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Add to SafariWhen comparing Linode vs Cloud at Cost, the Slant community recommends Linode for most people. In the question“What are the best VPS providers?” Linode is ranked 2nd while Cloud at Cost is ranked 19th. 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
Question Ranking
Pros
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.
Pro Cheap. Like, really cheap...
With the coupons they offer all the time you really can't beat the price when you consider its a one time fee.
Pro Good variety of OS selections
You can load several variants of Linux (Ubuntu, Cent OS, Debian, etc.) and they even let you throw Windows 7 on them (security nightmare, but whatever). You have to enter your own Win 7 key.
Cons
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.
Con Service
You get what you pay for. Don't expect stellar customer support or blazing fast boxes. I only use these for really basic things. I have one running GitLab to back up my code, a couple running Cloud 9 so I can dev straight on the server, and one as a proxy for when I'm on public wifi or something. Don't think you are going to run your company's web site on these servers.
