ExpressVPN vs Linode
When comparing ExpressVPN vs Linode, the Slant community recommends Linode for most people. In the question“What are the best VPN services for routers?” Linode is ranked 4th while ExpressVPN is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Linode is:
Linode's support is amazing. Tickets are usually answered within minutes, if there's a network or hardware issue it's usually resolved before anyone even notices.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Multiple protocols available
Aside from the automatic mode that picks the protocol most appropriate for your network, you can manually choose UDP/TPC or L2TP.
Pro Works on multiple platforms and integrates well
Pro Great speed while streaming and downloading
Pro Fast
ExpressVPN have special throttling-free servers due to which it's speed is really fast.
Pro NO-Logs Claim Put to the ULTIMATE TEST
"Turkish authorities seized a VPN server operated by ExpressVPN that they say was used to hide details regarding the assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov. The server held no useful information for the authorities, who were investigating the deletion of possible evidence on Facebook and Gmail."
Pro Built-in speed test
Test all the available servers in all countries at once, to be able to pick the fastest.
Pro Best iPhone App, easy to configure and install
It's really easy to install and configure as compare to other VPN services providers.
Pro DNS leak detection
Prevents leaking your private browser behavior to an unencrypted DNS server.
Pro Great Encryption
SSL Secured.
Pro Most TRANSPARENT Privacy Policy
Pro Works well in China
Pro No data limit
Pro Has an APP for Wi-Fi Routers
Not just manual configurations. ExpressVPN, has their own app, with their own firmware images, for specific routers
Pro Excellent support
Linode's support is amazing. Tickets are usually answered within minutes, if there's a network or hardware issue it's usually resolved before anyone even notices.
Pro Gives you the chance to fix problems without relying on support
If you mess things up in your Linode instance, for example with the filesystem or boot configuration, Linode allows you to run a recovery ISO so you can try and fix things yourself without relying on Linode's support team.
Pro Speed
Their VPSs are very fast.
Pro Allows you to do things that usually can only be done if you have access to the hardware
Linode allows you to create memory partitions and copy or move them around. Furthermore, it even lets you reboot your instance with smaller RAM in order to simulate how your application would act if your Linode instance gets downgraded.
Pro Comprehensive, well documented API
The API gives access to nodes, nodebalancers, stackscripts, DNS, and accounts.
Pro Provides SDKs for several languages
SDKs are available for Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Java, and Node.js.
Pro Stack scripts
Stack scripts gives you the chance to build a completely custom Linode stack with multiple custom features and options all run automatically and set up.
Pro New Cloud Beta user interface
A new user interface is under development which will still keep the same level of power Linode offers but with a cleaner interface. Showing forward thinking and continued improvement.
Cons
Con Commercial
7 days trial
Con Pricey
ExpressVPN price is above the average. It's $8.32/month if you choose 1 year plan. $12.95/month for a single month without 12 or 6 months commitment.
Con Backups have become unreliable
I've been a Linode customer for 10+ years, but over the past 3+ years their backups have become unreliable, which is unacceptable for a paid extra to the service. I've had multiple issues with backups failing, and restoring from a backup has caused my VPS to fail to deliver website content for reasons neither I nor Linode support could figure out. In the end, I just had to rebuild the server from scratch with a personal backup.
Con Not really suitable if you have a very heavy CPU application
They'll cap your usage if you go above 80% for a sustained period - even on very large expensive boxes (if you use Load Balancers offered, this can be mitigated).
Con For more advanced users
Can be an issue for those not used to setting up their own server. Managed services are really expensive if help is needed.
Con No self-help migrating option
If you want to migrate to another hosting solution from Linode, you can't do it by yourself. You have to open a support ticket.
Con Treats customer as a liability
Many malpractices in the name of machine abuse. Their machines get abused with just 10% steady cpu utilization.
