- Cloudflare alternatives at a glance
- Nine CDN and security providers to compare
- Speed, security or DNS: what you're replacing
- The DNS step that can take a site offline
- Do small sites need a CDN at all?
- Checking the results after a CDN change
- Security features worth comparing
- My plain advice on replacing Cloudflare
- Frequently asked questions
A good Cloudflare alternative speeds up your website by caching it closer to visitors and protects it from attacks, without breaking your site or email. Check the network's reach, security features, how setup works and what support you get. This page lists nine providers in no particular order, then covers the switching steps.
A content delivery network, or CDN, stores copies of your site in data centres around the world so pages load faster. Many CDN providers also filter bad traffic, block attacks and manage DNS.
Below are nine Cloudflare alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from enterprise networks to WordPress-friendly services. Each description comes from the provider's own website, re-checked today. If you run WordPress, my list of plugins to install first on a new WordPress site is a good partner to this page.
Cloudflare alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site describes a free plan or free tier. Trial only means a free trial without an ongoing free tier. No means neither is stated.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akamai | Enterprise CDN and security | Large global sites | Trial only |
| Amazon CloudFront | Cloud CDN | Sites already hosted on AWS | Yes |
| Bunny.net | CDN and storage | Pay-as-you-go CDN and video | Trial only |
| Fastly | Edge cloud platform | Developer-controlled caching | Yes |
| Gcore | CDN and edge services | A free start with global reach | Yes |
| Imperva | Application security | Web application firewall and bot defence | Trial only |
| KeyCDN | CDN | Straightforward CDN for websites | Trial only |
| QUIC.cloud | CDN for WordPress | Page caching for LiteSpeed sites | Yes |
| Sucuri | Website security platform | Firewall plus malware clean-up | No |
Nine CDN and security providers to compare
Akamai
Best for: Large businesses that need a global network with enterprise security services.
Amazon CloudFront
Best for: Businesses already running on AWS that want a CDN with a free tier.
Bunny.net
Best for: Small businesses and creators who want a simple CDN with storage and video delivery.
Fastly
Best for: Developers who want fine control over caching and code at the edge.
Gcore
Best for: Businesses that want a CDN with a free starting tier and global network.
Imperva
Best for: Businesses whose main need is protecting web apps from attacks and bots.
KeyCDN
Best for: Site owners who want a simple CDN to speed up images and static files.
QUIC.cloud
Best for: WordPress sites using LiteSpeed caching that want a CDN built around it.
Sucuri
Best for: Small business sites that want a firewall plus help cleaning up after a hack.
Speed, security or DNS: what you're replacing
Cloudflare does several jobs at once, and most alternatives don't. They'll usually do one or two of them. Write down which features you use today: caching, firewall, bot protection, DNS, SSL or page rules. Then pick a provider, or a pair of providers, that covers the list. You may find you only needed a CDN, or only a firewall.
The DNS step that can take a site offline
Here's the step people rush. Cloudflare's own setup docs say that if your domain has DNSSEC active, you must turn it off at your registrar before replacing nameservers. The same care applies in reverse when you move away. Change nameservers with DNSSEC still pointing at the old provider and your site and email can stop resolving. Plan the change, check every DNS record, including email records, and turn DNSSEC back on once the move has settled.
- Export your current DNS records and screenshot your settings.
- Set up the new provider and recreate every record, especially email records.
- Turn off DNSSEC at your registrar if it's on.
- Switch nameservers or CDN settings at a quiet time.
- Test pages, forms, checkout and email, then re-enable DNSSEC.
Do small sites need a CDN at all?
If your visitors are mostly in one country and your host's fast, a CDN may make only a small difference, and that's worth knowing before you add one. It helps most for image-heavy sites, visitors spread around the world and sites that attract attacks. Before you add one, check your hosting. My answer to whether you need hosting for a landing page covers the basics.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Checking the results after a CDN change
Measure before and after, or you won't know if the move helped. Note your page load times from a couple of locations, your server load and any security alerts for a week before the switch. Then compare the same numbers a week after. If nothing changed for your visitors, the simpler setup may be the better choice.
Also check the less obvious pieces: contact forms, checkout pages, logged-in areas and any third-party scripts. Caching can break pages that should never be cached, such as baskets and account pages, so make sure those are excluded.
Security features worth comparing
- A web application firewall with rules for common attacks.
- Bot management that doesn't block real customers.
- Protection against large traffic floods.
- Clear alerts and logs you can read without a security team.
If you're not sure which you need, ask your host what protection already sits in front of your server. You may already have part of it.
Do you make a CDN or website security service? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on replacing Cloudflare
List what you use today, choose a provider for each job, and treat the DNS move as the risky part. Do it at a quiet time, with every record copied and DNSSEC handled, and test email as well as your pages. A careful hour saves a very long day.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cloudflare do?
It acts as a CDN, DNS provider and security layer, caching your site and filtering bad traffic before it reaches your server.
Is there a free alternative to Cloudflare?
Some providers here describe a free plan or free tier. The table shows what each site states.
Will changing CDN affect my email?
It can if your DNS moves too. Recreate every email record before you switch nameservers, and test sending and receiving.
What is DNSSEC and why does it matter when switching?
DNSSEC signs your DNS records. Cloudflare's docs say to turn it off at your registrar before replacing nameservers, or the domain can stop resolving.
Do I need a CDN for a small business website?
Not always. It helps most for image-heavy sites, international visitors and sites that attract attacks.
Can I use a CDN with WordPress?
Yes. Several providers have WordPress plugins or WordPress-focused services.
Can caching break my checkout?
It can if account and basket pages are cached. Exclude those pages and test checkout after any CDN change.
Can I use two providers at once?
Yes. Some sites use one provider for DNS and another for the CDN or firewall. Keep a clear record of which service handles which job.
