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Head-to-head · Content Delivery Networks

Cloudflare CDN vs Apache Traffic Server

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Cloudflare CDN #2 in Content Delivery Networks 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Cloudflare
Apache Traffic Server #7 in Content Delivery Networks 7.9/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Traffic Server

Cloudflare CDN leads on 0 checks, Apache Traffic Server on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCloudflare CDN · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Cloudflare CDN
  • Most featuresCloudflare CDN · 5 of 5

Cloudflare CDN scores higher on our rubric for content delivery networks: 8.9 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

Cloudflare CDN is the better fit for teams wanting an accessible all-in-one CDN. Apache Traffic Server is the better fit for teams operating a self-hosted proxy CDN.

  • Cloudflare CDN fits best

    Teams wanting an accessible all-in-one CDN

  • Apache Traffic Server fits best

    Teams operating a self-hosted proxy CDN

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 Cloudflare CDN 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Apache Traffic Server 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 7.9
Ranking #2 in Content Delivery Networks #7 in Content Delivery Networks
Best for Teams wanting an accessible all-in-one CDN Teams operating a self-hosted proxy CDN
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $20/mo Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Self-hosted
Platforms Web macOS, Linux
Features Cloudflare CDN 5/5 · Apache Traffic Server 0/5
Image optimization ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Video delivery ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Origin shield ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Edge compute ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Real-time logs ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Edge locations 348 locations Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free plan includes CDN and unmetered DDoS protection
  • Caches static, dynamic, and anonymous API content globally
  • Adds image, video, edge compute, logging, and origin protection
  • Supports forward and reverse proxy deployments with response caching
  • Includes TLS termination, WebSocket proxying, and connection controls
  • Extends HTTP processing through a plugin API and rate-limit plugin
Cons
  • Video delivery depends on the related Cloudflare Stream service
  • Smart Shield and Instant Logs have plan-dependent availability
  • Contract pricing is custom rather than published
  • Requires self-hosted installation, configuration, and ongoing administration
  • Does not provide a vendor-hosted managed global CDN service
  • Configuration relies on command-line tools and configuration files
Our verdict

Cloudflare CDN is a reverse-proxy content delivery service for websites and applications. It uses DNS-based setup to cache static and dynamic content at globally distributed edge locations, including anonymous API GET responses.…

Read the review →

Apache Traffic Server is open-source software for caching and proxying HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 traffic. It supports both forward and reverse proxy operation, making it a fit for enterprises, internet service providers, backbone providers,…

Read the review →
  1. Cloudflare CDNContent Delivery Networks 8.9Free plan
  2. Apache Traffic ServerContent Delivery Networks 7.9Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cloudflare CDN — where it wins

    • Free plan includes CDN and unmetered DDoS protection
    • Caches static, dynamic, and anonymous API content globally
    • Adds image, video, edge compute, logging, and origin protection

    Where it doesn't

    • Video delivery depends on the related Cloudflare Stream service
    • Smart Shield and Instant Logs have plan-dependent availability
    • Contract pricing is custom rather than published

  • Apache Traffic Server — where it wins

    • Supports forward and reverse proxy deployments with response caching
    • Includes TLS termination, WebSocket proxying, and connection controls
    • Extends HTTP processing through a plugin API and rate-limit plugin

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted installation, configuration, and ongoing administration
    • Does not provide a vendor-hosted managed global CDN service
    • Configuration relies on command-line tools and configuration files

More comparisons

All content delivery networks comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update