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Fastly vs MaxCDN

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Fastly
FastlyAn edge cloud platform delivering faster, safer, and more scalable sites and apps.
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MA
MaxCDNA powerful content delivery network designed to accelerate web performance globally.
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Overview
Description

Fastly is a programmable edge cloud platform designed to help developers build, secure, and deliver digital experiences closer to users. By leveraging a modern, Varnish-powered content delivery network (CDN), it accelerates dynamic content delivery, API routing, and image optimization while reducing origin server load. The platform integrates advanced security services, including enterprise-grade Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS mitigation, and bot management, all managed at the edge. With real-time observability and instant cache purging, engineering teams gain unprecedented control and visibility over their web traffic and application performance.

MaxCDN was a prominent content delivery network (CDN) provider that helped developers and website owners speed up asset delivery by caching content on edge servers around the world. It offered robust cache control, instant purging, and detailed analytics to optimize website loading times and reduce origin server load. Although it was acquired and integrated into StackPath, MaxCDN remains well-known for pioneering developer-friendly CDN features and intuitive management panels that made high-performance content delivery accessible to websites of all sizes.

Pricing
—
Paid (Subscription)
Category
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Best for
Developers, enterprises, and high-traffic web apps
Developers and webmasters
Specifications
free tier
No
No
uptime sla
99.99%
99.9%
datacenter regions
Global (US, EU, APAC, South America, Australia)
US, EU, APAC
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Extremely fast global cache purging speeds
  • Robust edge computing capabilities with Compute@Edge
  • Highly customizable VCL configuration for advanced routing
  • Comprehensive real-time observability and logging
  • Developer-friendly API and integration tools
  • Fast and reliable global edge server network
  • Intuitive dashboard with easy-to-use purging options
  • Comprehensive real-time analytics and reporting
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced configurations compared to traditional CDNs
  • Pricing can become expensive for high-volume enterprise workloads
  • Documentation can be technical and complex for beginners
  • No longer operating as a standalone independent service
  • Limited advanced edge computing features compared to modern serverless CDNs
  • Pricing could scale quickly for high-bandwidth users
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

MaxCDN offers a straightforward, reliable CDN with solid analytics, while Fastly adds advanced edge computing and stronger security at higher complexity and cost.

Key differences

  • •Fastly provides ultra‑low‑latency edge compute (WebAssembly/JS) whereas MaxCDN does not.
  • •Fastly’s cache invalidation is milliseconds globally; MaxCDN’s is instant via dashboard/API but not quantified.
  • •Fastly includes built‑in WAF and automated DDoS mitigation; MaxCDN only offers custom SSL and token auth.
  • •Fastly’s SLA is 99.99% and global datacenters; MaxCDN’s SLA is 99.9% with limited regions.
  • •Fastly’s developer tooling (VCL, Compute@Edge) is more complex; MaxCDN’s dashboard is simpler.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

MaxCDN has a known subscription model; Fastly pricing is unknown and noted as potentially expensive for high volume.

MaxCDN

Uptime & reliability

Fastly SLA 99.99% vs MaxCDN 99.9%.

Fastly

Performance

Fastly’s millisecond cache purge and edge compute give lower latency than MaxCDN’s standard CDN.

Fastly

Developer experience

MaxCDN offers an intuitive dashboard and simple API; Fastly’s advanced VCL and Compute@Edge have a steeper learning curve.

MaxCDN

Regions & compliance

Fastly covers Global (US, EU, APAC, South America, Australia); MaxCDN limited to US, EU, APAC.

Fastly

Support

Neither product’s support details are specified in the facts.

Tie

Lock‑in

Both lack free tiers and have no stated migration lock‑in details.

Tie

Choose Fastly if…

Enterprises or high‑traffic apps that require ultra‑fast invalidation, edge compute, WAF/DDoS protection, and broader global coverage.

Choose MaxCDN if…

Developers needing a simple CDN with easy purging and real‑time analytics, without edge compute or advanced security.

Common questions

Which service has a higher uptime guarantee?

Fastly offers a 99.99% SLA, while MaxCDN provides 99.9%.

Do either of these offer a free tier for testing?

Both services state they do not have a free tier.

Can I run custom code at the edge with MaxCDN?

No; edge compute (WebAssembly/JS) is only listed for Fastly.