Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · CDN Software

Akamai CDN vs Amazon CloudFront

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Akamai CDN #2 in CDN Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Akamai
Amazon CloudFront #3 in CDN Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit CloudFront

Akamai CDN leads on 0 checks, Amazon CloudFront on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAkamai CDN · 9.3/10
  • Free planonly Amazon CloudFront
  • Most featuresAkamai CDN · 2 of 4

Akamai CDN scores higher on our rubric for cdn software: 9.3 against 9.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

Akamai CDN is the better fit for enterprise CDN buyers prioritizing maturity. Amazon CloudFront is the better fit for AWS users needing broad CDN coverage.

  • Akamai CDN fits best

    Enterprise CDN buyers prioritizing maturity

  • Amazon CloudFront fits best

    AWS users needing broad CDN coverage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Akamai CDN 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Amazon CloudFront 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.2
Ranking #2 in CDN Software #3 in CDN Software
Best for Enterprise CDN buyers prioritizing maturity AWS users needing broad CDN coverage
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Pricing on request Free plan
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 11 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Akamai CDN 2/4 · Amazon CloudFront 1/4
Web application firewall Not checked yet Not checked yet
DDoS protection Not checked yet Not checked yet
Image optimization ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Origin shield ✓ ✓
Specs
Edge locations Not checked yet Not checked yet
Edge compute Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Delivers websites, applications, APIs, video, downloads, and digital content
  • Combines optimization, origin shielding, edge computing, and performance logging
  • Supports monitoring, reporting, testing, and API acceleration
  • Free plan includes 1 million requests and 100 GB monthly transfer
  • 750 CloudFront edge locations with Origin Shield and origin failover
  • Extensive AWS integrations plus edge compute and real-time logs
Cons
  • CDN delivery pricing requires contact with sales
  • No free plan is offered
  • Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler CDN requirements
  • Paid plans are priced per distribution per month
  • Advanced tiers rise to $200 and $1,000 monthly
  • Image optimization uses an AWS architecture rather than a standalone feature
Our verdict

Akamai CDN delivers websites, applications, APIs, video, downloads, and other digital content through a globally distributed edge network. It is designed for enterprise teams that need performance, scalability, reliability, security, and…

Read the review →

Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network for websites, applications, APIs, video-on-demand, live streaming, and other web content. It caches content at globally distributed edge locations and connects with AWS or custom HTTP…

Read the review →
  1. Akamai CDNCDN Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Amazon CloudFrontCDN Software 9.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Akamai CDN — where it wins

    • Delivers websites, applications, APIs, video, downloads, and digital content
    • Combines optimization, origin shielding, edge computing, and performance logging
    • Supports monitoring, reporting, testing, and API acceleration

    Where it doesn't

    • CDN delivery pricing requires contact with sales
    • No free plan is offered
    • Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler CDN requirements

  • Amazon CloudFront — where it wins

    • Free plan includes 1 million requests and 100 GB monthly transfer
    • 750 CloudFront edge locations with Origin Shield and origin failover
    • Extensive AWS integrations plus edge compute and real-time logs

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid plans are priced per distribution per month
    • Advanced tiers rise to $200 and $1,000 monthly
    • Image optimization uses an AWS architecture rather than a standalone feature
  • Akamai CDN9.3/10 · Pricing on request

    A mature enterprise CDN with broad delivery, optimization, logging, and edge-computing capabilities.

    Visit AkamaiFull verdict →
  • Amazon CloudFront9.2/10 · Free plan

    A broad AWS-connected CDN with free entry pricing, edge compute, and media delivery.

    Visit CloudFrontFull verdict →

More comparisons

All CDN software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update