Akamai vs Fastly Comparison
Akamai
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Akamai is a CDN company. Akamai software works as a network of servers around the world to deliver files that are hosted on Akamai's servers, instead of being served from a website's own servers. By harnessing the comput…
Fastly
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Fastly is the only Content Delivery Network that offers all of its services in one integrated platform. With Fastly's simple user interface, with no need for learning another tool, developers can launch their sites 10x f…
Fastly leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 67 reviews.
SpotSaaS Analysis
AkamaiFastly
The core difference lies in Akamai's focus on high-performance solutions for large enterprises with complex needs, while Fastly emphasizes a developer-friendly interface with integrated services for scalable solutions. Ideal buyers for Akamai are medium to large businesses with global content delivery requirements, whereas Fastly is suited for organizations seeking simplicity and instant scalability in their CDN services.
- Best for large enterprises needing secure global content delivery - Ideal for teams with network operations or DevOps engineers - Focuses on high-performance CDN solutions - Suitable for complex setups and configurations - Targets medium to large businesses - Provides robust security features
- Best for scalable and integrated CDN services - Ideal for teams seeking a developer-friendly interface - Focuses on instant scalability without code modifications - Suitable for organizations needing a single platform - Targets businesses with 51-500 and 500+ employees - Emphasizes ease of use and quick deployment
Akamai vs Fastly — at a glance
| Feature | Akamai | Fastly |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 85 | 67 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Content Delivery Network (CDN) Software | Content Delivery Network (CDN) Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
Key differences between Akamai and Fastly
- Free trial: Fastly offers a free trial; Akamai does not.
- User satisfaction: Fastly scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
- Deployment: Akamai supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Fastly supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Akamai vs Fastly — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Content Delivery Network (CDN) Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for large enterprises needing a secure, high-performance global CDN.
- You operate a medium to large business with global content delivery needs.
- Your team includes network operations or DevOps engineers capable of managing complex setups.
- You require integrated security features alongside reliable, high-traffic content delivery.
- You are a small business with limited web traffic and budget constraints.
- You need transparent, straightforward pricing and simple implementation.
Best for scalable, integrated CDN services with simple developer-friendly UI.
- You need a single platform offering all CDN services without tool switching
- Your team values instant scalability without modifying application code
- You want built-in features like intelligent URL routing and SSL migration
- You are a very small business with minimal web traffic and limited technical staff
- You require transparent, upfront pricing without engaging sales
Akamai: Best for large enterprises needing a secure, high-performance global CDN. Fastly: Best for scalable, integrated CDN services with simple developer-friendly UI.
Description | Akamai is a CDN company. Akamai software works as a network of servers around the world to deliver files that are hosted on Akamai's servers, instead of being served from a website's own ... Read More about Akamai | Fastly is the only Content Delivery Network that offers all of its services in one integrated platform. With Fastly's simple user interface, with no need for learning another tool, ... Read More about Fastly |
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Free Trial Availability |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises | 51-500 employees500+ employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Akamai and Fastly Compare on Features?
Total Features | 8 Features | 4 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Akamai and Fastly on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
Pricing Option | ||
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Akamai User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Akamai's global reach and performance but note concerns about pricing transparency and setup complexity. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Users generally praise Fastly for its ease of use, integrated features, and scalability, though some express concerns about pricing transparency and complexity for smaller teams. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Kayak  Pantheon  The Financial Times |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  1 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  2 Videos |  2 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Akamai and Fastly in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Akamai or Fastly?
- Fastly edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Akamai and Fastly offer a free trial?
- Fastly offers a free trial. Akamai does not.
- What is the starting price of Akamai vs Fastly?
- Akamai starts at Contact for pricing. Fastly starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Akamai?
- Top alternatives to Akamai include CloudFlare, KeyCDN, CacheFly, PageCDN, Microsoft Azure CDN.
- What are the top alternatives to Fastly?
- Top alternatives to Fastly include CloudFlare, Akamai, CDN77, Microsoft Azure CDN, Google Cloud CDN.