a month.
Which is better for managed databases as a service grows?
They start within a dollar of each other: Vultr managed MySQL from $15 a month, Linode from $16. Vultr’s entry plan has more disk (25 GB against 9 GB usable). Both add replica nodes for failover at higher plan sizes, so compare the size you expect to need, not just the entry price.
Which is better for Kubernetes and containers?
For a small team, Vultr, because its control plane is free and there is no paid tier to push you into. Linode’s standard control plane is also free, but high availability starts at $60 a month per cluster and LKE Enterprise is $300 a month.
Which is better for AI and machine learning?
Both rent GPUs by the hour. Vultr starts lower ($0.471 an hour for an NVIDIA A16) and also lists larger GPUs for training. Linode starts at $0.52 an hour for an NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada. Check stock in your region on both.
Did the Akamai acquisition change Linode?
Yes. Akamai bought Linode in 2022, and the linode.com pricing page now redirects to Akamai Cloud. The servers are still recognizably Linode, but the roadmap leans toward Akamai’s CDN, security and enterprise customers.
Which one is better for WordPress?
Both offer one-click WordPress images, but neither is managed WordPress; you maintain the server yourself. For managed WordPress on either cloud, Cloudways runs on top of both.
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