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Varnish Software vs Fastly Comparison

Last updated:

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

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…

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

Varnish Software vs Fastly — at a glance

FeatureVarnish SoftwareFastly
Rating4.6 / 54.8 / 5
Reviews7653
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
API—Available
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineOnline
Certifications—SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Varnish Software and Fastly

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

Varnish Software vs Fastly — 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.

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

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Varnish Software vs Fastly: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Varnish Software

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

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 typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Fastly 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

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

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

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

Not Available

8.5/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.63

(76)

4.77

(53)

Best Company Size

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

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Varnish Software and Fastly Compare on Features?

Total Features

5 Features

4 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Varnish Software 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

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      Varnish Software pricing
      Fastly pricing

      Varnish Software vs Fastly: 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

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Varnish Software vs Fastly 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

      Varnish Software User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      72

      23

      1

      0

      0

      49

      2

      1

      1

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      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

      Pros and Cons

      • 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.

      • 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

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

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

      Varnish Software and Fastly Customers

      Customers

      Emirates

      Emirates

      Sky

      Sky

      Tesla

      Tesla

      Kayak

      Kayak

      Pantheon

      Pantheon

      The Financial Times

      The Financial Times

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Varnish Components

      5 Screenshots

      Fastly Testing

      1 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      4 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Varnish Software and Fastly in 2026

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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, Varnish Software or Fastly?
      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 Varnish Software and Fastly offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Varnish Software and Fastly offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Varnish Software vs Fastly?
      Varnish Software starts at Contact for pricing. Fastly starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to Varnish Software?
      Top alternatives to Varnish Software include Fastly, appfleet, Uploadcare, Imperva Application Delivery, CDN77.
      What are the top alternatives to Fastly?
      Top alternatives to Fastly include 5centsCDN, CDN77, appfleet, Google Cloud CDN, Uploadcare.