Cloudflare CDN vs Azure Content Delivery Network

Cloudflare CDN8.9Visit Azure Content Delivery Network7.9Visit

Higher score Cloudflare CDN #2 in Content Delivery Networks 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Cloudflare

vs

Azure Content Delivery Network #8 in Content Delivery Networks 7.9/10 Paid ✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Azure CDN

• Cloudflare CDN fits best

  Teams wanting an accessible all-in-one CDN

• Azure Content Delivery Network fits best

  Azure customers needing basic legacy CDN delivery

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Side by side

Feature	Cloudflare CDN 8.9/10 Visit ↗	Azure Content Delivery Network 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	7.9
Ranking	#2 in Content Delivery Networks	#8 in Content Delivery Networks
Best for	Teams wanting an accessible all-in-one CDN	Azure customers needing basic legacy CDN delivery
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$20/mo	$0.08/GB/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Integrations	4 integrations	3 integrations
Features Cloudflare CDN 5/5 · Azure Content Delivery Network 1/5
Image optimization	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Video delivery	✓	✓
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	Global caching for websites, media, and large files Dynamic acceleration for non-cacheable content HTTPS, WAF, DDoS protection, rules, APIs, and logs
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	No free plan Microsoft CDN Standard classic retires September 30, 2027 Azure Front Door is positioned as the modern replacement
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 →	Azure Content Delivery Network is Microsoft's cloud service for caching and delivering websites, applications, media, photos, and large files from distributed edge locations. It is suited to Azure customers that need global edge delivery,… Read the review →

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

• Azure Content Delivery Network — where it wins

  • Global caching for websites, media, and large files
  • Dynamic acceleration for non-cacheable content
  • HTTPS, WAF, DDoS protection, rules, APIs, and logs

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan
  • Microsoft CDN Standard classic retires September 30, 2027
  • Azure Front Door is positioned as the modern replacement

• Cloudflare CDN8.9/10 · Free plan

  A broad CDN with a free plan, edge services, image tools, video delivery, and logging.

  Visit CloudflareFull verdict →
• Azure Content Delivery Network7.9/10 · Paid

  A capable Azure CDN for core delivery needs, but a legacy service nearing retirement.

  Visit Azure CDNFull verdict →