Top 5 CDNs for Security in 2026

Use this 2026 ranking to compare CDNs by the security controls they list, then choose the combination that best fits your site’s access rules, domain setup and traffic needs.

How we ranked these CDNs

We counted the security controls each provider lists across WAF, DDoS protection, token authentication, basic authentication, IP allow/block lists, geo-blocking, hotlink protection, support for your own SSL certificate, HTTPS on the CDN domain and HTTPS on your own domain. These controls can help with different tasks: filtering requests, limiting access or encrypting traffic. They are not interchangeable, and a listed feature does not tell you how configurable or effective it is.

BytePlus, CacheFly, Gcore and CDN77 each list nine of these controls; Cloudflare lists eight. We keep the supplied order for the four-way tie. The feed has no bot-protection field, so we do not claim that any provider offers bot protection here. This ranking compares listed specifications and features, not hands-on security tests.

1. BytePlus CDN

BytePlus takes the top spot with nine listed controls, including both own-certificate support and HTTPS on your own domain. It also lists WAF, DDoS protection, token authentication, IP lists, geo-blocking and hotlink protection. That is a broad set if you want to combine request filtering with rules for who can access content.

• Strengths: It lists all nine controls counted in this ranking, plus HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, API access, DNS, and edge computing.
• Its network lists 840 locations across 26 countries, including China and the Netherlands. Listed regions also cover North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
• It supports video on demand and live video, and lists Origin Shield and serve-stale support.

• Limits: Basic authentication is not listed. Neither is a status page, and support is by email.
• It does not list an apex/root-domain option or image optimisation.

Choose BytePlus if your priority is the breadth of listed controls, especially the combination of your own SSL certificate and HTTPS on your own domain. Check its setup requirements for your domain and origin before relying on those features in production.

2. CacheFly CDN

CacheFly also lists nine controls, matching BytePlus on the counted security set except for basic authentication, which neither provider lists. It combines WAF and DDoS protection with token authentication, IP lists, geo-blocking and hotlink protection. Its own SSL and HTTPS options cover both the CDN domain and your domain.

• Strengths: It lists all nine counted controls, offers phone and email support, and has a status page and stated 24/7 availability.
• Its listed network spans 71 locations in 45 countries, with a Netherlands PoP and coverage across the major regions, including China and Oceania.
• It includes HTTP/2, WebSockets, Origin Shield and image optimisation. The provider lists no charge for incoming traffic.

• Limits: Basic authentication is not listed, and DNS is not included in its feature listing.
• It lists no HTTP/3 or edge computing, and only two PoP locations in China.

CacheFly suits you if support access and operational status information matter alongside a wide set of listed controls. Its listing also makes it worth considering for video delivery, but confirm how its access rules work for your content and user groups.

3. Gcore CDN

Gcore lists nine of the controls in our count: WAF, DDoS protection, token authentication, IP lists, geo-blocking, hotlink protection, own SSL, and HTTPS on both CDN and own domains. It is the only one of the top three here that lists an apex/root-domain option, which may help if you want to serve a domain without a subdomain.

• Strengths: It lists API and DNS access, HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, WebSockets, edge computing, and image optimisation.
• Its network listing covers 104 locations in 78 countries, including the Netherlands. It also lists a status page and regions across North and Latin America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Africa.
• Cache purging can target everything, an individual file or a pattern.

• Limits: Basic authentication is not listed, nor are log files or an Origin Shield feature.
• The listing shows no PoPs in China and no stated 24/7 availability. Its change propagation time is listed as 15 minutes.

Consider Gcore if you need the apex-domain option, broad regional coverage and flexible cache purging alongside the counted controls. Its country coverage is the broadest among these five by the listed country count, but that alone does not indicate how a particular route will perform.

4. CDN77

CDN77 lists nine controls, including basic authentication, which the first three providers do not list. It also lists token authentication, WAF, DDoS protection, IP lists, geo-blocking, hotlink protection and support for your own SSL certificate. The gap is HTTPS on your own domain: that control is not listed.

• Strengths: It lists 24/7 availability and support by live chat, phone and email.
• Its security feature set includes both basic and token authentication, plus IP lists and geo-blocking.
• It lists Origin Shield, HTTP/3, and cache purging by everything, file or wildcard.

• Limits: HTTPS on your own domain is not listed, and the provider does not list DNS, WebSockets, edge computing or dynamic content acceleration.
• Its network lists 52 locations across 41 countries and no PoPs in China.

CDN77 may suit you if basic authentication is a specific requirement and you value several support channels. Before choosing it, verify that its listed HTTPS options meet your own-domain needs; an own SSL certificate is not the same as the missing own-domain HTTPS listing.

5. Cloudflare CDN

Cloudflare lists eight counted controls: WAF, DDoS protection, token authentication, IP lists, geo-blocking, hotlink protection, HTTPS on the CDN domain and HTTPS on your own domain. It does not list support for your own SSL certificate, which accounts for the lower control count in this ranking.

• Strengths: It lists coverage in 121 countries and 309 locations, including 37 PoPs in China and a PoP in the Netherlands.
• Its listing includes DNS, HTTP/3, WebSockets, apex/root-domain support, edge computing and dynamic content acceleration.
• It lists zero-minute change propagation and cache purging by everything or individual file.

• Limits: Own SSL certificate support is not listed, nor are basic authentication, Origin Shield or serve-stale support.
• It lists email support, rather than phone or live chat.

Pick Cloudflare if geographic reach, DNS and the listed domain-level controls matter more to you than supplying your own SSL certificate. The absence of that field should be checked against your certificate and domain requirements before you migrate.

Near misses

Fastly lists eight controls, including basic and token authentication, but HTTPS on your own domain is not listed. It misses this top five because its counted set is smaller than the nine-control entries, despite offering features such as logs and edge computing.

How to choose a security-focused CDN

Start with the threats and access rules you actually need to address. A WAF and DDoS protection are different from token authentication or an IP allow/block list. If you distribute files that should not be embedded elsewhere, hotlink protection may be relevant; if access depends on a visitor’s location, check the provider’s geo-blocking controls. Confirm that the specific rule types you need are available before you sign up.

Next, check the domain and certificate details. HTTPS on a CDN domain, HTTPS on your own domain and the ability to use your own SSL certificate are separate fields in this comparison. CDN77, for example, lists own SSL but not HTTPS on your own domain; Cloudflare lists own-domain HTTPS but not own SSL support. Ask the provider how certificates are configured for your intended hostname.

Finally, compare operational fit. Look at the listed support channels, API and DNS options, cache purging, regions and any protocol requirements. A larger location count does not prove better performance for your visitors, so match the listed network coverage to where your users and origin are. In 2026, treat the control count as a screening tool, then verify configuration depth, logging and incident support directly with the provider.