CloudFront vs Fastly (vs CDNsun): Which CDN Fits Your Business Needs in 2026?

Choosing between Amazon CloudFront and Fastly for your content delivery needs often comes down to these fundamental questions that most comparison articles ignore:

• Are you already invested in the AWS ecosystem, or do you need a standalone CDN that works across multiple cloud providers?
• Do you need instant content updates globally, or can you work with standard cache invalidation times?
• Are you streaming live events or distributing video content that requires specialized CDN capabilities?
• Do you have irregular usage patterns where paying monthly fees for idle periods doesn’t make sense?
• Is your team technical enough to leverage a highly programmable CDN, or do you need something that just works out of the box?
• Would you prefer personalized, tailored support or are you comfortable with standard enterprise support tiers?
• Are you willing to pay enterprise prices for cutting-edge features, or do you need enterprise-level performance at a fraction of the cost?

In short, here’s what we recommend:

Amazon CloudFront is the natural choice for businesses already using AWS services. With over 700 Points of Presence globally and deep integration with S3, EC2, and other AWS services, it provides seamless content delivery with free data transfer from AWS origins. The pay-as-you-go pricing and generous free tier make it accessible, though costs can escalate quickly with high traffic volumes. While powerful, its complexity and the AWS-centric approach can be overwhelming for teams not already familiar with the AWS ecosystem.

Fastly is built for developers who want complete control over their content delivery. Its instant purge capability (150 milliseconds globally) and programmable edge platform using Varnish Configuration Language (VCL) make it ideal for dynamic content and real-time applications. With packages starting at $1,500/month, it’s positioned as a premium solution for businesses that need cutting-edge performance and are willing to invest in both the platform and the technical expertise to leverage it fully.

Both platforms are incredibly powerful but come with significant complexity, costs, and the limitations of serving thousands of clients simultaneously. For many businesses, especially those in streaming, software distribution, or with image-heavy websites, these one-size-fits-all enterprise solutions might not provide the personalized approach they need.

CDNsun delivers enterprise-level CDN performance without the enterprise complexity, specializing in streaming and video delivery with 12 years of proven reliability. Their unique pay-as-you-go credit model (similar to cell phone credit) at $0.030/GB means no monthly fees or idle charges – perfect for event streaming companies, webinars, or businesses with irregular usage patterns. With servers in every major city worldwide and three specialized CDN services (streaming, software/game delivery, and website acceleration), CDNsun provides the same performance as the giants while offering personalized, tailored solutions that larger providers with 10,000+ clients simply can’t match.

If you’re looking for enterprise CDN performance with personalized support and without the complexity or monthly fees, start your 15-day free trial with CDNsun.

Table of contents:

• CloudFront vs Fastly vs CDNsun at a glance
• The fundamental divide: Integration vs independence
• CloudFront dominates the AWS ecosystem (but that’s also its limitation)
• Fastly wins on real-time control and programmability
• CDNsun delivers enterprise performance with personalized service
• Pricing models reveal each platform’s true priorities
• Performance differences that actually matter
• Security features across the spectrum
• CloudFront vs Fastly vs CDNsun: Which should you choose?

 

CloudFront vs Fastly vs CDNsun at a glance

Let’s cut through the marketing speak and look at what each platform actually delivers for your business:

	CloudFront	Fastly	CDNsun
Years in Business	16 years (2008)	13 years (2011)	12 years (2012)
Network Size	700+ PoPs	60+ POPs	50+ POPs
Starting Price	$0.085/GB (after free tier)	$50/month minimum + usage	$0.030/GB (credit-based)
Free Tier	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1TB/month	⭐⭐⭐ $50 credit/month	⭐⭐⭐ 15-day trial
Minimum Commitment	None	$50/month minimum	None (pay-as-you-go credit)
Cache Invalidation	Under 2 minutes	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 150ms	Standard timing
Learning Curve	⭐⭐ Steep (AWS knowledge required)	⭐⭐ Steep (VCL required)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ User-friendly
AWS Integration	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Native	⭐⭐⭐ Via APIs	⭐⭐⭐ Via APIs
Programmability	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lambda@Edge	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ VCL & Compute@Edge	⭐⭐⭐ REST API
Support	⭐⭐⭐ Varies by plan	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 98% satisfaction rate	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Personalized & tailored
Best For	AWS-native businesses	Dynamic content & developers	Streaming, software distribution, irregular usage

 

The fundamental divide: Integration vs independence

The most important distinction between these CDNs isn’t about features or performance; it’s about their fundamental approach to cloud infrastructure and customer service.

CloudFront is designed as an integral part of the AWS ecosystem. If you’re storing files in S3, running applications on EC2, or using any AWS service, CloudFront feels like a natural extension. Data transfer from AWS services to CloudFront is free, which can result in significant cost savings. The integration is so deep that many AWS users don’t even consider alternatives.

Fastly takes the opposite approach. Built to be cloud-agnostic, it works equally well whether your infrastructure is on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, or your own servers. This independence is crucial for businesses with multi-cloud strategies or those who don’t want vendor lock-in. Fastly’s architecture is designed to be programmable and flexible, putting control in the hands of developers.

CDNsun represents a third philosophy: personalized service with enterprise performance. With 12 years in the business, they’ve proven their reliability while maintaining the agility to provide tailored solutions. Unlike providers managing 10,000+ clients with one-size-fits-all approaches, CDNsun focuses on fewer, bigger clients, offering customized configurations for streaming companies, software distributors, and image-heavy websites. Their infrastructure works seamlessly with any cloud provider while providing the granular control and personalized support that mass-market CDNs can’t offer.

 

CloudFront dominates the AWS ecosystem (but that’s also its limitation)

If you’re already using AWS services, CloudFront’s advantages are compelling. The service automatically integrates with AWS Shield Standard for DDoS protection at no extra cost. It works seamlessly with AWS WAF for application-layer security. Setting up CloudFront with an S3 bucket takes minutes, and the free data transfer from AWS origins can save thousands of dollars monthly for high-traffic sites.

The global network of over 700 Points of Presence ensures low latency worldwide, and the service automatically scales to handle massive traffic spikes. Features like Origin Shield provide an additional caching layer that can reduce origin load by up to 57%. Lambda@Edge allows you to run code at edge locations, enabling sophisticated customization without managing servers.

But this tight integration becomes a limitation if you’re not all-in on AWS. The complexity of AWS services can be overwhelming for teams without dedicated AWS expertise. The console interface, while powerful, requires understanding concepts like distributions, behaviors, and origin configurations. What seems simple in AWS documentation often requires hours of troubleshooting in practice.

As one of Amazon’s many services serving tens of thousands of clients, CloudFront offers limited customization options. You get what AWS provides, with little room for tailored solutions specific to your business needs. Pricing is another challenge – while the pay-as-you-go model starts reasonably, costs can spiral with multiple factors: data transfer rates vary by region, you pay for HTTP/HTTPS requests, and additional features like field-level encryption incur extra charges.

 

Fastly wins on real-time control and programmability

Fastly’s killer feature is its instant purge capability. When you update content, it’s invalidated globally in approximately 150 milliseconds. For news sites, e-commerce platforms, or any business with frequently changing content, this real-time control is game-changing. Compare this to CloudFront’s cache invalidation, which typically completes in under two minutes globally.

The platform’s use of Varnish Configuration Language (VCL) provides unprecedented control over content delivery. Developers can write custom logic for request routing, content transformation, and caching rules. This programmability extends to Fastly’s Compute@Edge platform, which uses WebAssembly to run code at the edge with near-zero cold starts.

Fastly’s modern architecture uses fewer, more powerful POPs equipped with SSDs and high-capacity caching. This design choice means content stays cached longer and serves faster, particularly beneficial for video streaming and large file delivery. The real-time analytics and log streaming provide immediate visibility into performance and issues.

However, this power comes with complexity. VCL has a steep learning curve, and many features require deep technical knowledge to implement correctly. The pricing structure, especially for enterprise packages starting at $1,500/month, puts it out of reach for smaller businesses. While the $50/month minimum tier exists, it’s really designed as an entry point rather than a long-term solution for growing businesses, as you’ll still pay that minimum even in low-usage months – a significant drawback for companies with irregular traffic patterns.

 

CDNsun delivers enterprise performance with personalized service

CDNsun has built its reputation over 12 years by focusing on what streaming companies, software distributors, and image-heavy websites actually need: enterprise-level performance without the complexity, personalized support, and flexible pricing that adapts to irregular usage patterns.

The company specializes in three core CDN services. Their streaming CDN powers live events from TEDx talks to educational webinars and church ceremonies – perfect for organizations that can’t use YouTube due to policy restrictions or need professional streaming capabilities. The software/game delivery CDN handles global distribution of updates to millions of users, ensuring fast downloads regardless of location. Their website CDN accelerates image-heavy sites like dating platforms or Instagram-style applications.

What sets CDNsun apart is their unique pay-as-you-go credit model at $0.030/GB. Similar to purchasing cell phone credit, you buy what you need and use it when you need it – no monthly fees, no idle charges. This is revolutionary for event streaming companies that might stream intensively for a week, then have no activity for months. Why pay monthly fees for a service you use irregularly?

With servers in every major city worldwide, CDNsun delivers the same performance users experience with Akamai, CloudFront, or Fastly – the speed is identical from an end-user perspective. The difference lies in the service model. While Amazon manages 10,000+ clients and can’t offer customization, CDNsun’s strategy focuses on fewer, bigger clients with everything tailored to their specific needs. This means personalized configurations, dedicated support that understands your business, and the flexibility to adapt as your needs change.

The platform offers granular control that surpasses even Cloudflare’s free tier, including the ability to enable or disable specific cities for content delivery – not just regions. This individual PoP control lets you optimize both performance and costs with precision that mass-market CDNs don’t provide. Despite being user-friendly enough that you don’t need extensive technical expertise, the platform includes advanced features like hotlink protection, country access policies, token authentication, and 5GB of free CDN storage with daily backups.

 

Pricing models reveal each platform’s true priorities

The way each platform structures its pricing tells you everything about their target market and priorities.

CloudFront‘s pricing is complex and AWS-centric. You get 1TB free per month, which is generous, but then pricing varies by region ($0.085-$0.120/GB for standard regions), HTTP/HTTPS requests cost extra, and various features have additional charges. The model assumes you’re already paying for other AWS services and treats CDN as an add-on cost. For AWS-heavy businesses, the free origin transfer makes this worthwhile. For others, the total cost can be surprising, and you’re still paying even during low-usage periods.

Fastly‘s model is built for enterprise predictability with significant waste for irregular users. The $50/month minimum applies regardless of usage – stream for one day or thirty, you pay the same. Their packages start at $1,500/month for 100M requests, with bandwidth charges that may apply separately. This pricing assumes consistent, high-volume usage and enterprise budgets. It’s transparent about being an enterprise solution with enterprise pricing, but punitive for businesses with variable traffic patterns.

CDNsun‘s credit-based model revolutionizes CDN pricing: buy credit like you would for a cell phone, use it when you need it, no expiration, no monthly fees. At $0.030/GB for standard regions, you only pay for actual usage. Stream a major event? Use your credit. No events for three months? Pay nothing. This model is perfect for streaming companies handling TEDx events, webinars, or sports that don’t happen every month. The optional custom plan at $200/month minimum provides unlimited websites for consistently growing businesses, but most clients prefer the flexibility of pay-as-you-go.

 

Performance differences that actually matter

Here’s what CDN providers don’t want you to know: from an end-user perspective, there’s no noticeable performance difference between major CDNs. Whether you’re on Akamai, CloudFront, Fastly, or CDNsun, your users experience the same speed. The real differences lie in how you manage and pay for that performance.

CloudFront‘s massive network provides consistent global performance, particularly strong in regions where AWS has a presence. Origin Shield can dramatically improve cache hit ratios for popular content. HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support ensures modern protocol optimization. But managing this performance requires AWS expertise and navigating complex configuration options.

Fastly‘s architecture excels at cache efficiency. The larger, more powerful POPs mean higher cache hit rates, especially for long-tail content. Request collapsing prevents origin overload during traffic spikes. The streaming miss feature starts delivering content before it’s fully cached, reducing time to first byte. Leveraging these features requires technical expertise and VCL knowledge.

CDNsun delivers enterprise-grade performance with servers in every major city globally. All POPs use SSD storage for faster retrieval. HTTP/2 support is standard. The key advantage is achieving this performance through an intuitive, user-friendly interface that doesn’t require a technical degree to operate. Individual PoP control means you can optimize performance for your specific audience locations while controlling costs – a level of granular control the giants don’t offer.

 

Security features across the spectrum

Security offerings reveal each platform’s market position and priorities.

CloudFront provides comprehensive security through AWS service integration. AWS Shield Standard (DDoS protection) is included free. AWS WAF integration enables sophisticated application-layer protection. Field-level encryption protects sensitive data at the edge. These features assume you’re willing to navigate AWS’s complex security model and potentially pay for additional services.

Fastly offers robust security with its Next-Gen WAF and Bot Management as add-on services. DDoS protection uses proprietary Attribute Unmasking technology for accurate attack mitigation. The platform provides detailed security analytics and real-time visibility. These enterprise-grade features come with enterprise pricing.

CDNsun includes essential security features at no extra cost: SSL/TLS encryption with free Let’s Encrypt certificates, token authentication for URL signing, hotlink protection, IP and country access policies, and DDoS protection. These features address the real-world security needs of streaming platforms, software distributors, and content-heavy websites effectively without additional complexity or costs.

CloudFront vs Fastly vs CDNsun: Which should you choose?

The best CDN isn’t the one with the most features; it’s the one that solves your specific problems without creating new ones.

Choose CloudFront if:

• You’re already heavily invested in AWS services
• Free data transfer from AWS origins provides significant savings
• You need deep integration with AWS security and compute services
• Your team has AWS expertise and can navigate its complexity
• You have consistent traffic patterns that justify ongoing costs

Get started with CloudFront through your AWS console

Choose Fastly if:

• You need instant global content updates (150ms purge)
• Your applications require sophisticated edge logic and programmability
• You have the technical team to leverage VCL and advanced features
• You have consistent, high-volume traffic that justifies the $1,500+/month investment
• Real-time analytics and control are mission-critical

Explore Fastly with their $50/month credit

Choose CDNsun if:

• You’re streaming events, webinars, or video content (especially irregularly)
• You’re distributing software or game updates to global audiences
• You run image-heavy websites like dating platforms or social media sites
• You want enterprise CDN performance without the complexity or monthly fees
• You prefer personalized, tailored support over mass-market service
• You need an alternative to YouTube for professional streaming
• Transparent pay-as-you-go pricing fits your business model better than subscriptions

Start your 15-day free trial with CDNsun

The CDN market has matured to the point where performance differences are negligible from an end-user perspective. What matters now is finding the right fit for your business model, usage patterns, and support needs. While CloudFront and Fastly compete on ecosystem integration and advanced programmability respectively, CDNsun has carved out a unique position over 12 years: delivering enterprise-level performance with personalized service, specialized streaming capabilities, and flexible pricing that doesn’t penalize irregular usage.

For streaming companies, software distributors, and businesses tired of paying for idle CDN capacity, that combination is exactly what they need.