Top 5 CDN Providers in 2026

Use this 2026 ranking to compare CDN providers that combine delivery features with security, edge capabilities and image optimisation. See which services offer the broadest mix, then narrow your choice by network reach and the features your site needs.

How we ranked these CDN providers

For this all-round ranking, we favoured combinations of core features over a single speciality. WAF and DDoS protection address common security needs; HTTP/3 supports modern delivery; edge computing, image optimisation and dynamic content can help with more than static files. We also considered network reach and operational features such as cache purging, origin shield, logs and HTTPS on your own domain. We rank on listed specifications and features rather than lab tests, so the order reflects breadth and fit, not measured speed.

1. Cloudflare CDN

Cloudflare takes the top spot for covering a wide range of everyday CDN needs. It lists a WAF, DDoS protection, HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, edge computing, image optimisation and dynamic content. Its network spans 309 PoP locations in 121 countries, including the Netherlands, giving it the broadest stated country coverage among these five providers.

Other listed features include API access, DNS, WebSockets, token authentication, geo-blocking and compression. You can purge everything or an individual file, and Cloudflare lists HTTPS on its CDN domain and your own. Video on demand and live video make it relevant to media sites as well as conventional websites.

• Strengths: WAF and DDoS protection; HTTP/3; edge computing; image optimisation; dynamic content; 309 PoP locations across 121 countries; a Netherlands PoP.
• Limits: No origin shield, log files, private CDN, custom SSL certificate or serve-stale support is listed. Push uploads are not available.

Choose Cloudflare if you want broad features and extensive stated global coverage. Check the missing origin shield and logging options against your operational requirements.

2. Gcore CDN

Gcore combines core security and delivery features with origin storage. It lists WAF and DDoS protection, HTTP/3, edge computing, image optimisation and dynamic content. Its 104 PoP locations cover 78 countries, including the Netherlands. That is a smaller stated footprint than Cloudflare's, but the feature mix remains broad.

Gcore also lists a private CDN, custom SSL certificates, WebSockets, token authentication and support for large and small files. You can purge everything, an individual file or a pattern. Serve-stale support and origin storage may suit workflows where you want cached content available while an origin is being updated or has problems.

• Strengths: WAF and DDoS protection; HTTP/3; edge computing; image optimisation; origin storage; private CDN; three purge options; serve-stale support.
• Limits: No PoPs in China are listed, and its network has fewer locations and countries than Cloudflare's. It does not list log files or 24/7 availability.

Pick Gcore if origin storage, private CDN options or pattern-based purging matter to your setup. If round-the-clock availability is a firm support requirement, note that Gcore does not list it.

3. Fastly CDN

Fastly combines security, edge and cache-control features. It lists WAF and DDoS protection, HTTP/3, edge computing, image optimisation and dynamic content. Origin shield and serve-stale support add cache controls, while listed instant change propagation and purging by tag or key can help sites that update content frequently.

The provider lists 67 PoP locations in 35 countries, including the Netherlands. Fastly also supports logs, basic authentication, WebSockets, token authentication, live video and video on demand. Its footprint is more limited than the first two entries, but origin shield, logs and granular purging give it a distinct operational profile.

• Strengths: WAF and DDoS protection; HTTP/3; edge computing; origin shield; image optimisation; logs; purge by tag or key; live video and video on demand.
• Limits: The network covers 35 countries and 67 PoP locations. DNS, a custom SSL certificate and HTTPS on your own domain are not listed; neither is 24/7 availability.

Fastly suits you if cache control, logs and origin shield matter more than maximum geographic reach. Check the HTTPS limitations if your deployment requires support for HTTPS on your own domain.

4. BytePlus CDN

BytePlus stands out for its listed 840 PoP locations, including 800 in China, across 26 countries. It combines WAF and DDoS protection with HTTP/3, edge computing, origin shield, dynamic content and origin storage. If China coverage is central to your audience, those network figures make BytePlus worth considering.

Its features also include logs, custom SSL certificates, HTTPS on your own domain, WebSockets and serve-stale support. Cache changes are listed as taking two minutes to propagate, and purging can target everything or a folder. Image optimisation is not listed, nor is apex or root-domain support.

• Strengths: 840 PoP locations, including 800 in China; WAF and DDoS protection; HTTP/3; edge computing; origin shield; origin storage; logs.
• Limits: Image optimisation and apex/root-domain support are not listed. Incoming traffic charges apply, and the 840 locations are spread across 26 countries.

Consider BytePlus if its China footprint and origin features fit your audience and architecture. For a general-purpose CDN, account for the missing image optimisation rather than treating location count as the only measure of fit.

5. CacheFly CDN

CacheFly offers security, image and origin features, including WAF and DDoS protection, origin shield, image optimisation, dynamic content and serve-stale support. HTTP/2 is listed, but HTTP/3 is not, putting it behind higher-ranked providers on one of this page's core delivery criteria.

The network covers 71 PoP locations in 45 countries, with a Netherlands PoP and two listed locations in China. CacheFly lists a status page and 24/7 availability, plus telephone and email support. Other features include custom SSL certificates, HTTPS on your own domain, private CDN, origin storage and purge by folder or across the whole cache.

• Strengths: WAF and DDoS protection; origin shield; image optimisation; 24/7 availability; a status page; custom SSL certificates; HTTPS on your own domain.
• Limits: HTTP/3, DNS, edge computing and apex/root-domain support are not listed. Its network is smaller than the top-ranked options, with 71 locations across 45 countries.

Choose CacheFly if support availability, origin shield and image optimisation matter more than HTTP/3 or edge computing. Confirm that the missing features do not form part of your delivery plan.

Products that narrowly missed the list

Amazon CloudFront lists WAF, DDoS protection, HTTP/3 and edge computing, but its 35 PoP locations are fewer than the selected providers' networks, and it lacks image optimisation and origin shield. CDN77 offers WAF, DDoS protection and HTTP/3, but its listed monthly minimum makes it a poor fit for this all-round comparison.

How to choose a CDN

Start with your audience. The locations that matter are those near your visitors: BytePlus has a large listed presence in China, while Cloudflare lists PoPs across 121 countries. If most requests come from one region, compare coverage there rather than choosing by worldwide totals alone.

Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. If you need image optimisation and HTTP/3 together, Cloudflare, Gcore, Fastly and BytePlus list both; CacheFly lists image optimisation but not HTTP/3. If you depend on origin shield or origin storage, compare providers that list those features. For frequent publishing, check purge options, logs and serve-stale support.

Finally, verify how the CDN fits your domain and operations. Check HTTPS on your own domain, DNS needs, support availability and any missing feature before migrating. In 2026, choose the provider whose listed network and features match your traffic pattern and deployment requirements, not simply the one with the longest feature list.