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Head-to-head · Content Delivery Networks

KeyCDN vs Apache Traffic Server

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score KeyCDN #5 in Content Delivery Networks 8.2/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit KeyCDN
Apache Traffic Server #7 in Content Delivery Networks 7.9/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Traffic Server

KeyCDN leads on 0 checks, Apache Traffic Server on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreKeyCDN · 8.2/10
  • Free trialonly KeyCDN
  • Most featuresKeyCDN · 4 of 5

KeyCDN scores higher on our rubric for content delivery networks: 8.2 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

KeyCDN is the better fit for low-cost pay-as-you-go CDN users. Apache Traffic Server is the better fit for teams operating a self-hosted proxy CDN.

  • KeyCDN fits best

    Low-cost pay-as-you-go CDN users

  • 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 KeyCDN 8.2/10 Visit ↗ Apache Traffic Server 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.2 7.9
Ranking #5 in Content Delivery Networks #7 in Content Delivery Networks
Best for Low-cost pay-as-you-go CDN users Teams operating a self-hosted proxy CDN
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price $0.04/GB usage-based Open source
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Cloud Self-hosted
Platforms Web macOS, Linux
Support Docs · 24/7 Email, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features KeyCDN 4/5 · 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 Not checked yet Not checked yet
Real-time logs ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Edge locations 60 locations Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Pull and Push Zones support cached and stored content
  • Image optimization, streaming, shielding, and instant purge
  • REST API, real-time logs, and WordPress and AWS S3 integrations
  • 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
  • No free plan is available
  • Pay as you go includes a $4 monthly minimum charge
  • Additional Zones cost $1 per month each
  • 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

KeyCDN is a content delivery network for websites, applications, and digital assets. It delivers cached content through active points of presence and supports both Pull Zones for origin-pulled content and Push Zones for static or large…

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. KeyCDNContent Delivery Networks 8.214-day trial
  2. Apache Traffic ServerContent Delivery Networks 7.9Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • KeyCDN — where it wins

    • Pull and Push Zones support cached and stored content
    • Image optimization, streaming, shielding, and instant purge
    • REST API, real-time logs, and WordPress and AWS S3 integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Pay as you go includes a $4 monthly minimum charge
    • Additional Zones cost $1 per month each

  • 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