7 Best Akamai Alternatives for CDN & Edge Computing 2026
19 Dec 2025

7 Akamai Alternatives: Content Delivery Solutions for Every Business Need

Akamai Technologies stands as one of the pioneers of content delivery networks, operating one of the world’s largest distributed computing platforms with over 365,000 servers across 135+ countries. Since 1998, it has set industry standards for enterprise-grade content delivery, cybersecurity, and edge computing, serving many Fortune 500 companies with its comprehensive Intelligent Edge Platform.

But as powerful as Akamai’s enterprise solutions are, not every organization needs or can justify the investment in such a comprehensive platform. The custom contract negotiations, minimum 12-month commitments, and pricing that typically starts in the thousands of dollars per month can be prohibitive for smaller businesses. Additionally, the platform’s sophisticated features often come with a steep learning curve that requires dedicated expertise to manage effectively.

That’s where this guide comes in. Whether you’re looking to:

  1. Find a more affordable CDN solution with transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing
  2. Leverage native cloud platform integrations without vendor fragmentation
  3. Access developer-first tools with real-time control and edge programmability
  4. Implement unified cloud-native delivery within your existing ecosystem
  5. Start with zero-cost CDN to validate your needs before investing
  6. Combine edge computing with AI capabilities for modern workloads
  7. Simplify your CDN management without sacrificing essential features

We’ll explore dedicated alternatives that excel in these specific areas, each offering unique advantages for different business needs and technical requirements.

Some organizations might use these tools to complement their existing infrastructure, while others might find them to be complete replacements that better align with their scale and complexity requirements. This isn’t about finding a “better” solution than Akamai, but rather finding the right fit for your specific needs, budget, and technical capabilities.

Let’s explore the best Akamai alternatives and discover which one aligns with your content delivery requirements.

 

The Best Akamai Alternatives

Starts at: $0.030/GB

G2 Score: N/A

Capterra Score: N/A

CDNsun logo
CDNsun

Best Alternative for Affordable Enterprise-Performance CDN with Personalized Support

We chose CDNsun because it delivers enterprise-comparable performance at dramatically lower prices with superior personalized support, making professional CDN accessible to streaming companies, software distributors, and image-heavy websites without the complexity of Akamai’s custom contracts.

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Starts at: $0/mo

G2 Score: 4.4

Capterra Score: 4.6

Amazon CloudFront Logo
Amazon CloudFront

Best Alternative for AWS-Native Enterprise Teams

CloudFront provides seamless integration with AWS services, eliminating multi-vendor complexity for organizations already invested in the AWS ecosystem, with free data transfer from AWS origins.

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Starts at: $50/mo

G2 Score: 4.7

Capterra Score: 4.5

Fastly logo
Fastly

Best Alternative for Developer-First Real-Time Control

Fastly excels with instant purge capabilities (150ms globally) and edge programmability through Compute@Edge, perfect for engineering teams needing granular control and rapid iteration.

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Starts at: $0.08/GB

G2 Score: 4.4

Capterra Score: 5.0

Google Cloud CDN logo
Google Cloud CDN

Best Alternative for Unified Cloud-Native Delivery

Google Cloud CDN leverages Google’s premium network with HTTP/3 support and YouTube-proven Media CDN for organizations seeking modern protocols and integrated cloud services.

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Starts at: $35/mo

G2 Score: 4.2

Capterra Score: N/A

Microsoft Azure Front Door
Azure Front Door

Best Alternative for Azure-Native Security Integration

Azure Front Door combines CDN with built-in WAF and Private Link support, ideal for Azure-committed enterprises needing unified security management without multi-vendor complexity.

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Starts at: $0/mo

G2 Score: 4.5

Capterra Score: 4.7

CloudFlare logo
Cloudflare Free

Best Alternative for Zero-Cost Enterprise-Grade Protection

Cloudflare Free provides unlimited bandwidth (with fair use), unmetered DDoS protection, and SSL certificates at no cost, democratizing access to enterprise-grade CDN for startups and individuals.

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Starts at: €35/mo

G2 Score: 4.7

Capterra Score: N/A

Gcore CDN logo
Gcore

Best Alternative for Edge Computing and AI Workloads

Gcore combines CDN with GPU infrastructure and edge computing, offering integrated services for AI inference, streaming, and modern application workloads.

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What is Akamai?

Akamai Technologies is a comprehensive cloud services provider that operates one of the world’s largest distributed computing platforms, designed to make the internet fast, reliable, and secure. The company’s Intelligent Edge Platform consists of approximately 365,000 servers distributed across more than 135 countries and within over 1,300 networks worldwide. Its key capabilities include:

  • Content Delivery Network (CDN) for global content acceleration and caching
  • Comprehensive security solutions including Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, and bot management
  • Edge computing through EdgeWorkers for serverless functions at the edge
  • Cloud computing services via Akamai Connected Cloud (formerly Linode)
  • Enterprise Application Access for Zero Trust security
  • DNS services with 100% uptime SLA
  • Media delivery optimization for streaming and video content

Akamai’s platform is engineered to handle the most demanding enterprise requirements, serving a significant portion of the world’s internet traffic for Fortune 500 companies. The services work together to provide a unified solution where content delivery, security, and edge computing are managed through a single platform with enterprise-grade SLAs and support.

However, this enterprise focus means that Akamai’s solutions come with corresponding complexity and costs. Custom contract negotiations, steep learning curves, and the need for specialized expertise to manage the platform effectively can make it challenging for smaller organizations or those with simpler needs. This is why many businesses seek alternatives that better match their specific requirements, budget constraints, or technical capabilities.

 

How We Curated Our List of Akamai Alternatives

After researching Akamai’s platform and analyzing the CDN market, we identified specific areas where organizations often seek alternatives to Akamai’s enterprise-focused approach. While Akamai excels at serving large enterprises with complex, global requirements, we found that businesses often need solutions that are better suited for:

  • Companies with irregular usage patterns seeking transparent, affordable pricing without long-term contracts
  • Organizations deeply invested in specific cloud ecosystems (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
  • Developer teams requiring granular control and real-time configuration changes
  • Startups and individuals needing zero-cost entry points to CDN services
  • Companies building AI-powered applications or requiring edge computing capabilities
  • Businesses wanting enterprise-level performance and reliability without the complexity of enterprise platforms

Each platform on this list represents a leader in addressing one or more of these specific needs, offering distinct advantages over Akamai’s comprehensive but complex enterprise solution.

 

❗DISCLAIMER: We aren’t covering every single CDN provider in the market! Our focus is on highlighting the best alternatives that address specific limitations of Akamai’s enterprise-focused approach for various business sizes and use cases.

 

CDNsun logo

1. CDNsun — Best Alternative for Affordable Enterprise-Performance CDN with Personalized Support

CDNsun is a global Content Delivery Network provider based in Prague with 12 years of proven reliability, offering professional CDN services that match enterprise performance at a fraction of the cost. Operating servers in every major city worldwide, CDNsun specializes in delivering personalized support and tailored solutions that larger providers can’t match due to their scale. Its key features include:

  • Pay-as-you-go pricing at $0.030/GB for North America and Europe, $0.060/GB for other regions, with no monthly fees or contracts
  • No DNS server changes required – just create one CNAME record while retaining full control of your domain
  • Granular control with ability to enable/disable specific cities for cost optimization
  • Three specialized CDN services: streaming CDN for live events and video, software/game delivery CDN for large file distribution, and website CDN for image-heavy sites
  • Personalized 24/7 support via email, phone, and live chat with tailored solutions for your specific needs
  • Free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt integration
  • User-friendly dashboard requiring minimal technical expertise to navigate and configure

CDNsun is the smart choice for streaming companies handling events like TEDx or webinars, software companies distributing updates globally, and image-heavy websites – all while delivering performance comparable to industry giants at dramatically lower prices with superior support.

Why Choose CDNsun Over Akamai for Professional CDN with Personal Touch

While Akamai offers extensive enterprise capabilities, CDNsun excels as a professional CDN solution that combines enterprise-level performance with personalized service and transparent pricing. Here’s where CDNsun provides clear advantages:

Enterprise Performance at SMB Prices: No Compromise on Speed

The most important point to understand is that from a user perspective, there’s no noticeable performance difference between CDNsun and Akamai – the speed appears the same to end users. CDNsun’s global infrastructure with servers in every major city delivers content just as fast as the industry giants. What changes dramatically is the cost: while Akamai operates on custom enterprise contracts typically requiring 12-month minimum commitments starting at thousands per month, CDNsun offers transparent pay-as-you-go pricing at $0.030 per GB.

This pricing model is particularly valuable for businesses with irregular usage patterns. Event streaming companies that broadcast conferences or webinars don’t stream every month – they need capacity for thousands of viewers during events but don’t want monthly fees when idle. With CDNsun, you buy credit like a cell phone plan and use it as needed. No monthly subscriptions eating into budgets during quiet periods.

CDNsun in Action: A company streaming quarterly webinars to 5,000 viewers globally gets the same viewing experience as with Akamai, but only pays for the bandwidth used during those events. Between webinars, there are no monthly fees draining the budget – just credit waiting to be used when needed.

Personalized Support from a Focused Team

As a smaller, more agile company compared to giants like Amazon with 10,000+ clients, CDNsun’s strategy is fundamentally different: have fewer, bigger clients and provide everything tailored to their specific needs. While Amazon or Akamai can’t offer much customization due to their scale, CDNsun provides focused, customized support and tailored solutions.

This isn’t just marketing speak – with 12 years in the business, CDNsun has proven it knows how to deliver stable, reliable service without outages (the most important aspect for enterprise clients) while maintaining the agility to adapt to specific customer requirements. Their 24/7 technical support via email, phone, and live chat is included at no extra cost, staffed by engineers who understand your specific implementation.

Simplified Setup Without DNS Complications

Unlike Cloudflare’s free CDN tier that requires changing your DNS servers to their system, CDNsun keeps things simple. You just create one CNAME record and keep your domain as-is. This means you retain full control of your domain – which can be critical for certain businesses – while still getting professional CDN capabilities. The setup is significantly simpler and can be completed in minutes without affecting your existing DNS configuration.

The user-friendly dashboard is designed for ease of use, requiring minimal technical expertise. Compare this to Akamai’s dashboard, which has been described as needing “a college degree” to navigate effectively. CDNsun provides many more features and control options compared to basic free CDN services, including the unique ability to choose which specific cities to enable or disable for content delivery – all through an intuitive interface.

 

CDNsun Pricing

CDNsun offers one of the simplest pricing models in the CDN industry:

Business Plan (Pay as You Go)

  • $0.030 per GB for Europe & North America
  • $0.060 per GB for APAC, South America & Africa
  • No monthly fees or minimum spending required
  • Includes up to 20 websites, unlimited requests, SSL, API access, HTTP/2, streaming, and 24/7 support
  • 5 GB of free CDN storage included

Custom Plan

  • Contact sales for volume discounts
  • Minimum $200/month spending
  • Unlimited websites
  • Same features as Business Plan with potential regional pricing adjustments

Free Trial

  • 15-day free trial available
  • Full access to core features with some limitations

 

Who Should Use CDNsun?

Choose CDNsun if:

  • You’re a streaming company handling events like sports broadcasts, educational webinars, or conferences that need reliable capacity for thousands of viewers without paying monthly fees during idle periods
  • You’re a software company distributing updates to millions of users globally and want enterprise-level performance at a fraction of Akamai’s typical $2,000+ monthly costs
  • You run an image-heavy website like a dating platform or social media site that needs fast global delivery without complex contracts or negotiations
  • You want the same performance as industry giants but with personalized support that actually understands your specific needs and can provide tailored solutions

Want enterprise-grade CDN performance with personalized support at transparent prices? Start your CDNsun 15-day free trial today and experience professional content delivery that just works – no contracts, no complexity.

 

Amazon CloudFront Logo

2. Amazon CloudFront — Best Alternative for AWS-Native Enterprise Teams

Amazon CloudFront is AWS’s native content delivery network service, leveraging the world’s leading cloud platform infrastructure to provide integrated CDN, security, and edge computing capabilities. As part of the AWS ecosystem, CloudFront offers unique advantages for organizations already invested in Amazon’s cloud services. Its key features include:

  • Native AWS integration with free data transfer from AWS origins to CloudFront edge locations
  • Lambda@Edge and CloudFront Functions for serverless edge computing
  • Origin Shield for improved cache hit ratios and origin protection
  • Integrated security with AWS Shield Standard DDoS protection included
  • Flexible performance optimization supporting HTTP/2, HTTP/3, and field-level encryption
  • Unified AWS management through IAM, CloudFormation, and single billing

CloudFront represents the convergence of content delivery and cloud computing for enterprises standardized on AWS, offering operational simplicity through native integrations that standalone providers cannot easily match.

Why Choose CloudFront Over Akamai for AWS-Native Teams

CloudFront provides compelling advantages over Akamai for AWS-committed organizations:

  1. Seamless AWS Ecosystem Integration
    The most significant advantage CloudFront offers over Akamai is native AWS integration. Data transfer from S3, EC2, or other AWS services to CloudFront is completely free, potentially saving substantial amounts on content delivery costs. SSL certificates through AWS Certificate Manager are free with automatic renewal. AWS Shield Standard DDoS protection is included at no cost, while Akamai’s Prolexic protection requires expensive add-ons. All services are managed through unified IAM access control and consolidated AWS billing, eliminating the complexity of managing Akamai as a separate vendor.
  2. Programmable Edge Computing with Lambda@Edge
    CloudFront’s Lambda@Edge enables Node.js and Python functions at edge locations with full AWS SDK access, allowing integration with DynamoDB, S3, or other services for intelligent edge decisions. CloudFront Functions handle lighter operations at massive scale for a fraction of Lambda@Edge costs. This serverless model contrasts with Akamai’s EdgeWorkers, which require learning proprietary APIs and lack native AWS service integration.
  3. Transparent Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
    Unlike Akamai’s custom contracts requiring lengthy negotiations and annual commitments, CloudFront offers published pay-as-you-go pricing starting at $0.085/GB with automatic volume discounts. The generous Always Free tier includes 1TB monthly transfer and 10 million requests. Cost monitoring through AWS Cost Explorer provides visibility that Akamai’s custom contracts obscure.

CloudFront Pricing

  • Pay-As-You-Go: Starting at $0.085/GB (North America/Europe) down to $0.020/GB for high volumes
  • Always Free Tier: 1TB transfer, 10M HTTP/HTTPS requests, 2M CloudFront Function invocations monthly
  • CloudFront Security Savings Bundle: Up to 30% discount with one-year commitment
  • No charges for: AWS origin to CloudFront data transfer, SSL certificates via ACM

Who Should Use CloudFront?

Choose CloudFront if:

  • Your infrastructure is predominantly on AWS and you want to minimize vendor fragmentation while benefiting from free origin data transfer
  • You need serverless edge computing for authentication, A/B testing, or dynamic content generation using familiar AWS Lambda patterns
  • You value transparent pricing without long-term commitments, avoiding Akamai’s lengthy contract negotiations and custom pricing

 

Fastly logo

3. Fastly — Best Alternative for Developer-First Real-Time Control

Fastly is an edge cloud platform that distinguishes itself through developer-centric architecture and real-time control capabilities. Built from the ground up for developers who need instant configuration changes and microsecond responsiveness, Fastly offers a modern alternative to traditional CDN approaches. Its key features include:

  • Instant Purge globally invalidating cache in ~150 milliseconds
  • Compute@Edge WebAssembly-based platform supporting multiple languages
  • Real-time log streaming with comprehensive logging capabilities
  • Modern architecture with powerful PoPs and high-density SSD caching
  • VCL programmability for custom caching logic
  • Developer tooling including CLI, Terraform provider, and API-first design

Fastly serves technology-driven organizations requiring flexibility to build custom edge solutions with real-time visibility and instant deployment capabilities.

Why Choose Fastly Over Akamai for Developer Teams

Fastly excels where developer control and speed matter most:

  1. Instant Configuration and Cache Control
    While Akamai’s changes typically take 15 minutes or more to propagate across its network, Fastly enables instant configuration deployment and 150ms global cache purging. Developers can push changes, observe effects through streaming logs, identify issues, and roll back within minutes. This rapid iteration is critical for A/B testing, feature flags, or frequently updated content.
  2. Edge Computing Built for Developers
    Fastly’s Compute@Edge uses WebAssembly for microsecond cold starts, eliminating serverless delays. Supporting JavaScript, Rust, Go, and AssemblyScript, developers write in familiar languages rather than proprietary systems. The unified platform manages edge compute, CDN, and security through one API, reducing operational overhead compared to Akamai’s service integration.
  3. Real-Time Observability
    Fastly provides comprehensive real-time logging capabilities, streamable to 20+ endpoints including Datadog and Splunk. While the base tier includes two log statements per request on average, higher volume logging is available with paid add-ons. Combined with Fastly Fiddle for browser-based testing and comprehensive APIs, this transparency accelerates troubleshooting compared to Akamai’s steeper learning curve.

 

Fastly Pricing

  • Free Tier: $50/month CDN traffic credit, full features, 2 free TLS certificates
  • Usage-Based: $50/month base plus $0.08-$0.28/GB by region, $0.0075 per 10K requests
  • Starter Package: $6,000/month for 500M requests with Gold support
  • Compute Packages: Contact for pricing
  • Security (WAF): Starting $3,000/month for 25 requests/second

Who Should Use Fastly?

Choose Fastly if:

  • Your engineering team drives infrastructure decisions and requires granular control through VCL and Compute@Edge
  • Real-time visibility and instant iteration are critical for high-frequency deployments or time-sensitive content
  • You’re building edge applications requiring authentication, personalization, or API aggregation with low-latency execution

 

Google Cloud CDN logo

4. Google Cloud CDN — Best Alternative for Unified Cloud-Native Delivery

Google Cloud CDN leverages Google’s premium network infrastructure to accelerate content delivery worldwide, deeply integrated with Google Cloud Platform services. Built on the same backbone powering Google Search, Gmail, and YouTube, it offers a unified solution for organizations committed to Google Cloud. Its key features include:

Google Cloud CDN provides a unified platform where content delivery, load balancing, and security are managed from one control plane, reducing multi-vendor complexity.

Why Choose Google Cloud CDN Over Akamai for GCP Organizations

Google Cloud CDN offers distinct advantages for Google Cloud users:

  1. Unified Cloud-Native Architecture
    Unlike Akamai requiring separate vendor integration, Google Cloud CDN activates within your existing GCP environment through a checkbox in Cloud Load Balancer settings. All configuration, certificates, and security rules are managed through Google Cloud Console. This eliminates managing CDN as a separate layer with its own billing, support, and configuration language.
  2. Modern Protocols Support
    Google Cloud CDN provides HTTP/3 and QUIC support on external load balancers (though not enabled by default). QUIC’s single round-trip connection establishment and optimized congestion control significantly benefit mobile and unreliable networks without configuration complexity.
  3. YouTube-Grade Media Delivery
    While Google Cloud CDN handles standard content delivery, Google’s separate Media CDN product offers direct access to YouTube’s infrastructure, providing broadcast-grade streaming with deep tiering, device targeting, and geographic optimization. This proven-at-scale infrastructure handles billions of hours daily, offering capabilities beyond standard CDN caching.

Google Cloud CDN Pricing

  • Cache Egress: $0.08/GB (0-10TB, North America/Europe), tiered discounts for higher volumes
  • HTTP/HTTPS Requests: $0.0075 per 10,000 cache lookups

Who Should Use Google Cloud CDN?

Choose Google Cloud CDN if:

  • Your infrastructure is predominantly on Google Cloud Platform, seeking unified management without vendor fragmentation
  • Modern protocol support (HTTP/3, QUIC) is important for mobile-first audiences or emerging markets
  • You need standard CDN capabilities with the option to upgrade to YouTube-grade streaming through Media CDN

 

Microsoft Azure Front Door

5. Microsoft Azure Front Door — Best Alternative for Azure-Native Security Integration

Microsoft Azure Front Door is a modern CDN service functioning as a global entry point for web applications, combining content delivery with comprehensive security and intelligent routing at Layer 7. Deeply integrated with Azure ecosystem, it offers a unified platform alternative to Akamai’s separate services. Its key features include:

  • Azure-native edge network with 192+ locations across 109 metro cities
  • Integrated WAF with Azure-managed OWASP rule sets included
  • Advanced Rules Engine for URL routing and header manipulation
  • Tiered model with Premium including WAF, bot protection, Private Link
  • Unified Azure management through portal, ARM templates, and SDKs

Azure Front Door reduces architectural complexity for Azure-committed enterprises needing integrated CDN, load balancing, and security management.

Why Choose Azure Front Door Over Akamai for Azure Teams

Azure Front Door excels for organizations standardized on Microsoft Azure:

  1. Seamless Azure Integration
    While Akamai requires managing separate authentication, certificates, and monitoring systems, Azure Front Door provides native integration with Azure RBAC, Key Vault, and Monitor. Backend origins like App Service and Storage configure through dropdowns. All telemetry flows to Log Analytics for unified observability using KQL alongside other Azure resources.
  1. Unified Security Platform
    Unlike Akamai’s separate security products with individual pricing, Azure Front Door Premium includes WAF at no additional cost beyond $330/month base fee. DRS 2.0 uses anomaly scoring to reduce false positives. Bot protection leverages Microsoft’s threat intelligence. Custom rules support complex conditions with rate limiting for application-layer DDoS protection.
  1. Private Link for Zero-Trust Architecture
    While Akamai offers private connectivity options, Azure Front Door Premium’s Private Link support allows connection to backends over Microsoft’s private backbone. Origins can be deployed entirely within VNets with no public exposure, aligning with zero-trust principles and compliance requirements.

 

Azure Front Door Pricing

  • Standard Tier: $35/month base, includes CDN, load balancing, SSL, analytics
  • Premium Tier: $330/month base, adds WAF, bot protection, Private Link at no extra cost
  • Data Transfer: Priced per GB by geographic zone, no charge from Azure origins
  • CAPTCHA Add-on: $0.40 per 1,000 sessions for bot challenges

Who Should Use Azure Front Door?

Choose Azure Front Door if:

  • Your organization has standardized on Azure, seeking unified management through existing RBAC and tooling
  • You need consolidated CDN, WAF, and load balancing under single-vendor management with unified billing
  • Zero-trust security with Private Link is required for compliance, keeping origins within private VNets

 

CloudFlare logo

6. Cloudflare Free — Best Alternative for Zero-Cost Enterprise-Grade Protection

Cloudflare Free delivers comprehensive CDN and security at absolutely no cost, democratizing access to infrastructure traditionally reserved for well-funded organizations. This paradigm shift makes professional content delivery accessible to anyone. Its key features include:

Cloudflare Free enables startups, developers, and small businesses to access enterprise-grade infrastructure without financial barriers.

Why Choose Cloudflare Free Over Akamai for Zero-Cost CDN

Cloudflare Free fundamentally changes the CDN equation:

  1. Complete Elimination of Financial Barriers
    While Akamai requires custom contracts typically starting at thousands per month with 12-month commitments, Cloudflare Free provides unlimited bandwidth (subject to fair use) at zero cost forever. No setup fees, no contracts, no overage charges even during DDoS attacks. This isn’t just cheaper; it’s a different philosophy making enterprise infrastructure accessible to projects that could never afford traditional CDN pricing.
  1. Instant Setup vs Enterprise Process
    Akamai’s implementation can involve consultation, testing, and specialized configuration. Cloudflare Free deploys in minutes: sign up, update nameservers, and automatic optimization begins. The dashboard is intuitive with sensible defaults. Even sophisticated teams save time compared to traditional enterprise onboarding processes.
  1. Security Included at Zero Cost
    Akamai’s security features are premium add-ons costing thousands monthly. Cloudflare Free includes unmetered DDoS protection handling attacks of any size, basic WAF for common vulnerabilities, and SSL/TLS encryption. While not matching Akamai’s most advanced capabilities, it provides robust protection sufficient for most websites at no cost.

 

Cloudflare Free Pricing

Forever Free Plan

  • $0 per month indefinitely
  • Unlimited bandwidth with fair use policies
  • Universal SSL certificate included
  • Unmetered DDoS protection
  • Access to 330+ global data centers
  • Basic analytics and insights
  • Community support

Who Should Use Cloudflare Free?

Choose Cloudflare Free if:

  • You’re a startup, SMB, or individual needing CDN and security but can’t justify significant monthly costs
  • You want to test CDN benefits with production traffic before any financial commitment
  • You need reliable SSL and DDoS protection without dealing with certificate management or mitigation costs
  • You don’t mind changing your DNS servers to Cloudflare’s system (unlike CDNsun which only requires a CNAME record)

 

Gcore CDN logo

7. Gcore — Best Alternative for Edge Computing and AI Workloads

Gcore is a globally distributed edge infrastructure platform combining CDN, cloud computing, AI capabilities, and streaming services in a unified solution. Unlike traditional CDN providers, Gcore offers an integrated ecosystem for modern, performance-intensive workloads. Its key features include:

  • Edge Cloud with VMs, bare metal (in select locations), Kubernetes across 50+ locations
  • AI Platform featuring NVIDIA H100, A100, L40S GPUs
  • Streaming Platform with ultra-low latency (2-4 seconds)
  • Global CDN with 180+ PoPs and 200+ Tbps capacity
  • Integrated Security including DDoS protection and WAAP
  • European-based with GDPR compliance

Gcore suits organizations needing more than traditional CDN: AI-powered applications, global streaming, or edge compute resources for real-time processing.

Why Choose Gcore Over Akamai for Modern Workloads

Gcore excels for integrated edge infrastructure needs:

  1. Unified Edge Platform
    While Akamai has expanded through acquisitions like Linode to offer full cloud services, Gcore provides an integrated edge platform. Deploy Kubernetes, stream video, and accelerate content sharing the same 180+ PoP network. Egress between some services is free, though limitations apply depending on the specific products used.
  1. Modern AI Infrastructure
    Gcore provides current-generation NVIDIA H100/H200 GPUs for training and A100/L40S for inference. “Everywhere Inference” deploys AI models across the edge network targeting ultra-low latency. This end-to-end approach from training to edge deployment simplifies coordinating CDN with separate GPU providers.
  1. Purpose-Built Streaming Platform
    Beyond generic CDN video delivery, Gcore offers dedicated streaming with complete workflow: RTMP/SRT/WebRTC ingest, automatic transcoding with ultra-low latency using LL-HLS/LL-DASH, and 4+ hour DVR functionality. Per-minute pricing creates predictable costs for streaming workloads.

 

Gcore Pricing

  • WAAP Start: €35/month for 5GB traffic, 4 domains, basic WAF
  • WAAP Pro: €125/month for 10GB traffic, WAF, bot management
  • CDN: Tiered monthly plans with custom enterprise pricing available
  • Streaming: Pay-per-minute model
  • AI/GPU Cloud: Per-hour billing, varies by GPU type
  • Egress fees: Vary by service, some internal transfers are free

Who Should Use Gcore?

Choose Gcore if:

  • You’re building AI applications requiring GPU infrastructure for training and low-latency edge inference
  • Video streaming is core to your business, needing complete ingest-to-delivery solutions with ultra-low latency
  • You require true edge computing for containers and microservices, not just edge functions

 

The Final Verdict

While Akamai remains a leading provider of enterprise-grade CDN and security services, the alternatives we’ve explored each excel in specific areas where Akamai’s comprehensive but complex platform may not be the ideal fit. Based on our research, here are the best Akamai alternatives for different needs:

  • CDNsun for businesses seeking enterprise-comparable performance with transparent pay-as-you-go pricing, personalized support, and no DNS complications – particularly valuable for streaming companies, software distributors, and image-heavy websites with irregular usage patterns
  • Amazon CloudFront for AWS-native teams wanting seamless ecosystem integration and serverless edge computing
  • Fastly for developer teams requiring instant control, real-time observability, and edge programmability
  • Google Cloud CDN for GCP organizations needing modern protocols and optional YouTube-grade media delivery
  • Azure Front Door for Azure enterprises requiring unified CDN and security with Private Link support
  • Cloudflare Free for startups and individuals needing zero-cost CDN and DDoS protection
  • Gcore for organizations building AI applications or requiring integrated edge computing and streaming

Remember, choosing a CDN isn’t about finding the “best” provider overall, but rather the right fit for your specific requirements, budget, and technical capabilities. Many organizations successfully combine multiple CDN services or use these alternatives alongside existing infrastructure to create their optimal content delivery architecture.

Ready to experience enterprise-grade CDN performance without enterprise complexity? CDNsun offers professional content delivery with transparent pay-as-you-go pricing, personalized support, and proven reliability from 12 years of service. Start your 15-day free trial today and discover how CDNsun delivers the same performance as industry giants at a fraction of the cost – no contracts, no negotiations, just reliable CDN that works.

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