Linode vs Google Compute Engine vs Azure Virtual Machines Comparison
Linode
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Small Business
Introducing Linode, the cutting-edge solution designed to empower innovation by providing robust infrastructure services. With a focus on facilitating creativity and efficiency, Linode offers a suite of advanced tools an…
Google Compute Engine
Starting at $0.01 Pay-as-you-go
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Google Compute Engine is a powerful Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform that enables organizations to create and run virtual machines (VMs) on Google Cloud’s high-performance infrastructure. It supports both pres…
Azure Virtual Machines
Starting at $6.1320 /month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide secure, flexible, and scalable compute capacity for a wide range of workloads, from development and testing to enterprise applications and high-performance computing. With Virtual Mac…
Linode leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 82 reviews.
Linode vs Google Compute Engine vs Azure Virtual Machines — at a glance
| Feature | Linode | Google Compute Engine | Azure Virtual Machines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | — | — |
| Reviews | 82 | — | — |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $0.01 Pay-as-you-go | $6.1320 /month |
| Free trial | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Small Business, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Providers | Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Providers | Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Providers |
| Platforms | Browser Based (Cloud) | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows |
| API | Available | — | — |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep), Online | — | Business Hours, Online, 24/7 (Live rep) |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR | — | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | Global | — | Global |
Key differences between Linode and Google Compute Engine
- Pricing: Google Compute Engine starts at $0.01 Pay-as-you-go. Linode pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Google Compute Engine offers a free trial; Linode does not.
- Deployment: Linode supports Browser Based (Cloud); Google Compute Engine supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Compare Linode vs Google Compute Engine vs Azure Virtual Machines — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Providers tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for developers and SMBs needing cost-effective, customizable cloud infrastructure.
- You want to automate instance configuration with flexible StackScripts.
- You need programmatic management supported by comprehensive developer documentation.
- You prefer an intuitive UI/UX that balances power with accessibility.
- Your enterprise requires advanced cloud integrations and built-in PaaS solutions.
- Your team lacks cloud infrastructure knowledge and needs a highly simplified platform.
Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
Best for scalable, high-performance enterprise workloads with flexible OS support.
- You need automatic scaling for thousands of VMs based on demand.
- Your workloads require GPU-enabled instances for AI or HPC tasks.
- You want integrated monitoring and disaster recovery within the Azure ecosystem.
- Your team lacks expertise in managing complex Azure infrastructure setups.
- You require simple, predictable pricing without variable cost fluctuations.
Linode typically suits Large Enterprises and Small Business. Google Compute Engine tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Introducing Linode, the cutting-edge solution designed to empower innovation by providing robust infrastructure services. With a focus on facilitating creativity and efficiency, Linode ... Read More about Linode | Google Compute Engine is a powerful Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform that enables organizations to create and run virtual machines (VMs) on Google Cloud’s high-performance ... Read More about Google Compute Engine | Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide secure, flexible, and scalable compute capacity for a wide range of workloads, from development and testing to enterprise applications and ... Read More about Azure Virtual Machines |
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Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-500 employees | — | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |  Linode has not given any software demo yet If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us |
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How do Linode, Google Compute Engine and Azure Virtual Machines Compare on Features?
Total Features | 0 Features | 0 Features | 14 Features |
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Unique Features | No features | No features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Linode, Google Compute Engine and Azure Virtual Machines on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | ✗ No | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | — | 🌐 Global |
Linode vs Google Compute Engine User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | 4.5 (based on 82 reviews) | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | No reviews available for this product | No reviews available for this product | |
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Linode's developer-friendly automation, intuitive interface, and cost-effectiveness, with some concerns about enterprise features and learning curve. What buyers like
Common complaints
| No expert review available for this product | Buyer sentiment Buyers appreciate Azure VMs for their scalability, multi-OS support, and performance optimizations but note complexity in setup and cost management. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
| No pros or cons available for this product |
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List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. | No Customers information available. |  Unilever  Teradata  Datadog |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. | No screenshots available. |  2 Screenshots |
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Videos | No videos available. | No videos available. |  1 Videos |
Alternatives
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Linode or Google Compute Engine?
- Linode edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Linode and Google Compute Engine offer a free trial?
- Google Compute Engine offers a free trial. Linode does not.
- What is the starting price of Linode vs Google Compute Engine?
- Linode starts at Contact for pricing. Google Compute Engine starts at $0.01 Pay-as-you-go.
- What are the top alternatives to Linode?
- Top alternatives to Linode include SCloud UHost, OVHcloud, IO River - Virtual Edge, RunPod, VMware Cloud Foundation.
- What are the top alternatives to Google Compute Engine?
- Top alternatives to Google Compute Engine include Kamatera, E2E Cloud, Vultr, Alibaba E-HPC, Azure Linux Virtual Machines.