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The Top 10 Alternatives to Akamai

Discover the Top Alternatives to Akamai, with key capabilities including API protection, bot management, and zero-trust network access.

Last updated on Nov 26, 2024

Written by Mirren McDade

Technical review by Laura Iannini

The Top 10 Alternatives to Akamai include:

1. Amazon CloudFront
2. Azure Front Door
3. Cloudflare
4. DataDome
5. DigitalOcean
6. Edgio
7. F5
8. Fastly
9. Google Cloud Armor
10. Imperva

Akamai Technologies is one of the most recognizable names in distributed cloud computing, providing fast, reliable, and secure online experiences to users globally. There are, however, many strong alternatives on the market that may better match your organization’s specific requirements.

When selecting a Content Delivery Network (CDN) service, businesses should be mindful of the host’s edge server location, pricing, customer support, and key features. Each of the vendors included in our list has been evaluated as a good alternative to Akamai, meaning that their capabilities echo Akamai’s in some way, but may have key differences in their capabilities, scale, pricing, etc.

The vendors on our Top Alternatives to Akamai shortlist were chosen based on their features sets and market presence, as well as user reviews and the in-depth appraisal of our in-house technical team.

Amazon CloudFront

Amazon CloudFront is a CDN solution that offers high-speed data transfers and low latency for web content using Amazon’s extensive global infrastructure. Amazon CloudFront functions smoothly alongside other AWS services, delivers data through 600+ globally dispersed Points of Presence (PoPs), and provides real-time metrics and logging for performance analysis via API and console access.

Who it’s for: Amazon CloudFront is ideal for enterprises and businesses requiring large-scale, latency-sensitive content delivery. Its pricing model starts on the AWS free tier, making initial access straightforward.

Benefits: Amazon CloudFront provides seamless integration with other AWS solutions, offering robust content delivery capabilities across a broad spectrum of formats.

Equipped to deliver diverse content formats, including dynamic, static, streaming, and interactive content.
Features peer connections with numerous telecom carriers and AWS regions for efficient data flow.
Incorporates security features such as DDoS protection, SSL/TLS encryption, and access controls by layering with other AWS services.
Supports edge computing for handling both light and computation-heavy operations efficiently.
Offers comprehensive traffic encryption and access controls for secure content delivery.

The bottom line: Amazon CloudFront stands out for its ability to integrate within the AWS ecosystem, delivering versatile content support and ensuring security and performance at a global scale. Its extensive network and comprehensive feature set make it an attractive option for enterprises seeking reliable content delivery solutions.

Amazon CloudFront is operated by Amazon Web Services, founded in 2008 to enhance global content delivery with a focus on speed and reliability.

Azure Front Door

Azure Front Door is a cloud-based CDN platform that is designed to offer high performance, scalability, and secure user experience for web applications and content. The platform works seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure DNS and Web Apps, ensuring streamlined operations.

Who it’s for: Ideal for enterprises looking to enhance their web application deliverability with robust security and global reach.

Benefits: Azure Front Door stands out due to its seamless integration with Azure services, making it easier for businesses to create and manage dynamic digital experiences.

Built on Microsoft’s global network, it offers a unified platform ensuring consistency and reliability.
It provides real-time analytics for monitoring and troubleshooting traffic and security concerns.
Capable of delivering content both in the cloud and on-premises, it offers flexibility tailored to business needs.
Enhanced security features including DDoS protection, bot protection, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) along with support for Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) via Azure Private Link integration.
Users can leverage a fully customizable rules engine for tailoring routing and other CDN functionalities to their needs.

The bottom line: Azure Front Door excels in providing high availability and secure user experiences with the added benefit of Azure’s global infrastructure. It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services, making it a strong contender for enterprises looking to optimize web application delivery.

Microsoft, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington, is a leading technology company, providing solutions to millions of businesses globally.

Cloudflare

Cloudflare offers cloud-based services that ensure fast and secure connectivity for users and infrastructure across various platforms. It provides automatic DDoS attack prevention across all network locations and offers enterprise-level performance and reliability.

Who it’s for: The solution is designed for businesses of all sizes, offering plans that cater to individual needs, including a free option.

Benefits: Cloudflare stands out for delivering robust security and performance enhancements while being simple to implement.

Worldwide network coverage in over 310 cities with a capacity exceeding 228 Tbps, catering to major global applications.
Features like WAN-as-a-Service, Firewall-as-a-Service, DDoS protection, and SD-WAN within a SASE framework.
A CDN that minimizes latency, reaching 95% of internet users within 50ms.
Zero-trust network access support.
Application services such as Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS and bot protection, SSL/TLS encryption, and DNS.

The bottom line: Cloudflare offers an impressive suite of security and network features, making it an ideal choice for any organization seeking to improve connectivity and protection. Its extensive global network and ease of deployment make it a valuable addition to any IT infrastructure.

Founded in 2009, Cloudflare is headquartered in San Francisco and boasts a network capable of serving some of the world’s largest applications, spanning over 310 cities worldwide.

DataDome

DataDome is an AI-driven bot management and DDoS mitigation solution designed to protect websites and APIs from various online threats. It ensures ease of use with an intuitive UI, making deployment straightforward and seamlessly supports third-party integrations with major web technologies, enhancing its versatility.

Who it’s for: DataDome provides plans for organizations of all sizes, making it adaptable for SMBs and large enterprises alike.

Benefits: DataDome excels in providing advanced protection against cyberfraud through its sophisticated bot management and DDoS mitigation.

Processes requests in 2 milliseconds or less, maintaining a false positive rate under 0.01% for heightened accuracy.
The machine learning engine updates continuously, analyzing approximately 5 trillion signals daily, adapting to customer usage patterns.
Offers robust bot protection that is capable of neutralizing sophisticated bots and unknown threats, exceeding the capabilities of some traditional WAF solutions.
Features a dedicated 24/7 SOC team that monitors for emerging threats.
Built-in automatic DDoS attack protection helps counter credential stuffing and cracking threats efficiently.

The bottom line: DataDome effectively offers comprehensive bot management and DDoS protection with AI technology, making it a valuable addition to any organization’s cybersecurity measures.

Founded in 2015, DataDome is recognized as a leader in cyberfraud protection, focusing on safeguarding digital channels with cutting-edge solutions.

DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean is a cloud platform providing comprehensive computing, storage, and networking solutions aimed at aiding businesses in developing and scaling applications. This solution offers scalable virtual machines and Kubernetes services, with an option for shared or dedicated CPU.

Who it’s for: Ideal for SMBs, developers, and DevOps teams seeking a straightforward cloud platform.

Benefits: DigitalOcean excels in delivering an intuitive user experience alongside a reliable infrastructure for applications.

With a RESTful API, users can automate and streamline various tasks.
DigitalOcean promises a 99.99% uptime, backed by dedicated support for uninterrupted service.
Always-on DDoS protection ensures automated mitigation to safeguard websites and applications.
Additional services such as DNS, cloud firewall, databases, and storage are included.
Built-in monitoring and alerting tools help users monitor application and infrastructure resource usage effectively.

The bottom line: DigitalOcean stands out for its ease of use, reliable uptime, and versatile features. It is a suitable choice for SMBs looking to manage and scale applications efficiently. The platform’s intuitive interface simplifies the management of infrastructure and resources, and the fully managed app platform allows effortless deployment of applications.

Founded in 2012, DigitalOcean supports over 600,000 customers worldwide with its headquarters in the United States.

Edgio

Edgio is an edge computing platform designed to empower businesses to deliver digital content efficiently and securely across a vast global network. It operates on a network with over 300 points of presence, ensuring extensive coverage and reliability, and is managed through a single user-friendly interface to simplify operations

Who it’s for: Edgio is well-suited for organizations of all sizes seeking comprehensive content delivery and robust security solutions.

Benefits: Edgio providing secure, high-performance digital content delivery.

Their modern web CDN optimizes interactive content delivery using advanced caching and prefetching techniques.
The solution includes authoritative DNS for dependable website access and DNS record publication.
Offers edge-native bot and DDoS protection utilizing AI/ML technologies for effective threat mitigation.
Edge functions enable developers to run custom code near user locations, decreasing latency and improving performance.

The bottom line: Edgio is a comprehensive edge computing platform that combines secure content delivery with innovative solutions, making it a strong choice for businesses aiming to optimize their digital presence globally. Security is also integrated into the platform without impacting speed.

Edgio, founded in 2001, specializes in digital content delivery with a presence across 7,000 global interconnections and a capacity of 250 Tbps, aiming to offer solutions ideal for modern web infrastructures.

F5 offers a comprehensive security solution for managing and securing applications and APIs across multi-cloud and hybrid environments. It connects, secures, and manages applications and APIs across distributed, multi-cloud, and hybrid networks effectively.

Who it’s for: F5 is best suited for enterprise-level organizations, including those within the Fortune 500, seeking robust protection and management of their applications in complex cloud environments.

Benefits: F5 delivers strong security for applications and networks while ensuring scalability and management across multiple cloud platforms.

The platform protects against fraud while maintaining service availability for legitimate users.
Secure multi-cloud networking services enable organizations to secure, scale, optimize, and manage applications across diverse deployments.
It facilitates zero-trust environments by offering SSO, app access controls, traffic encryption, and integration with identity solutions like Microsoft Azure AD, Okta, and Ping Identity.
The platform provides continuous protection for web apps and APIs against OWASP Top 10 threats and DDoS attacks.
Its fraud and abuse protection features can identify malicious behavior, mitigating threats from bots and malicious automation.

The bottom line: F5’s powerful and flexible multi-cloud security platform provides enterprise-grade protection for applications and APIs. This makes it a reliable choice for large organizations needing comprehensive security and efficiency across varied and complex cloud infrastructures.

Founded in 1996, F5 serves a broad client base, including 85% of the Fortune 500, and protects over 1 billion transactions from application attacks daily.

Fastly

Fastly is a cloud-based edge computing platform designed to enhance developer productivity and ensure reliable digital experiences for users.

Who it’s for: Fastly is suitable for a variety of organizations, offering both free and paid plans to cater to different needs.

Benefits: Fastly excels at empowering organizations with a programmable solution that grants more control over their digital experiences, while seamlessly integrating into existing DevOps workflows. It operates on a software-defined global network with high-capacity points of presence, optimizing performance and reliability.

The Fastly CDN efficiently caches a diverse range of content, including dynamic and event-driven data, ensuring faster delivery through its robust network.
Real-time log streaming provides immediate visibility into traffic, performance, threats, and troubleshooting.
Its next-gen WAF offers comprehensive security features, including DDoS and bot protection, web/API security, and pre-emptive IP blocking, minimizing the need for extensive maintenance.
Fastly Compute, a serverless platform, automatically adjusts computing resources based on demand, delivering data nearer to users for improved performance.
The observability solution delivers valuable insights on over 200 metrics, going beyond what traditional CDNs report.

The bottom line: Fastly stands out by offering a highly controllable, developer-focused edge computing platform that integrates well into existing systems. Its emphasis on performance, security, and insightful observability makes it a valuable solution for organizations seeking efficient and reliable digital delivery.

Fastly, founded in 2011, delivers cloud solutions to a diverse client base, enhancing digital experiences worldwide.

Google Cloud Armor

Google Cloud Armor offers a comprehensive Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS mitigation, and bot management solution, leveraging Google’s enterprise-grade infrastructure for top-tier security.

Who it’s for: Google Cloud Armor is ideal for enterprises looking for robust security measures and flexibility in pricing, with options suitable for various customer requirements.

Benefits: Google Cloud Armor provides high-level protection for your applications by utilizing the advanced technology that safeguards Google platforms like Search, YouTube, and Gmail. Users benefit from intuitive monitoring and comprehensive security features.

Google Cloud Armor integrates seamlessly with reCAPTCHA to prevent fraud and bot activity.
Its Adaptive Protection feature employs a machine learning engine to identify anomalous activities, create potential attack signatures, and generate custom WAF rules to address future threats.
The always-on advanced network DDoS protection secures workloads by utilizing external network load balancers, protocol forwarding, and VMs with public IP addresses.
Pre-defined WAF rules provide defenses against OWASP Top 10 attacks, including cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injection.

The bottom line: Google Cloud Armor stands out for its robust integration with Google’s infrastructure and services, offering reliable security solutions that are trusted by some of the largest platforms globally. It’s an excellent choice for enterprises in need of adaptable and comprehensive application protection.

Google, founded in 1998, is a globally recognized technology leader with a wide array of services and solutions, headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Imperva

Imperva is a comprehensive cloud security platform designed to manage and protect applications, data, and identities, minimizing complexity and risk. This platform reduces vendor complexity by centralizing the protection of applications, data, and identities, and provides a seamless self-onboarding process.

Who it’s for: Best suited for organizations seeking to consolidate security management and protect digital assets from a centralized platform.

Benefits: Imperva excels in providing flexible protection for cloud and on-premises environments through its consolidated security solutions.

The web application firewall offers robust protection with a low false positive rate, enabling confident deployment in blocking mode.
Advanced bot protection defends against sophisticated attacks through a blend of human expertise and machine learning.
The content delivery network optimizes traffic and reduces latency by caching content closer to end-users.
DDoS protection guarantees rapid mitigation with an SLA of 3 seconds or less, maintaining uptime.
API security identifies and safeguards against threats to vulnerable APIs, mitigating API attacks and logic abuses.

The bottom line: Imperva delivers a comprehensive security solution, particularly strong in simplifying and centralizing the management of applications, data, and identity protection, making it a valuable asset for globally operating organizations. The global network ensures low latency of 50ms or less for 95% of users worldwide, enhancing user experience.

Founded in 2002, Imperva is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and is trusted by over 35,000 organizations worldwide for its robust security offerings.

Everything You Need to Know About Akamai Alternatives (FAQs)

What Is Akamai?

Akamai Technologies is a leading provider of cloud services specializing in content delivery, cybersecurity, and performance optimization. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Akamai operates one of the largest globally distributed networks, enabling fast and secure delivery of digital content, applications, and media to users worldwide. Their solutions are used by businesses to boost website performance, maintain reliability, and to better protect against a variety of cyber threats.

As a distributed cloud computing platform, Akamai provides Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), DNS, DDoS / bot mitigation, Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), and other cloud services. CDN services, like Akamai and its alternatives, distribute content and web pages to users based on their geographical location from the closest edge server. This speeds up content delivery, reduces latency, and improves the overall user experience.

Akamai is primarily geared towards large enterprises, with its more advanced capabilities and cost making it less well suited to mid-sized or smaller organization. So, for organizations of different sizes, budgets, or other requirements, it may be necessary to consider other options on the market.

What Features Should You Look For When Choosing Akamai Alternatives?

Akamai offer a wide range of products on their platform. When evaluating Akamai alternatives, our technical team compared the following capabilities:

Edge Computing – Edge Computing is a decentralized computing model that processes data closer to the source or end user, instead of relying on a central data center. This enables faster data processing, improves real-time decision-making, and supports applications like IoT, autonomous systems, and remote operations by reducing latency and bandwidth use.
Web Application Firewall (WAF) – This is a security solution designed to protect web applications by monitoring and filtering HTTP/S traffic between a web application and the internet. It works by detecting and blocking malicious activities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other attacks targeting application vulnerabilities by applying customizable security rules, helping to protect against both known and emerging threats.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) – This is a network of servers distributed across multiple locations to deliver digital content, such as websites, videos, and applications, more efficiently to users. CDNs reduce latency, improve load times, and enhance reliability by caching content on servers closer to the user. They also help to support high traffic volumes, protect against DDoS attacks, and improve performance for global audiences.
API Protection – API protection involves securing APIs from threats. These threats may include unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious attacks. Protective measures work to ensure APIs operate securely while safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining service integrity, and include tools like authentication, encryption, rate limiting, input validation, and threat detection.
DDoS Protection – DDoS protection safeguards systems, networks, and applications from Distributed Denial of Service attacks, which is the name for a cyber stack that involves attackers overwhelming a target with excessive traffic to disrupt their operations. This security measure uses techniques like traffic filtering, rate limiting, and automated detection to identify and block malicious traffic while allowing legitimate users to access the service.
Bot Management – This involves detecting, managing, and mitigating automated bot traffic to protect websites, APIs, and applications. By distinguishing between legitimate bots (like search engine crawlers) and malicious ones (used for activities like scraping, account takeover, or DDoS attacks) using techniques such as behavior analysis, machine learning, IP reputation checks, and CAPTCHA challenges, effective bot management helps tomaintain security and optimize performance.
DNS Hosting / Security – DNS hosting involves managing and serving Domain Name System (DNS) records to translate human-readable domain names into IP addresses. DNS security helps to protect against threats like DNS spoofing, cache poisoning, and DDoS attacks, which it does by using measures such as DNSSEC (DNS Security Extensions), traffic monitoring, and redundancy to ensure reliable and secure access to online resources.
Zero Trust Network Access – Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security framework that enforces strict access controls, assuming no user or device is inherently trusted, even within the network. “Zero Trust” is an IT security model that assumes threats are present both inside and outside a network, meaning that strict verification is required for every user and every device before authorizing them to access internal resources.

Mirren McDade

Senior Journalist & Content Writer

Mirren McDade is a senior writer and journalist at Expert Insights, spending each day researching, writing, editing and publishing content, covering a variety of topics and solutions, and interviewing industry experts. She is an experienced copywriter with a background in a range of industries, including cloud business technologies, cloud security, information security and cyber security, and has conducted interviews with several industry experts. Mirren holds a First Class Honors degree in English from Edinburgh Napier University.

Laura Iannini

Cybersecurity Analyst

Laura Iannini is an Information Security Engineer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida. Laura has experience with a variety of cybersecurity platforms and leads technical reviews of leading solutions. She conducts thorough product tests to ensure that Expert Insights’ reviews are definitive and insightful.