NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

Fastly vs Varnish Software Comparison

Last updated:

Fastly

4.8(53 reviews)

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…

Varnish Software

4.6(76 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Varnish software provides industry-leading caching capabilities to help top-tier content providers achieve astounding speeds of service delivery and reduce service interruptions. Our open source yet robust solution enabl…

Fastly leads on user satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating across 53 reviews.

Fastly vs Varnish Software — at a glance

FeatureFastlyVarnish Software
Rating4.8 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews5376
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryContent Delivery Network (CDN) SoftwareContent Delivery Network (CDN) Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailable—
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001—
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Fastly and Varnish Software

  • User satisfaction: Fastly scores higher with a 4.8-star average.
  • Deployment: Fastly supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Varnish Software supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Fastly vs Varnish Software — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

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.

Fastly - Content Delivery Network (CDN) Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert
Varnish Software - New SaaS Software
Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

Download this Fastly vs Varnish Software comparison

Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Content Delivery Network (CDN) Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.

  • Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
  • Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
  • Emailed to you — no on-screen download

No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.

Fastly vs Varnish Software: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Fastly

Best for scalable, integrated CDN services with simple developer-friendly UI.

Choose if
  • 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
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a very small business with minimal web traffic and limited technical staff
  • You require transparent, upfront pricing without engaging sales

Varnish Software

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Fastly typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Varnish Software tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

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

Varnish software provides industry-leading caching capabilities to help top-tier content providers achieve astounding speeds of service delivery and reduce service interruptions. Our open ... Read More about Varnish Software

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.5/10

Not Available

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.77

(53)

4.63

(76)

Best Company Size

51-500 employees500+ employees
—
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get decision help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

Spotsaas advisor
Get decision help from a software advisor
  • Independent advice — matched to your business
  • Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
  • Free 15-min call with a software advisor.

Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

How do Fastly and Varnish Software Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Fastly and Varnish Software 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

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Fastly pricing
      Varnish Software pricing

      Fastly vs Varnish Software: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Individuals
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Fastly vs Varnish Software Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      —

      HIPAA

      ✓ Yes
      —

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      —

      ISO 27001

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🌐 Global

      Fastly User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      49

      2

      1

      1

      0

      72

      23

      1

      0

      0

      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

      • Ease of use
      • Integrated platform
      • Scalability

      Common complaints

      • Pricing transparency
      • Complexity for small teams

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 96 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Industry-leading caching
      • Open-source solution
      • Custom CDN development

      Common complaints

      • Requires technical expertise
      • Not suitable for small websites
      • May need ongoing maintenance

      Pros and Cons

      • Integrated platform offering all CDN services in one place

      • Simple user interface requiring no additional tool learning

      • Instant scalability without code changes

      • Pricing details are not publicly available, requiring sales engagement

      • May be complex for very small businesses or non-technical users

      • Offers industry-leading caching for high-performance delivery.

      • Supports custom CDN development for tailored solutions.

      • Open-source flexibility allows for extensive customization.

      • Requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance.

      • Not suitable for small or simple websites.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Fastly or Varnish Software? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Fastly and Varnish Software Customers

      Customers

      Kayak

      Kayak

      Pantheon

      Pantheon

      The Financial Times

      The Financial Times

      Emirates

      Emirates

      Sky

      Sky

      Tesla

      Tesla

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Fastly Testing

      1 Screenshots

      Varnish Components

      5 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      4 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Fastly and Varnish Software in 2026

      Expand your comparison

      Add another option to compare side by side

      Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

      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 Varnish Software?
      Fastly edges out the other on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.6). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Fastly and Varnish Software offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Fastly and Varnish Software offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Fastly vs Varnish Software?
      Fastly starts at Contact for pricing. Varnish Software starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Fastly?
      Top alternatives to Fastly include 5centsCDN, CDN77, appfleet, Google Cloud CDN, Uploadcare.
      What are the top alternatives to Varnish Software?
      Top alternatives to Varnish Software include Fastly, appfleet, Uploadcare, Imperva Application Delivery, CDN77.