Introduction

Are you struggling to decide between Cloudflare and Fastly for your content delivery network (CDN) needs? Here’s a comprehensive comparison to help you make the right choice.

Comparison Table

Detailed Comparison

Ease of Use

• Cloudflare: Known for its user-friendly interface and easy setup, Cloudflare is a great choice for those who are not deeply technical. It offers a “clickops” interface that makes configuring your CDN straightforward.

  

• Fastly: Fastly is more complex and requires a higher level of technical expertise. It offers advanced configuration options, including the use of Varnish Configuration Language (VCL), which can be powerful but also more challenging to set up.

  

Stability

• Cloudflare: Cloudflare has good uptime but can experience occasional outages. While it is reliable, some users have reported concerns about its ability to handle traffic spikes.

• Fastly: Fastly is known for its high reliability and network resilience. It constantly fortifies its network, control plane, and data plane to ensure increased durability and minimal downtime.

Speed

• Cloudflare: Cloudflare is fast but slightly slower than Fastly. For example, Cloudflare’s DNS server takes around 48ms to resolve, while Fastly takes only 14ms to establish a connection and send the first byte.

• Fastly: Fastly boasts a faster time to first byte (TTFB) and lower latency. It has high-capacity, high-throughput points of presence (POPs) that keep more content in cache for longer, resulting in faster performance.

Security

• Cloudflare: Cloudflare offers robust security features but has been reported to have higher false positives in its Web Application Firewall (WAF). This can be a significant issue for some users.

• Fastly: Fastly’s Next-Gen WAF and Bot Management solutions use the SmartParse detection engine, which provides more accurate detection with the lowest possible false positives. This makes it a strong choice for security-conscious users.

Pricing and Cost

• Cloudflare: Generally, Cloudflare is cheaper, especially for small-scale users. For example, a scenario involving 1,000 assets (each 1 GB) and 1,000 reads per asset would cost around $15.36 on Cloudflare, compared to $120 on Fastly.

• Fastly: Fastly is more expensive, but it offers significant discounts for large-scale contracts. While the initial pricing may seem steep, it can become more cost-effective for enterprise users who require advanced features and high-volume traffic handling.

Customer Support Service

• Cloudflare: Cloudflare provides good support, but response times can be slow for non-enterprise users. It has a range of support plans, but the quality of support can vary depending on the plan you choose.

• Fastly: Fastly is renowned for its superior customer support. It offers a 98% Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) score, direct access to a knowledgeable support team, and rapid response times, including a Slack option for support.

Client Reviews

• Cloudflare: Cloudflare has mixed reviews. Some users appreciate its ease of use and robust features, but others report issues with false positives in the WAF and occasional outages.

• Fastly: Fastly is highly praised by its clients for its performance, security, and support. Users appreciate the advanced configuration options, fast deployment times, and the ability to handle high traffic without significant downtime.

Pros and Cons

Cloudflare

Pros:

• Ease of Use: Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper, especially for small-scale users.
• Robust Features: Good security features and caching capabilities.

Cons:

• Speed: Slightly slower than Fastly.
• Security Issues: Higher false positives in WAF.
• Support: Can be slow for non-enterprise users.

Fastly

Pros:

• Speed: Faster TTFB and lower latency.
• Security: Advanced WAF with low false positives.
• Support: Superior customer support with rapid response times.
• Configurability: Highly customizable using VCL.

Cons:

• Complexity: Requires technical expertise.
• Cost: More expensive, especially for small-scale users.
• Learning Curve: Steeper learning curve due to advanced features.

FAQs

1. Why is Fastly more expensive than Cloudflare?

Fastly is more expensive due to its advanced features, higher performance, and superior support. However, it offers significant discounts for large-scale contracts, making it more cost-effective for enterprise users.

2. Which CDN is faster, Cloudflare or Fastly?

Fastly is generally faster, with a quicker time to first byte (TTFB) and lower latency compared to Cloudflare.

3. How do the security features of Cloudflare and Fastly compare?

Fastly’s security features, particularly its Next-Gen WAF, are more accurate with lower false positives compared to Cloudflare. This makes Fastly a better choice for users who prioritize security.

4. What kind of support can I expect from Cloudflare and Fastly?

Fastly offers superior customer support with rapid response times and a high CSAT score. Cloudflare’s support can be slower for non-enterprise users, although it still provides good overall support.

5. Is Fastly worth the investment for small businesses?

For small businesses, Fastly might be too expensive and complex. However, for larger enterprises or those requiring advanced CDN features, Fastly can deliver significant performance and security benefits that justify the cost.