Exoscale vs Linode (Akamai Cloud) Comparison
Compare Exoscale vs Linode (Akamai Cloud) features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Exoscale
6.4/10
Swiss-based European cloud provider that offers compute instances, managed Kubernetes, managed databases and S3-compatible object storage, aimed at businesses that need data sovereignty.
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
7/10
Developer-focused cloud platform, now run by Akamai, offering VPS compute, managed Kubernetes, managed databases and object storage at flat, predictable prices.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.4/10 | 7/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Reliability | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | $5/mo Nanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free SKS Starter | $5/mo Nanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| Features | ||
| API and CLI | ||
| Cloud Compute | ||
| Managed Databases | ||
| Managed Kubernetes | ||
| Multiple Regions | ||
| Object Storage | ||
| Uptime SLA | ||
| VPS Hosting | ||
| Automatic Backups | Not listed | |
| DDoS Protection | Not listed | |
Exoscale vs Linode (Akamai Cloud) cost by team size
| Team size | Exoscale | Linode (Akamai Cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeSKS Starter | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| 5 users | FreeSKS Starter | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| 10 users | FreeSKS Starter | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| 25 users | FreeSKS Starter | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
| 50 users | FreeSKS Starter | $5/moNanode 1 GB (Shared CPU) |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Exoscale
- Has a free plan (Linode (Akamai Cloud) does not)
- Higher Security score (8/10 vs 7/10)
Why choose Linode (Akamai Cloud)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Customization score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Exoscale
Pros
- Data stays in Swiss and EU zones, backed by ISO 27001/27017/27018, BSI C5, SOC 2 and HDS certifications.
- Per-second billing with no commitment, plus about 1 TiB of free outbound traffic per instance each month.
- The Kubernetes control plane is free on the SKS Starter tier.
- A broad managed-database lineup includes Kafka, ClickHouse and OpenSearch.
- S3-compatible storage and Terraform support make migration from AWS easier.
Cons
- Its service catalogue is much smaller than AWS, Azure or OVHcloud.
- There is less community documentation than for the major clouds.
- Faster paid support starts at 50 per month and Enterprise support needs a 1,500 monthly minimum.
- There is no shared hosting, managed WordPress or CDN product for simple websites.
- Storage costs per GB are higher than at budget providers such as Contabo.
Linode (Akamai Cloud)
Pros
- Flat published prices, starting at 5 dollars a month for a 1 GB Nanode, with hourly billing
- The standard Kubernetes control plane in LKE is free
- Egress overage costs only 0.005 dollars per GB, and most shared plans include 1 to 5 TB of transfer
- Its documentation, API, CLI and Terraform support are strong, which suits developers who automate their infrastructure
- DDoS protection is included, and inbound bandwidth is 40 Gbps on all plans
Cons
- Some 2025 reviews report new accounts flagged as fraud or suspended, with tickets taking 24 to 48 hours
- No live chat support is offered, and standard support has no published response-time SLA
- Reviewers say managed services and advanced enterprise features are fewer than on the hyperscalers
- Managed databases cost more than on budget providers, with HA starting around 246 dollars a month according to one third-party guide
- The Akamai rebrand has confused some customers and, by their account, hurt trust
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
Linode (Akamai Cloud) scores higher on our Hosting & Infrastructure criteria: 7/10 against 6.4/10 for Exoscale. The largest gap is in Cost: 6/10 for Exoscale and 8/10 for Linode (Akamai Cloud).
Exoscale has a free plan; Linode (Akamai Cloud) does not list one.
