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The Top 5 CDN Providers of 2023

Cloudflare Logo

Cloudflare

Best CDN provider

  • Often available with other hosting
  • Great customer support
  • Top-tier security

Summary

  • Starting price
    • Free
  • 100% Uptime Guarantee
    Yes
  • Free trial/Demo
    Free Version Available
  • Free SSL
    Yes
  • Image Optimization
    Yes
  • Integrations
    Wordpress Integration

Cloudflare is an extremely popular CDN. Many web hosting companies offer Cloudflare services as a free feature with normal hosting, but you can also sign up for it separately. Cloudflare offers lots of features and has a proven reputation for helping websites to run faster and more securely.



Cloudflare is the ideal CDN for almost anyone because it is so easy to use. Most individuals and small businesses that are running websites will have the power of this CDN built right in because it comes with many hosting packages.


This service is not just for entry-level websites, though. If you are running a major website, Cloudflare has the tools and services needed to protect your site and make sure it loads extremely quickly for all your visitors.


Cloudflare’s services can be tailored to all websites — one of the biggest reasons I ranked it the best. Another main reason why this service ranks so well is that it really couldn’t be easier to use. For most people, it is possible to get all the benefits of this CDN without having to adjust any settings or have any technical skills at all.


Anyone who wants to use a CDN to help improve their website’s performance would do well starting with Cloudflare as the default. Only move to another option if you have a specific reason.


Who is Cloudflare best for?


Cloudflare is best for individuals, small businesses, bloggers, e-commerce sites, and anyone running a small to midsize website. We recommend this option because in many cases, it will be included with the shared or VPS hosting package by default. Even if you have to sign up manually, it is easy to use, and you can get the power of the CDN without having to be a technical expert.


Recent updates to Cloudflare


Cloudflare is always working hard to make sure it keeps up with the latest technologies and industry trends. I love that it regularly adds new server locations to further expand the reach of the CDN. Also, I was thrilled to see this company continue offering unmetered DDoS protection despite the size and scope of this type of attack growing at a rapid rate.


Cloudflare pricing


For most people, Cloudflare is completely free, so you can’t beat its pricing. Ideally, I recommend getting a hosting account that includes the Cloudflare CDN as you get the great benefits without having to do any configuring on your own. You can also sign up for the free package directly with Cloudflare if your hosting company doesn’t do it for you.

Pros and cons of Cloudflare

Pros

  • Exceptional DDoS protection
  • Hundreds of servers around the world
  • Constantly upgrading services

Cons

  • Limited stats and analytics
  • Advanced features can get complicated
    KeyCDN Logo

    KeyCDN

    Easiest to use

    • Easy to configure services
    • 25GB of free traffic
    • Affordable prices

    Summary

    • Starting price
      • $0.01 per GB
    • 100% Uptime Guarantee
      No
    • Free trial/Demo
      14-day free trial
    • Free SSL
      Yes
    • Image Optimization
      Yes
    • Integrations
      WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Typo3, Laravel, etc.

    KeyCDN is the easiest-to-use CDN that we tested. In addition, it is a very affordable, wonderful option for small businesses, bloggers, and others who may not need the most advanced or powerful CDN on the market. Despite its relative simplicity, it still has plenty of features to help your site operate faster and safer than ever.



    KeyCDN is generally described as a budget CDN, but that may not be fair. While it is one of the most affordable options out there, it does provide a quality service that will help your website run faster and more reliably than ever.


    To start, you can sign up for an account at KeyCDN using only your email address and get 25GB of services free of charge. You don’t even need to enter a credit card number.


    If you have never used a CDN before, I recommend playing with the free account to get a feel for what it can do. This free service is excellent even if you eventually move on to a different provider.


    As you browse through the different services provided, you will quickly see that KeyCDN offers quality options that can meet most peoples’ needs. Specifically, KeyCDN has fully supported IPv6 for a long time, and its Origin Shield helps customize the services offered. With this tool, you can designate a specific KeyCDN server to be used as the content origin, dramatically reducing the load on your main hosting server.


    You can also configure the CDN to make changes to your headers, cookies, robots.txt, and many other things about your website. This is a great way to optimize your site's load to get the best results possible. This is all in addition to a good quality DDoS mitigation system and a global network of servers.


    Who is KeyCDN best for?


    KeyCDN is perhaps the perfect option for anyone new to using this technology. I love it for small businesses, individual bloggers, entrepreneurs, e-commerce sites, and nearly anyone else who wants the benefits of a CDN with a simple user interface.


    Recent updates to KeyCDN


    KeyCDN is constantly working on different ways to upgrade and improve its services. Recently, this company has put a lot of effort into expanding its CDN coverage area by adding new servers in Latin America. According to a recent announcement, new points of presence have been rolled out in Mexico City, Mexico; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Bogota, Colombia.


    Another change that took place recently is an update to the method used for country-based caching. The edge servers can better detect the location of a visitor and use that to adjust the cache settings used. This is ideal for websites that display different content based on the location of the visitors.


    These are just a few of the most significant upgrades that KeyCDN has completed recently. The company is always working on ways to improve the services provided.


    KeyCDN pricing


    You’ll have a hard time finding a CDN with lower prices than KeyCDN. The 25GB free account is a perfect example. Many small sites that only get a few hundred or a few thousand visitors per month could use only the free account, making it the perfect option.

    Pros and cons of KeyCDN

    Pros

    • Noteworthy prices
    • 25GB of free traffic
    • Constantly adding server locations

    Cons

    • Limited options at the top end of services
    • Servers are not as fast as other CDNs
      StackPath Logo

      StackPath

      Best for security

      • Advanced security
      • Easy to configure
      • Excellent technical support

      Summary

      • Starting price
        • Free for users
      • 100% Uptime Guarantee
        Yes
      • Free trial/Demo
        1-month free trial
      • Free SSL
        Yes
      • Image Optimization
        No
      • Integrations
        W3 Total Cache plugin

      StackPath is a small CDN focused primarily on serving North America and Europe. It is easy to use and has some high-level security options to help keep your site safe from most threats on the Internet.



      StackPath is not the largest CDN, but it does a good job at providing its customers with an easy-to-use platform with plenty of benefits. The first thing to note is that it is primarily focused on North America and Europe. Its edge servers in other regions are more spread out so your visitors might not get the same response times as they would in North America or Europe.


      Most websites get the majority of traffic from countries in North America and Europe, though, so this may not be an issue for you. Also, it is important to understand that while the servers in South America, Asia, Africa, and other areas are more spread out, you will still get a boost in performance compared to just running off a single web server with no CDN.


      When you log on to the user interface from StackPath, you will see it is well-designed and easy to use. I found it simple to set up and configure and could set up custom configurations based on region and other factors as well. That’s critical if you run a website that has different content displayed based on the location of the visitor.


      Who is StackPath best for?


      After researching the StackPath CDN, I have no hesitation in recommending this service to anyone who has security concerns for their website. This would include websites that hold controversial opinions or that collect customer data, both of which are often targeted for different types of attacks.


      Recent updates to StackPath


      StackPath is constantly improving its services. This company has recently partnered with Solana Validators to get impressive servers to deploy throughout its footprint. In addition, the launch of the StackPath IP Spotlight feature is a notable addition to the lineup of services this company offers.


      StackPath pricing


      StackPath’s prices are listed both as a set monthly fee and a price per GB. The prices are affordable, and for the services you are getting, it is a great value. To start, you will pay $25 per month for the base-level CDN, which includes up to 1TB of bandwidth. If you need additional traffic, you can get it for as low as 3 cents per GB.

      Pros and cons of StackPath

      Pros

      • Excellent security options
      • Easy to configure
      • Simple upgrades

      Cons

      • Limited coverage outside of North America and Europe
      • Speed optimization options are a secondary focus
        Akamai Logo

        Akamai

        Best for WordPress sites

        • Servers in over 135 countries
        • Easily incorporated into WordPress
        • A legacy of innovation

        Summary

        • Starting price
          • Custom quotes
        • 100% Uptime Guarantee
          Yes
        • Free trial/Demo
          Free trial
        • Free SSL
          Yes
        • Image Optimization
          Yes
        • Integrations
          Postman, Azure Active Directory, New Relic, Terraform, Data Stream

        Akamai is one of the largest and most respected CDNs in the world. This service is used by major organizations as well as small sites and has a lot of different features that allow you to get the exact solutions you need at a reasonable price.



        Akamai operates more than 275,000 servers spread throughout over 135 countries. This makes it one of the largest and best CDN options. No matter where visitors to your website come from, Akamai will almost certainly have a server nearby so that your website will load up quickly.


        In addition to a fast and responsive CDN, you can take advantage of the advanced security Akamai offers. This company claims to have about 30% of all Internet traffic pass through its servers, largely because of the DDoS mitigation solutions it provides. Many Fortune 500 companies use Akamai to ensure some of the biggest websites in the world do not go down due to these types of attacks.


        Even small websites can easily benefit from the Akamai CDN. Many people who use WordPress will already be familiar with Akamai because of the spam filtering services offered. Adding in the CDN, security, and other solutions is a fairly simple task that will give your site a lot of advantages.


        Who is Akamai best for?


        Akamai is a great option if you have a small business that wants some added security and speed. And if you operate the website of an international corporation that gets millions of visitors to your website each day, Akamai can handle all your needs.


        Recent updates to Akamai


        Akamai has always been an innovative internet traffic company. The team is constantly working to improve the services offered and finding new ways to improve how the World Wide Web functions.


        A good example is how Akamai recently teamed up with WHOIS to ensure that people in Korea would have a fast and reliable DNS solution that allowed for secure access to websites.


        Akamai has also developed an all-new ‘next-gen’ DDoS defense solution now available to customers worldwide. It would be almost impossible to list all the ways that Akamai has upgraded and innovated in recent years, and there is no reason to think this effort will stop in the future.


        Akamai pricing


        Akamai is not a clear leader in the pricing area. If you want one of the top-rated CDNs in the industry, you will pay a premium. I dislike that Akamai does not list its prices on the website. Instead, anyone who wants to use its CDN or other services will need to reach out to get a custom quote from an Akamai sales professional. The prices are based on what type of services you need, how much traffic you receive, and many other factors.

        Pros and cons of Akamai

        Pros

        • Maintaining huge numbers of edge servers for the CDN
        • Innovating new technologies and services
        • Offering a diverse set of services to improve the performance of your website

        Cons

        • Prices are high and require custom quotes
        • More complicated than other CDNs
          Amazon Cloudfront Logo

          Amazon CloudFront

          Most advanced

          • Extremely fast servers
          • Advanced features available
          • Backed by Amazon

          Summary

          • Starting price
            • Custom quotes
          • 100% Uptime Guarantee
            Yes
          • Free trial/Demo
            Free version available
          • Free SSL
            Yes
          • Image Optimization
            Yes
          • Integrations
            W3 Total Cache plugin

          Amazon CloudFront is a powerful CDN that can meet the needs of any type of website. This CDN takes advantage of the massive scale of Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide customers of all types with some of the fastest response times possible.



          You can’t have a list of the best CDNs without including Amazon’s entry into this service. Amazon CloudFront CDN, sometimes called AWS CloudFront, is one of the fastest and most advanced options available. According to third-party testing, the CloudFront CDN has an average response time of 27.23ms, which is among the quickest I’ve seen.


          CloudFront takes advantage of AWS operating data centers all over the world. Amazon has done an amazing job at building up its technology infrastructure to support its massive e-commerce business. Offering that same infrastructure to other companies through AWS and CloudFront has become extremely profitable for the company, but it has also helped websites worldwide operate faster and more reliably.


          There is a lot to love about Amazon CloudFront services. First, you will have access to essentially every advanced technology available. You will find it with CloudFront if you need advanced file caching based on location, DDoS mitigation, customized compression, or any other features.


          Who is CloudFront best for?


          Amazon CloudFront is a great option for major corporations, but it’s too complicated to manage for the average user.


          Recent updates to CloudFront


          Amazon invests millions (or maybe even billions) of dollars into upgrades and research every year when it comes to AWS and Amazon CloudFront. This company is always adding in new servers, expanding its capacity, and ensuring it continues to be one of the best web services companies in the world.


          No matter what you are looking for from a CDN, you can be confident you will find it from Amazon CloudFront today, and it will keep improving for years to come.


          CloudFront pricing


          The pricing structure from Amazon CloudFront is pretty complex, and you’ll likely need a custom quote. You will pay for most of the services based on how much data is used. The prices from CloudFront are, on average, higher than many other CDNs. Also, you will have to pay extra if you need to use any technical support services.

          Pros and cons of Amazon CloudFront

          Pros

          • Fastest CDN available
          • Servers located around the world
          • Backed by industry-leading AWS

          Cons

          • Very advanced user interface
          • High prices

            Compare CDN Providers

            CDN providerStarting priceBest features
            CloudFlare

            CloudFlare Logo

            Best CDN

            Why it’s best overall: Cloudflare offers lots of features and has a proven reputation for helping websites to run faster and more securely.

            Free

            See pricing

            • Often available with other hosting
            • Great customer support
            • Top-tier security
            KeyCDN

            KeyCDN Logo

            Easiest CDN to use

            Why it’s easiest to use: Despite its relative simplicity, KeyCDN still has plenty of features to help your site operate faster and safer.

            $0.01 per GB

            See pricing

            • Easy to configure services
            • 25GB of free traffic
            • Affordable prices
            StackPath

            StackPath Logo

            Best CDN for security 

            Why it’s best for security: StackPath is easy to use and has some high-level security options to help keep your site safe from most threats on the Internet.

            Custom quote

            See pricing

            • Advanced security
            • Easy to configure
            • Excellent technical support
            Akamai

            Akamai Logo

            Best CDN for WordPress users 

            Why it’s best for WordPress users: Many people who use WordPress will already be familiar with Akamai because of the spam filtering services offered.

            Custom quote

            See pricing

            • Servers in over 135 countries
            • Easily incorporated into WordPress
            • A legacy of innovation
            Amazon CloudFront

            Amazon CloudFront Logo

            Most advanced CDN

            Why it’s most advanced: CloudFront takes advantage of Amazon Web Services, which has done an amazing job at building up its technology infrastructure

            Custom quote

            See pricing

            • Extremely fast servers
            • Advanced features available
            • Backed by Amazon

            What You Need to Know about CDN Providers

            What is a CDN?

            A content delivery network, or content distribution network, is a geographically distributed network of proxy servers and their data centers. The goal is to provide high availability and performance by distributing the service spatially relative to end users.

            What is the difference between a CDN and a web server?

            Traditional web hosting relies on one server, while a CDN leverages a worldwide network of edge servers that disseminate content from a variety of interconnected hosts. The last difference is in the amount of content each option delivers.

            Why would you use a CDN?

            Today, almost all websites and applications rely on a CDN to help serve content to their users. Web applications use CDNs largely because they offer four important benefits: better performance, increased reliability, cost savings, and resilience against cyber attacks.

            When should you not use a CDN?

            A CDN may not benefit your website if:

            • Your website gets very low traffic
            • Your traffic is all from one geographic location
            • Your website is already very fast

            What is the difference between CDN and web caching?

            What is the difference between CDNs and caching? CDNs are geographically distributed networks of proxy servers and their objective is to serve content to users more quickly. Caching is the process of storing information for a set period of time on a computer.

            How I Rated the Best CDN Providers

            When choosing a CDN, make sure you get the features that you need. For many people, the only feature required is having web servers worldwide to help boost loading speeds. Others find advanced security options are a requirement. Some CDNs are available as features or add-ons from a traditional hosting company. Others require that you sign up directly and manually add the services to your website.

            Testing these companies comes down to using them, running tests with third-party systems — and perhaps most importantly, looking to see what type of experience the average user has with the company.

            With each CDN provider, I tested its:

            • Geographic distribution of servers: CDN’s ability to distribute your website throughout the world
            • Ease of configuration: A simple user interface that’s intuitive and easy to use even when setting up more advanced features.
            • Technical support: A CDN can set up and configure the services for you, but at a minimum, the company needs to assist you if problems arise.
            • Price: Cost is always a major consideration when choosing any type of service.

            Learn more about our review methodology.