# Akamai Acquires Linode: What It Means for Developers > Akamai acquired Linode for $900M in 2022. Learn what changed for developers, how Akamai Cloud Computing works today, and what the best alternatives are. - **Author**: manav-dobariya - **Published**: 2026-06-17 - **Modified**: 2026-06-17 - **Category**: Deployment Guides - **URL**: https://kuberns.com/blogs/akamai-acquires-linode/ --- Akamai acquired Linode for approximately $900 million in 2022 and rebranded it to Akamai Cloud Computing. For developers who relied on Linode's affordable, no-surprise VPS pricing, this was a significant shift. The platform changed direction, pricing increased, and the product roadmap moved toward enterprise. What was once a developer-first VPS provider became part of a large CDN and security company with a very different target customer. If you are trying to understand what Akamai Cloud is today, what actually changed after the acquisition, and whether it still makes sense for your team, this guide covers all of it. ## What Is Akamai Cloud Computing? ![Akamai Cloud Computing overview after the Linode acquisition](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/akamai-cloud-computing-overview.png) Akamai Cloud Computing is the rebranded version of Linode, now operating as part of Akamai's broader Connected Cloud platform. Linode was founded in 2003 by Christopher Aker as one of the first developer-friendly VPS providers. In 2022, Akamai Technologies acquired it and in February 2023 completed a full rebrand. The platform today offers: - **Linodes (VMs):** Shared CPU plans starting at $5/month, dedicated CPU plans starting at $36/month - **LKE:** Managed Kubernetes service - **Object Storage:** S3-compatible, starts at $6.99/month - **GPU Instances:** RTX 4000 Ada from $0.52/hour - **NodeBalancers:** Managed load balancers at $10/month - **Managed Databases:** MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB from $15/month - **41 global regions** across 36 cities Akamai's CDN and security services are now natively integrated with the cloud compute layer, which is the core strategic change the acquisition enabled. The result is a platform that pitches itself as the distributed alternative to hyperscalers like AWS and Google Cloud. > Already familiar with the Linode product line? See the full breakdown of what [Akamai Cloud Computing offers and how it works](/blogs/what-is-linode/) before comparing alternatives. ## What Changed for Developers After the Acquisition? ![Developer impact of the Akamai Linode acquisition and rebrand](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/akamai-linode-developer-changes.png) The acquisition was not just a name change. Several things shifted in ways that directly affected developers using the platform. **Rebrand:** Linode officially became Akamai Cloud Computing in February 2023. The dashboard, API endpoints, and CLI were updated. The `linode.com` domain still works, but everything now routes through Akamai's infrastructure. **Pricing increase:** In 2023, Akamai implemented approximately a 20% price increase across compute plans. A Nanode that was priced at $5/month held steady, but mid-range and dedicated plans saw meaningful increases. This was a notable break from Linode's reputation for stable, predictable pricing. **Enterprise direction shift:** Linode was built for individual developers and small teams. After the acquisition, Akamai's roadmap moved toward enterprise features: managed container services, GPU compute, compliance certifications, and edge AI inference. These are valuable capabilities for large teams but add complexity that solo developers and startups do not need. **What stayed the same:** The underlying Linux VMs remain recognisably Linode. Hourly billing with a monthly cap is still in place. Inbound transfer, DNS management, and DDoS protection remain free. Existing accounts migrated without data loss. For developers who were on Linode for simple, cheap VPS hosting, the post-acquisition platform is a different product in terms of positioning, pricing, and complexity. For many, this was the trigger to explore [Linode pricing after the acquisition](/blogs/linode-pricing/) and decide whether to stay or move. ## How Akamai Cloud Compares to PaaS Platforms in 2026 ![Akamai Cloud vs PaaS platforms comparison for developers in 2026](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/akamai-cloud-vs-paas-comparison.png) The most important thing to understand about Akamai Cloud is what category it sits in. Akamai Cloud is **IaaS** (Infrastructure as a Service). You get virtual machines. Everything on top of those machines, OS configuration, deployment pipelines, scaling rules, monitoring, backups, and environment variables, is your responsibility. PaaS platforms (Platform as a Service) sit one layer higher. You connect your code repository, and the platform handles builds, deployments, scaling, and uptime automatically. | | Akamai Cloud | Kuberns | DigitalOcean App Platform | Railway | |---|---|---|---|---| | **Type** | IaaS | AI-native PaaS | PaaS | PaaS | | **Setup time** | Hours to days | Under 5 minutes | 15-30 minutes | 10-15 minutes | | **Server management** | Manual | None | None | None | | **Auto-scaling** | Manual config | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | | **Starting price** | $5/mo (VM only) | Free credits (~$14) | $5/mo | Free tier | | **Best for** | DevOps teams needing raw VPS control | Developers who want to ship without managing infra | Frontend and light backend apps | Solo devs and small teams | For teams with a dedicated DevOps engineer, Akamai Cloud provides the control and flexibility of raw infrastructure. For developers who want to focus on shipping code rather than managing servers, a modern PaaS is the faster path. You can also see how [Linode stacks up directly against DigitalOcean and Kuberns](/blogs/linode-vs-digitalocean-vs-kuberns-ai/) or compare [Linode against Vultr and Kuberns](/blogs/linode-vs-vultr-vs-kuberns-ai/) if you are evaluating IaaS options side by side. [![Deploy your app without managing servers](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/deploy-on-kuberns-bannner6.png)](https://dashboard.kuberns.com) > Evaluating cloud platforms for your team? See how the [best PaaS providers in 2026](/blogs/best-paas-providers/) stack up before committing to an IaaS setup that requires ongoing management. ## Why Developers Are Choosing Kuberns Over Akamai Cloud ![Why developers choose Kuberns over Akamai Cloud for app deployment](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/kuberns-vs-akamai-cloud.png) The core difference is what you are responsible for. On Akamai Cloud, you provision a VM and then manage everything: install dependencies, configure the web server, set up CI/CD, write deployment scripts, configure monitoring, handle scaling. That is significant ongoing work. [Kuberns](https://kuberns.com/blogs/what-is-kuberns-the-simplest-way-to-build-deploy-and-scale-full-stack-apps/) is built for a different model. You connect your GitHub repository, set your environment variables, and click deploy. The AI agent handles the rest automatically. Here is what that means in practice: - **No server provisioning:** There is no VM to configure or maintain - **No YAML, no Dockerfiles:** Kuberns detects your stack and configures the build automatically - **No DevOps team required:** A solo founder or a small team can run production applications without infrastructure expertise - **Built on AWS:** Kuberns runs on AWS infrastructure, delivering enterprise-grade reliability at up to 40% lower cost than managing AWS directly - **AI-managed scaling and monitoring:** The platform monitors your app and scales resources automatically without manual intervention - **Free credits to start:** New accounts get approximately $14 in free credits with no credit card required Where Akamai Cloud is the right choice for teams that need low-level infrastructure control (bare metal-like access, custom networking, GPU compute), Kuberns is the right choice for teams whose goal is to ship and scale applications without DevOps overhead. The teams moving away from Linode and Akamai Cloud are largely not moving to another VPS provider. They are moving to platforms that remove the server management layer entirely. If that is what you are evaluating, the [Linode alternatives guide](/blogs/linode-alternatives/) covers the full range of options with honest comparisons. > Ready to deploy without managing infrastructure? [Kuberns](https://dashboard.kuberns.com) gets your app live on AWS in under five minutes, no DevOps required. ## Conclusion Akamai's acquisition of Linode was a meaningful shift for the developer cloud market. What started as an affordable, developer-focused VPS platform became part of an enterprise CDN and security company. The product is still functional for teams with Linux and DevOps expertise, but the direction, pricing, and complexity have all moved upmarket. For developers who want to deploy applications without managing servers, the acquisition opened the door to re-evaluate. Platforms like Kuberns remove the infrastructure layer entirely. You ship code. The platform handles everything else. If you are spending more time managing cloud infrastructure than building your product, [Kuberns](https://dashboard.kuberns.com) is worth a look. [![Start deploying on Kuberns with AI](https://kuberns-blogs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/CTA_banner.png)](https://dashboard.kuberns.com) ## FAQ **When did Akamai acquire Linode?** Akamai announced the acquisition on February 15, 2022, and completed it in March 2022 for approximately $900 million. **How much did Akamai pay for Linode?** Akamai acquired Linode for approximately $900 million. **Is Linode still available after the Akamai acquisition?** Yes, but it has been rebranded. Linode is now Akamai Cloud Computing. The underlying VMs and infrastructure remain similar, though pricing and product direction have shifted toward enterprise. **What is Akamai Cloud Computing?** Akamai Cloud Computing is the rebranded version of Linode, offering Linux virtual machines, managed Kubernetes, object storage, GPU instances, and NodeBalancers across 41 global regions. It is an IaaS platform, meaning you manage your own servers and configuration. **Did Linode pricing change after the Akamai acquisition?** Yes. Akamai implemented an approximately 20% price increase in 2023 following the acquisition, a notable shift from Linode's historically competitive pricing. **What is Akamai Connected Cloud?** Akamai Connected Cloud is the umbrella brand combining Akamai's CDN and security services with Linode's cloud compute infrastructure. It spans 41 compute regions and integrates edge delivery with cloud hosting. **Is Akamai Cloud IaaS or PaaS?** Akamai Cloud is IaaS. You get virtual machines and storage, but you are responsible for configuring, deploying, scaling, and maintaining everything on top of that infrastructure yourself. **What are the best Akamai Cloud alternatives for developers?** For developers who want to avoid server management, the best alternatives are PaaS platforms like Kuberns, Render, and Railway. Kuberns is AI-native and deploys full-stack apps automatically on AWS with no DevOps required. **Can I still use Linode after the rebrand?** Yes. Existing Linode accounts migrated to Akamai Cloud Computing. The dashboard and API have been updated, but the core product is still the same Linux VPS infrastructure. **How is Akamai Cloud different from Heroku or Railway?** Akamai Cloud is IaaS and requires you to manage servers directly. Heroku and Railway are PaaS platforms that abstract server management. Kuberns goes further as an AI-native PaaS that handles deployments, scaling, and monitoring automatically. --- - [More Deployment Guides articles](https://kuberns.com/blogs/category/deployment-guides/1/) - [All articles](https://kuberns.com/blogs/)