Fastly vs Akamai Comparison
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…
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 leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 67 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
FastlyAkamai
The core difference between Fastly and Akamai lies in Fastly's focus on a developer-friendly, integrated CDN platform for scalable needs, while Akamai targets large enterprises requiring secure and high-performance global CDN solutions. Fastly is ideal for teams prioritizing simplicity and scalability, whereas Akamai suits businesses with complex content delivery requirements and technical expertise.
- Best for scalable, integrated CDN services - Simple developer-friendly UI - Ideal for teams valuing instant scalability - Suitable for companies with 51-500 or 500+ employees - Offers a single platform for all CDN services - Focuses on minimizing tool switching
- Best for large enterprises needing secure CDN - High-performance global content delivery - Ideal for medium to large businesses - Requires network operations or DevOps expertise - Supports complex setups for content delivery - Tailored for businesses with extensive global reach
Fastly vs Akamai — at a glance
| Feature | Fastly | Akamai |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Reviews | 67 | 85 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| 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 | Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | Global | Global |
Key differences between Fastly and Akamai
- Free trial: Fastly offers a free trial; Akamai does not.
- User satisfaction: Fastly scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
- Deployment: Fastly supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Akamai supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Fastly vs Akamai — 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 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
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.
Fastly: Best for scalable, integrated CDN services with simple developer-friendly UI. Akamai: Best for large enterprises needing a secure, high-performance global CDN.
Description | 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 | 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 |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.5/10 | 9.4/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 51-500 employees500+ employees | Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Fastly and Akamai Compare on Features?
Total Features | 4 Features | 8 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Fastly and Akamai 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 |
Fastly User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | 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
| Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Akamai's global reach and performance but note concerns about pricing transparency and setup complexity. 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 |  Kayak  Pantheon  The Financial Times | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  1 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  2 Videos |  2 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Fastly and Akamai 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, Fastly or Akamai?
- 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 Fastly and Akamai offer a free trial?
- Fastly offers a free trial. Akamai does not.
- What is the starting price of Fastly vs Akamai?
- Fastly starts at Contact for pricing. Akamai starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Fastly?
- Top alternatives to Fastly include CloudFlare, Akamai, CDN77, Microsoft Azure CDN, Google Cloud CDN.
- What are the top alternatives to Akamai?
- Top alternatives to Akamai include CloudFlare, KeyCDN, CacheFly, PageCDN, Microsoft Azure CDN.