Introduction
In the age of cloud computing, managing a website or online service has never been easier. There are many cloud consulting services out there but two names that stand out from the crowd are Cloudflare and Akamai. But which one is better? In this post, we'll provide you with a factual and unbiased comparison between Cloudflare and Akamai.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare is a content delivery network that promises to improve website performance, security, and reliability. The company was founded in 2009 and has grown rapidly over the years. Their services include:
- Content delivery
- DDoS protection
- Firewall services
- Domain name system (DNS) management
Akamai
Akamai is one of the largest content delivery networks in the world. The company was founded in 1998 and has been growing ever since. Their services include:
- Content delivery
- DDoS protection
- Firewall services
- Secure web gateway
- Web application firewall
Comparison
Now that we have a brief overview of both companies, let's compare them side by side.
| Features | Cloudflare | Akamai |
|---|---|---|
| Number of customers | Over 27 million | Over 10,000 |
| Number of data centers | Over 200 | Over 135 |
| Pricing | Starts at $20/month | Custom pricing |
| DDoS protection | Yes | Yes |
| Firewall services | Yes | Yes |
| Web application firewall | No | Yes |
| Secure web gateway | No | Yes |
| Load balancing | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| DNS management | Yes | Yes |
| Image optimization | Yes | Yes |
| Video streaming | Yes | Yes |
As you can see, both cloud consulting services offer similar features, but there are some differences. Akamai offers a few additional services like web application firewall and secure web gateway. They also have custom pricing, which may be a plus or a minus depending on your budget. Cloudflare, on the other hand, offers load balancing and image optimization services.
Conclusion
So, which one should you choose? The answer depends on your needs and budget. If you're looking for a cost-effective option with a wide range of features, Cloudflare might be the right choice for you. But if you need additional security services and custom pricing, Akamai might be a better fit.
We hope that this comparison has been helpful in your decision-making process.
References
- Cloudflare. (n.d.). Services. Retrieved July 28, 2021, from https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/what-is-cloudflare/
- Akamai. (n.d.). Solutions. Retrieved July 28, 2021, from https://www.akamai.com/uk/en/solutions/