8 Best Cloudflare Alternatives (Free + Premium)

For those with a digital presence on the internet, you may be familiar with a Content Delivery Network (CDN). It’s even more likely you’re using Cloudflare since they have a free plan available. But free isn’t always best for your site, so you might like to consider some of these Cloudflare alternatives.

1. Akamai CDN

Website: https://www.akamai.com/

Founded in 1998 by Dr. F. Thomson Leighton, Daniel Lewin, Jonathan Seelig, and Randall Kaplan, Akamai emerged as a leader in providing cybersecurity services. Akamai’s CDN platform excels thanks to its vast worldwide server network. 

A Quick Akamai Overview

Currently, Akamai owns an estimated 325,000 servers, spread in more than 135 countries. They have deployed more than 1,400 network systems across the globe too. These figures are commendable and significant, making Akamai the top contender to Cloudflare.

Akamai offers feature-rich CDN and security services. Its CDN sports many desirable features that a website needs, such as reliable delivery, adaptive media delivery, API acceleration, cloud wrapper, Ion, mPulse, NetStorage, and more. These features work towards helping improve your site’s performance.

Is Akamai the Best Cloudflare Alternative?

What is a CDN without security? Akamai has introduced many top-notch security features to complete its CDN implementation. It includes Akamai Prolexic technology that managed to stop some significant Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks at 1.44 Tbps and 809 Mpps in the past. 

Their highly acclaimed Kona Site Defender, a Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solution, helps give peace of mind to many organizations. It runs 24/7 and is an automated intelligent web application defense system that provides monitoring, and meaningful, actionable insights companies can utilize. 

However, being a large CDN provider, Akamai may be somewhat restrictive and less flexible than smaller ones. Unlike Cloudflare, Akamai does not have a free plan, and their pricing is given only upon consultation. That said, if you have ample money in your pockets, Akamai could be the best Cloudflare alternative.

2. Imperva

Website: https://www.imperva.com/

Formerly known as WEBcohort, Imperva was established by Shlomo Kramer, Amichai Shulman, and Mickey Boodaei in 2002. In 2004, the name changed to Imperva. Their global network spans APAC, the Americas, and EMEA regions. They own 51 data centers operating at more than 9 Tbps. 

A Quick Imperva Overview

Imperva prides itself in its cloud-based application delivery solution; Imperva CDN provides built-in load balancing, caching, and failover features into its WAAP solution so that applications are seamlessly delivered. Pages are cached efficiently, with bandwidth consumption reduced by 60%. Connection speeds may also see improvements by up to 50%. 

Why Imperva an Alternative to Cloudflare?

Imperva also includes DDoS Protection to ensure business continuity. It protects the network and also subnet layers. Imperva’s advanced bot protection is fantastic and secures all your access points from automated attacks without interrupting legitimate traffic flow. So, only the legitimate stuff gets through.

Like Akamai, you’ll need to contact their sales personnel to get a quote. However, they offer a 30-days free trial where you’ll need to provide details like your email, name, phone, and company. During this free trial, bandwidth gets toned down to 100 Mbps, but you’ll have an option to null-route any traffic that goes beyond this limit.

3. StackPath

Website: https://www.stackpath.com/

StackPath was founded in 2015 by Lance Crosby but now operates under the same people who ran SoftLayer, a cloud solutions and services provider, bought over by IBM. Having acquired several strategic companies, StackPath gradually built an upgraded network of servers across more than 50 edge locations worldwide.

A Quick StackPath Overview

One way StackPatch grew was also through the acquisition of MaxCDN. They utilize edge computing, a technology that spreads information processing across tons of locations around the globe, to increase the chances of being closer to the user. 

They run top-notch servers at major points across the globe, empowered by a robust network backbone called EdgeEngine, the underlying system that operates and handles the whole infrastructure. 

What Makes StackPath an Alternative to Cloudflare?

You’ll also be getting real-time analytics data via graphs and detailed reports so that you’ll always know what’s happening and how to move forward better. Their user-friendly customer portal is intuitive enough, and you’ll have absolute control of the system without much hassle.

Last but not least, you’ll also have access to StackPath’s RESTful HTTP APIs. This helps give you the flexibility to customize and interact more with their platform to automate workflows, data reporting, and others. There’s no free plan or trial, and you’ll have to contact their sales personnel to find out more about their plans and pricing.

4. Sucuri CDN

Website: https://sucuri.net/

Daniel B. Cid founded Sucuri in 2010, who was said to have coded everything in the said technology. GoDaddy later acquired them in 2017. Having a global presence in 27 countries, Sucuri, as of current writing, has 42,000 paying customers.

A Quick Sucuri Overview

Sucuri’s Globally Distributed Anycast Network crosses 15 cities. They claim to base their performance on key metrics such as total time and not server response time so that your site will always get the optimum performance.

In terms of security monitoring, Sucuri is one of the best. They are known for their suite of full-fledged website security monitoring services, including malware detection and removal. 

Is Sucuri a Solid Alternative to Cloudflare?

Their Web Application Firewall (WAF) platform is a cloud-based solution that works around the clock to detect suspicious activity and prevent evolving threats. The WAF system comes with DDoS prevention that blocks attackers, ensuring no downtime for your site.

The WAF platform comes with a CDN as well. Armed with intelligent caching, speedy HTTP/2 support, GZIP compression leading to resource optimization, and others, Sucuri’s CDN improves load speeds by up to more than half. 

Since Sucuri’s products are meant more for those who need managed website security, they may not be best suited for those of you who prefer a more direct hands-on approach in everything.

Sucuri’s WAF cheapest plan doesn’t come with malware cleanup. If you need this, you’ll have to subscribe to Business’s highest tiered plan. Unlike Cloudflare, Sucuri does not have any free plan. That said, Sucuri remains a solid alternative to Cloudflare for all its quality offered features.

5. Fastly

Website: https://www.fastly.com/

With a decade of experience in the CDN market, Fastly was founded by Artur Bergman in 2011. Fastly is one of those whirlwind service providers that expanded quickly through the years to become a force to be reckoned with today. Google recognized this and selected Fastly to be one of its CDN partners in 2015. 

A Quick Fastly Overview

And in 2017, Fastly released its edge cloud platform, fully equipped with load balancing, WAF, and image optimization features. Their edge cloud platform, Deliver@Edge, comes with built-in security, so you get a wholesome modern CDN that gives you the edge you need.

They took on the approach of deploying, even though fewer, but compelling points of presence (POPs), scattered evenly throughout the world in all strategic locations. They achieve this with their high-density servers at strategic Points of Presence (68 POPs as of current writing).

Why is Fastly Different?

You’ll get the option to customize via out-of-the-box integration support, with built-in security features, including DDoS, WAF, and TLS offerings. Also, real-time visibility data helps you troubleshoot and plan better for the future. Their media streaming capability is top-notch with minimal buffering at 167+ Tbps capacity. 

Fastly has a free trial where you get to use Fastly for free up to $50 of traffic; anything beyond that, you’ll have to pay based on their bandwidth fees. They have higher-tiered plans – Essential, Professional, and Enterprise but you’ll need to contact their personnel to get more info.

6. Limelight Networks

Website: https://www.limelight.com/

Based in Arizona, Limelight Networks was established in 2001 and has remained one of the forefront leaders in providing CDN services. Throughout the years, it has snatched up several highly acclaimed awards, including Frost & Sullivan’s Product Line Strategy award in 2012. It was included as one of Streaming Media’s 100 Companies that Matter Most in Online Video in 2017.

A Quick Limelight Networks Overview

They excel in delivering quality online media via their new edge platform, giving you excellent on-the-spot and interactive media content. This delivery is done via its 100GbE global private fiber network with 135 POPs and growing. As such, you need not worry over your website having to contend with a congested network, slowing down your website. 

Their highly acclaimed CDN comes with Limelight Origin Storage, a solution specially designed to manage content more efficiently so that you always end up with high availability and performance. You’ll get reporting tools to help you strategize better for the future. 

Why Limelight Networks?

Also, SmartPurge, an intelligent feature built-in, works almost real-time in deleting any stale content, thus reducing any obstacles users face in accessing your site. It can also provide you with detailed reporting on its purge effectiveness. 

They have a free trial, but you’ll have to write in to request one. As for detailed pricing, you’ll need to reach out to one of Limelight Networks’ sales experts.

Note: Limelight Networks has been rebranded as Edgio following its acquisition of Yahoo’s Edgecast.

7. Amazon Cloudfront

Website: https://aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/

Operated by Amazon Web Services, Amazon Cloudfront had a beta launch in 2008. AWS then decided to make Cloudfront part of their free tier offerings in 2014. As of current writing, Cloudfront boasts of more than 310 POPs scattered throughout the globe.

A Quick Amazon Cloudfront Overview

Amazon Cloudfront is a CDN built with performance and security in mind. You can use AWS Shield Standard that offers you DDoS protection with no additional costs. It is also developer-friendly, where you are allowed to write custom code at the CDN level to get the optimized features you need. 

Armed with encryption, edge, and built-in compression capabilities, Cloudfront enables secured static and dynamic content delivery to your users. Hence, there’s no issue in supporting on-demand video delivery. 

Amazon Cloudfront – The Best Free CDN Option?

Perhaps one of their valuable features would be the ability to scale automatically as and when required. This dynamic scaling capability helps heaps, especially when there are sudden surges in web traffic; you won’t have to worry as more resources are provisioned automatically. 

Their free tier gives you access to 1 TB of data transfer out, 10,000,000 HTTP or HTTPS requests every month. Bear in mind that certain restrictions apply. Cloudfront can become very pricey when you want the whole cake and its icing. That said, Amazon Cloudfront is still one of the best free CDN options available. 

8. Microsoft Azure CDN

Website: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/cdn/

Initially known as Windows Azure in 2010, Microsoft Azure came in 2014. When it comes to any software and solutions, one cannot easily dismiss Microsoft. Its Microsoft Azure, aka plainly Azure, is a cloud-based and global CDN. Azure CDN’s coverage includes metros, with each metro possibly containing more than a POP. 

A Quick Microsoft Azure Overview

Currently, the heavily certified Azure possesses 100 metros with 18 POPs. This massive global coverage provides you with the scalability you need to deliver your content to your users. You get to enjoy high speeds and performance via its highly effective routing optimization features. Also, there’s instantaneous scaling up to cater to a sudden surge in loads.  

You’ll have APIs and tools that help you build and optimize features fast for those of you who are advanced developers. You can use HTTPS for all domains without additional charges. Its robust security thwarts DDoS threats.

How is Microsoft Azure Better Than Cloudflare?

You can reap insightful data from advanced analytics by investigating the traffic behavior and content engagement pattern. Then, you’ll know how to adjust accordingly to improve. 

All you need is an Azure subscription and owning at least one CDN profile. There’s no upfront cost, and you’re required to pay for what you use. There are also no termination fees. Feel free to check out their 30-days free trial. 

---

What is Cloudflare, and Why Do You Need an Alternative?

Created in 2009 and established in 2010, Cloudflare runs across over 90 countries in 193 cities (as of current writing). They boast of over 20 million internet properties which speak volumes of their seriousness in business. Hence, it is no wonder that Cloudflare is one of the front runners in the Content Delivery Network (CDN). 

What You Need to Know When Using Cloudflare

When you use Cloudflare, it stores your site’s data on servers worldwide. This way, when someone visits your site from a particular location, they receive the data from the nearest server, which speeds up access and reduces bounce rates.

Additionally, Cloudflare serves as a security barrier, protecting against cyber attacks by filtering incoming traffic.

Cloudflare Pricing

Cloudflare’s free plan offers limited features. For advanced needs like handling credit card transactions, the $200 per month Business plan is necessary, which can be a considerable ongoing expense.

Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy indicates that they collect personally identifiable information, which may concern some users. Additionally, advanced users requiring more features must upgrade to costlier plans, prompting some to seek alternatives.

Cloudflare Alternatives At A Glance

Brand	Features Highlights	Pricing
Akamai	Offers a 30-day free trial, exceptional for handling high traffic and providing security services.	Contact sales for pricing details.
Imperva	Provides advanced cybersecurity and DDoS protection alongside its CDN services, with capabilities like real-time event monitoring, custom security rules, and threat intelligence.	Offers a 30-day free trial; contact sales for pricing details.
StackPath	Features include real-time analytics, edge computing for faster content delivery, and RESTful HTTP APIs for customization.	Contact sales for pricing details.
Sucuri	Focuses on web security with a cloud-based Web Application Firewall (WAF) and DDoS protection, also offers a CDN with intelligent caching and speedy HTTP/2 support	Pricing varies; higher-tier plans needed for malware cleanup.
Fastly	Known for powerful edge cloud platform capabilities like load balancing and image optimization, offers customizable integration options and media streaming with minimal buffering.	Free trial available, with pay-as-you-go pricing beyond $50 of traffic.
Limelight Networks	Specializes in high-quality media content delivery with a robust CDN service, features include 100GbE private fiber network and intelligent content management.	Free trial available; contact sales for detailed pricing.
Amazon Cloudfront	Part of AWS free tier, offers dynamic scaling and built-in security features, suitable for on-demand video delivery.	Free tier includes 1 TB data transfer and 10,000,000 HTTP/HTTPS requests per
Microsoft Azure	Offers global content delivery with massive scalability, integrates with Azure services for advanced analytics and features, supports HTTP/3, and provides robust security measures.	Pricing varies based on usage and selected features. Contact sales for more details.

Conclusion

Like it or not, Cloudflare certainly has all the right ingredients of being a massive and powerful CDN. And it is just this point, along with its viable free option, that makes Cloudflare a suitable solution for websites of all shapes and sizes. Hence, many smaller businesses can enjoy the benefits a CDN can bring them. 

However, for those of you who need more features, you’ll have to look at Cloudflare’s higher plans that can prove to be expensive. As such, it is understandable to explore other alternatives. 

Frequent Asked Questions