CDN Performance Comparison

CDN Performance Measurement Strategies

Content delivery networks (CDNs) are the best way to speed up your site. These network servers deliver content from local servers to the end-users, making large data sets possible.

We analyzed 5 million websites to find the most popular CDNs. We have presented our findings below.

Cloudflare

Cloudflare is the most popular CDN provider in the world, boasting more than 6,000,000 linked domains. The service’s popularity can be attributed to its free plan, which includes all the essential features that a CDN should have. It also meets the needs of amateur programmers and private users.

Cloudflare is an easy-to-use provider that users can set up and manage. It also has a well-designed interface which has made it a popular choice among CDNs.

Cloudflare focuses not only on performance but also security. They offer DDoS protection as well as firewalls for paid subscribers. Cloudflare also includes SSL encryption as well as a versatile analytical tool.

Cloudflare’s impressive performance is offset by its slower speed. It has to settle for a middle position in the CDNPerf ranking. Additional functions and features are not available to non-paying subscribers. Plans start at $20 per monthly. Other services, such as live streaming, that require high levels of technical proficiency are not supported.

1. No bandwidth caps – extensive free plan
2. Large server networks provide excellent performance
3. It is easy to set up and use
4. Pronounced security features (DDoS Protection and Firewall)
5. An extensive analytical tool
6. Support for subscribers who are not paying is limited

jsDelivr

jsDelivr, a free CDN for open source content, has become a favourite among developers due to its integration with open-source development platforms. It is the second most used CDN in our sample. Contrary to other CDN providers jsDelivr does not have its own server network. Instead, it relies on other CDNs such as Fastly and Bunny.

The service’s algorithm determines which channel is best for users based on their location and current performance. This not only guarantees fast loading times, but also protects you from service interruptions.

jsDelivr has a strong connection to GitHub, npm and other open-source platforms. This makes it easy to transfer data quickly and without any setup. Some features are not available in other CDN providers, such as the ability to load multiple files using a single HTTP request or version aliasing, which automatically uploads the latest version of a project.

jsDelivr can also be used with any type of file, including JavaScript libraries and jQuery plugins.

1. Multiple CDNs make it fast and reliable
2. Open-source and free
3. Integrations with GitHub and npm make it easy to integrate open-source content.
4. Developers need extensive features
5. Support is offered primarily by the users of the network.
6. Complex projects may be too difficult for simple ones

Amazon CloudFront

Amazon CloudFront provides the CDN system for the ecommerce giant. It is part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and relies on Amazon’s global infrastructure to reliably deliver content of any size. CloudFront can be easily combined with other AWS apps such as Amazon S3 and Amazon EC2, giving developers and businesses a wide range of design options.

CDN allows for a lot of customization such as very detailed server settings. AWS Shield Standard, which protects against DDoS attacks, is also a key component of security.

CloudFront is easy to use for anyone who has worked with AWS. The interface is identical. The user interface can seem overwhelming for new users due to the many options.

CloudFront’s comprehensive analytics tools will impress once everything is set up. For example, you can set up custom alarms if data limits exceed. Amazon CloudFront can handle both static and more complicated dynamic content such as streaming.

CloudFront’s pricing is determined by how much data is required and how many GB are used. Pricing structure for CloudFront is complex and can vary from one target region to the next. The service can be tested free of charge for one year, provided that users don’t exceed 50GB per month and/or 2,000,000 HTTP and HTTPS requests each month.

1. Reliable and fast
2. Comprehensive package – Ability to adjust server settings flexibly
3. This includes the integration of other Amazon Services
4. Security-focused
5. You can try it free for one year
6. Pricing model is complex, especially for newcomers
7. User interface is complicated (overloaded).

CDN Trends for 2021

CDNs are constantly changing and evolving. CDNs have been recognized as a reliable tool for customers, resulting in increased customizability. In order to cater to specific target groups, new providers have staked out our market segments, winning many clients along the way. We looked at the most significant developments in CDNs between 2020 and 2021, along with some current trends.

Netlify

Netlify offers cloud computing services that include hosting and back-end serverless services for static and web apps. Users can use it to create, host and manage websites and web apps. The company, like jsDelivr makes it easy for you to integrate GitHub or GitLab content.

Netlify was founded in 2014 and has seen rapid growth. It now boasts more than 1,000,000 users at the time of writing. Netlify is well-suited to a range of applications such as ecommerce websites, web apps and conference pages. It can also be used for sharing documents online.

Netlify’s user interface makes it easy for beginners. Netlify’s free plan does not have many important features. It is therefore recommended that you purchase the Pro plan for $19 per monthly.

1. Community-focused, user-friendly
2. It is easy to integrate Git content
3. SSL and DNS Options Available at No Charge
4. No support for dynamic content

Quickly

Fastly is a product that has been in the market for over ten years. It has impressed many Internet giants like Shopify and Slack. Fastly is an edge-cloud-based CDN that can update content in real time.

This service allows users to program their server settings and gives them complete control over what content is made available to site visitors. Another highlight is the automatic optimization and protection against DDoS attacks of image content. A firewall is also available. Real-time logs allow for quick identification of website problems.

Fastly requires 150 ms (instant Purge) to invalidate cache, as opposed to five seconds that traditional CDNs need. Fastly supports all content, even live streaming.

Fastly’s large number of options can prove overwhelming to beginners. Fastly offers a free trial that includes $50 worth traffic. Similar to Amazon CloudFront, paid plans are calculated according to the bandwidth used.

1. Real-time content updates
2. Server settings extensive
3. DDoS protection combined with a firewall provide high security
4. Comprehensive support
5. Relatively costly
6. The wealth of features makes it a steep learning curve

Google Cloud CDN

Google Cloud CDN uses Google’s global infrastructure to temporarily store cloud content close to the end-user. It is easy to integrate Google services such as Cloud Monitoring or Cloud Logging, making it simple to view analytic data.

Google Cloud CDN’s global structure (servers in 180 different countries) allows content to be kept close to users, minimising loading times.

The support is less impressive. Although we are fairly certain that Google’s sheer size is to blame for the slow response times, it’s not an excuse.

Like CloudFront, the usage costs are determined based on how much bandwidth is required. This is divided into outgoing traffic, cache filling and HTTP/HTTPS request, then by region.

1. Market’s second-fastest CDN
2. Integrated with other Google services
3. Secure features that work
4. Support response times are comparable to long
5. Complex pricing model; quite expensive

TECHNOLOGIE		USAGE IN THE 5 MILLION MOST POPULAR SITES	TREND
	Cloudflare	368,712	+43 %
	jsDelivr	110,336	–
	Amazon Cloudfront	40,110	+30 %
	Sucuri	12,601	+11 %
	Incapsula	9,706	-1 %
	Google Cloud	9,335	+24 %
	Akamai	8,977	+19 %
	Netlify	7,351	+91 %
	Fastly	6,822	+30 %
	Azure CDN	1,163	+11 %
	Fireblade	1,132	+64 %
	Section.io	781	–
	GoCache	253	–
	MaxCDN	218	-2 %
	EdgeCast	145	-33 %
	KeyCDN	118	+20 %
	CDN77	69	+38 %
	Airee	33	-11 %
	DERAK.CLOUD	18	+29 %
	ArvanCloud	7	-97 %
	CacheFly	3	-40 %