7 Best CDN Providers 2024
Web page loading time, or website speed in a more technical phrase, is an important SEO component. It's also the most important aspect of the user experience. Modern internet content consumers have a short attention span and lack patience. You risk losing valuable traffic if your website does not load quickly enough. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) can help a website load faster.
What is a Content Devlivery Network (CDN)?
A content delivery network (CDN) is a geographically dispersed group of servers that collaborate to deliver Internet material quickly.
A CDN enables for the rapid distribution of assets such as HTML pages, javascript files, stylesheets, pictures, and videos that are required for loading Internet content. CDN services are becoming increasingly popular, and they now handle the bulk of web traffic, including traffic from large sites like Facebook, Netflix, and Amazon.
A correctly built CDN can also assist protect websites from malicious assaults like Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS).
How does a CDN Works?
A CDN is, at its most basic level, a network of servers linked together with the objective of providing content as rapidly, inexpensively, consistently, and securely as possible. A CDN will install servers at the intersections of several networks to boost speed and connectivity.
These Internet exchange points (IXPs) are the major places where different Internet providers link in order to provide traffic originating on their respective networks to one another. A CDN provider can cut costs and transit times in high-speed data delivery by connecting to these high-speed and highly interconnected locations.
A CDN performs a variety of optimizations on regular client/server data transfers in addition to placing servers in IXPs. CDNs establish Data Centers in strategic places throughout the world, improve security, and are built to withstand a variety of failures and Internet congestion.
Top 7 CDN Providers
1. Google Cloud CDN
Google Cloud CDN uses Google's global network to deliver content at low costs and low latency. The service currently has 90 data centres worldwide.
You can secure your application with an SSL certificate provided by Google Cloud CDN at no extra charge.
Here are some of the features they offer:
- Integrated into all cloud platforms.
- Supports modern protocols such as HTTP/2 and QUIC to improve site performance.
- Cloud CDN boasts edge caches that peer with most major ISPs globally, enabling connectivity to more users.
- Adapts to hybrid and multi-cloud architectures.
2. Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a widely used content delivery service in the United States that blends novice-friendly ease of use with advanced capabilities and capability.
It's easy to set up, and you won't have to touch your code. Simply set your DNS nameservers to utilise Cloudflare, and the service will instantly start caching and providing content to visitors from their closest location.
Cloudflare's free plan lets you to try out the service without committing to anything. It's highly functional, with limitless bandwidth and no obnoxious limitations designed to entice you to upgrade.
3. Stackpath
With 14 points of presence (PoPs) across North America and nine in Europe, this CDN service is mostly focused on the West. Stackpath has more than 50 points of presence (PoPs) in more than 35 countries, including South America.
StackPath is simple to use, with a simple web portal for managing your settings, and if you get confused, there's quick technical assistance available via live chat or phone.
Performance appears to be good in the US and UK, as well as Europe, but things may slow down further afield, which isn't surprising given StackPath's aforementioned focus on Western nations.
Overall, this is an enticing deal, with a basic plan costing $10 (£7.9) per month for up to 1TB of bandwidth.
4. Amazon CloudFront
Amazon CloudFront is the CDN part of AWS (Amazon Web Services), therefore it's unquestionably a powerhouse. As you might assume, CloudFront comes with a slew of advanced capabilities, including the ability to modify things like enabling automatic GZip compression for faster loading times.
Another plus is the on-demand in-depth analytics, which shows you information about your visitors' device kind, operating system, and so on. There's also the option to set up alarms, which will notify you if your data transfer use exceeds a certain threshold.
The cost varies by region, but the good news is that there is a free tier (which gives you 50GB of data per month for one year).
Although performance is decent, there's no doubting the power and flexibility that Amazon provides to the slightly more tech-savvy user.
5. Microsoft Azure CDN
Microsoft Azure, as you're probably aware, is a huge old stack of integrated cloud tools for creating and managing apps and services, with a wide variety of coverage, including a CDN solution, which is, of course, what we're concentrating on today.
It's worth noting that this isn't using Microsoft's own edge servers, but rather three CDN networks: Standard Akamai, Standard Verizon, and Premium Verizon.
We go over all of these plans in detail in our review of Microsoft's CDN service, which is linked below, but suffice it to say that this isn't the cheapest option out there in terms of price - which may be a bit tricky to figure out.
Those that seek integration with other Microsoft technologies and services, on the other hand, may find the cost worthwhile. You can create a free account and get started with 12 months of free services.
6. CacheFly
The CacheFly Material Delivery Network (CDN) speeds up the delivery of rich-media content by up to 10 times compared to single-hosting delivery. CacheFly, the first TCP anycast-based CDN, was founded in 2002 with the goal of providing rich-media content faster and more consistently than traditional delivery techniques.
Organizations pick CacheFly for scalability, reliability, and unparalleled performance because of its proven track record, a decade of experience, and over 2,000 clients in over 80 countries.
It costs $295 per month to get started.
7. CDN77
CDN77 is a well-known content distribution service with a long list of high-profile clients, including the European Space Agency. It offers a global CDN network with over 35 data centres, majority of which are in Europe and the United States, but there are also facilities in South America, Asia, and Australia.
The web console interface is simple and straightforward, with little jargon, making it suitable for newcomers to the CDN world. On the other hand, there aren't many alternatives, despite the fact that you can tweak numerous parameters.
If you want to try it out, there's a 14-day risk-free trial available, and you don't have to provide any payment information.
WindUp
At last, these are some of the best CDN providers. By using CDN services, website owners may reduce the time it takes for photos, files, and other material to load, enhance their search rankings, and build client loyalty.
The service is more expensive than single-server hosting, but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Customers want crystal-clear video images and lightning-fast processing. Companies who wish to stay competitive must be able to provide large amounts of material quickly around the world.
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