Linode is a pioneer in virtual private server (VPS) hosting. They provide a simple Linux node which is quick and easy to setup. Basically they helped make VPS setup more user friendly and popular. They are now a common name in VPS hosting and are still one of the most popular Linux VPS hosts. As good as they are, they have had their share of problems, and there might be a Linode alternative that is better suited to your needs.
One thing to know about Linode is that they are big. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Their large user base has given Linode a great deal of experience. At the same time, it makes them a target for hackers. At the beginning of 2016 Linode was the target of a sustained and large DDOS attack. This attack made their servers unavailable for hours at a time meaning that their users were unable to reach their VPS. They have also been the target of password hacks in the past where their users’ passwords were compromised.
Now that being said, a DDOS attack can happen to any hosting company, or anyone on the Internet. Linode is still a good VPS provider, but here are some others that you might consider using if you are unhappy with your Linode service or are wary about becoming a Linode customer.
DigitaOcean
DigitalOcean is definitely Linode’s main competitor. They were one of the first hosting companies to offer faster SSD harddrives on their machines. They also provide a large number of technical documents for those needing assistance in setting up a VPS.
Their pricing has historically been a better value than Linode. That was because for a long time they were an underdog. Currently this is less true than in the past. One reason being is that DigitalOcean is no longer an underdog who has to compete on price, but is an equal to Linode in terms of popularity and name recognition.
DigitalOcean is the company most similar to Linode. So if you want something like Linode that isn’t Linode, a DigitalOcean droplet is a good start.
Vultr
You know how I said that DigitalOcean was the underdog to Linode at one point? Well, this is currently where Vultr is at. They are growing in leaps and bounds by offering competitive pricing and better service. Because they are still growing in size and are still the new kid on the block Vultr is forced to compete on the service and the prices of their VPSs. They cannot rely on name recognition like Linode can.
If Vultr has a plan that fits your needs they are probably the company I would recommend the most in terms of Linode alternatives.
RamNode
RamNode is interesting because they built their name on offering high quality low-end VPSs. A low-end VPS is simply a cheap VPS that does not have much power. That is not to say that RamNode does not have powerful VPSs. They do. They simply because a well known name among low-end VPS users first.
Most low-end providers are not the best at providing high quality service. I mean, if a user is paying $15/year for their VPS they cannot expect 100% uptime. While this is true of many low-end providers, RamNode was different. They actually did strive for 100% uptime, even for their lowest paying customers.
This translated to a high quality service for all their plans, from their largest customers to the smallest customers. If you are leaving Linode because you feel that they have not paid you the attention you deserve, RamNode is a great alternative.
VirMach
VirMach is another low-end VPS provider. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Linode, this is a good provider to check out. They are not as well known as the other providers listed here, but they are large enough that you can depend on them. They are located in ten different data centers, mainly in the US and in Germany.
What really distinguishes VirMach is their low prices and that they offer a Windows VPS option on many of their plans. If you ever wanted to try a Windows VPS, VirMach is a great way to do so on the cheap.
Amazon’s “web services”
Amazon’s “web services” (AWS) is not really a traditional VPS provider. It is a cloud provider. AWS is more expensive than traditional VPS services, but it does have a few benefits. Two of the main reasons to switch to AWS is the scalability and the ease of combining it with other Amazon services.
If you have a service that you expect you will need to scale in a rapid manner then AWS might be right for you. Amazon is huge and is able to offer scaling depending on your needs. If all of the sudden you need a huge amount of computing power, AWS can handle that. Be aware that you will be paying for this spike in power. Many AWS users end up with very high overage charges because their website spiked in traffic. A traditional VPS has limits on what you pay for.
If you use other Amazon cloud services then AWS might make combining the two easier than a traditional VPS.
If money is no issue then AWS might be right for you. It might also be right for you if you know you will need to rapidly increase the power of your virtual host. Otherwise you are likely better off going with a traditional VPS provider.
Conclusion
Linode is a good VPS company. However, if you are unsatisfied with them, one of the above should be able to meet your needs. Check out our VPS comparison to see specific plans offered by the above mentioned hosts.
