Would it be correct to say that the nature of Lenin and Stalin regime were very similar?

The similarities between the nature of Government under Lenin and Stalin are often debated due to their importance in Russian history. It is clear that Lenin and Stalins often resorted to brutal methods to prevent opposition from rising to power. For example, Lenin's Red Terror in 1918 involved the Cheka removing any potential threat to the state, which led to mass murder and terror throughout the country. Similarly Stalin's purges in the 1930s also involved removing opposition or threat by whatever means necessary. Both regimes were involved in dominating the soviet population through the control and restriction in the media, propaganda and the arts. Both leaders need to control the country through preventing rising opposition made the nature of the regime's very similar.
Despite the clear similarities, there are many aspects of both leaders and their regime which made them extremely different. For example, Stalin created a system which was heavily influenced by a personality cult to maintain power. For example, his depiction in propaganda and media portrayed him to be a loving, fatherly figure. Stalin's name became omnipresent and most people idolised him. However, Lenin did not rely on a personality cults to control the country. Another difference in both leaders regime is the commitment to ideology. For example, Lenin's regime was prepared to abandon their ideology in order to remain in power; this is seen with the introduction of the NEP in 1921. Stalin on the other hand was extremely inflexible and this is seen with his collectivisation policies in the 1930s.
It is clear that both leaders need for control and fear of opposition made them similar with their use of brutal punishment. However, their commitment to their ideology portrayed the leaders to have some key differences.