Plenty of site owners are tired of CloudFlare and searching for alternatives that can deliver similar, if not better, results.

The trick is knowing which of the many competing platforms out there are worth adding to your shortlist.

To help with this, let’s go over a few promising alternatives, from Akamai and Sucuri to KeyCDN, each of which offers a unique blend of benefits.

1. Akamai

If you’re looking for a robust alternative to CloudFlare, consider investigating Akamai. Known globally as one of the oldest and largest content delivery networks (CDNs), it offers extensive cybersecurity services to protect against DDoS attacks and other online threats.

Also, with its intelligent platform managing network traffic efficiently, your website performance is in good hands. The only drawback is that it might be costlier than CloudFlare, depending on your requirements.

2. Imperva

Imperva is another excellent option that competes effectively with CloudFlare. Formerly known as Incapsula, this cloud-based application delivery platform works wonders in enhancing your website security and performance simultaneously.

It comes with a user-friendly interface that makes setup easy even for those not technically inclined. What sets it apart is its high traffic absorption capacity during DDoS attacks, helping to maintain website uptime even if you’re being targeted by malicious actors.

It can even be implemented to provide protection for on-site resources, so it’s more flexible than some other pure-cloud platforms, particularly for protecting your brand reputation with a performant site.

3. Fastly

Fastly might not have the same name recognition as CloudFlare, but it certainly doesn’t lag in performance and features.

This edge cloud platform is well-regarded for its high-speed CDN services that can improve your site’s load times significantly.

In terms of security, it offers robust protection against all sorts of attacks and malicious bots alike. Plus, its real-time cache analytics provide valuable insights to help you optimize server resource usage efficiently.

Just keep in mind that for some users, the configuration process might be slightly complicated. Once you’re up to speed, it is fairly intuitive.

4. AWS CloudFront

If you’re tired of having to find ways to fix CloudFlare Error 521 and deal with all of the other quirks of this service, CloudFront might be a suitable alternative.

AWS brings us this globally-distributed CDN that’s known for its seamless integration with other services in the Amazon stable.

With it, not only can you enjoy high content delivery speeds but also heightened data security features including built-in DDoS protection and custom SSL certificate deployment options. A bit of budget-balancing may be needed, but it’s a major player for a reason, so the price is worth paying.

5. StackPath

If you have ever thought about using StackPath instead of CloudFlare, now is the time to weigh up the ins and outs of each.

This CDN platform offers superior edge computing capabilities designed to improve website speed and performance significantly. What’s more, it comes with advanced security features, which include a built-in Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS protection, and an SSL service.

On the flip side, despite its impressive offerings, it might not be the most economical option, especially if you’re running numerous websites.

6. Sucuri

When it’s time for you to look beyond CloudFlare and explore other potential options, Sucuri springs to mind as a worthy rival.

This cloud-based security platform provides a complete suite of tools aimed at safeguarding your website from everyday cybersecurity threats. It excels in cleaning up infected websites and protecting them from future attacks, which is great news if you’re concerned about malware or hacking attempts.

Once again, the potential deal-breaker here is that you’ll have to pay a little more if you want to leverage what Sucuri offers. That’s the price of picking a smaller brand over one of the big players.

7. KeyCDN

KeyCDN is another fantastic option you might consider when seeking alternatives to CloudFlare. With a keen focus on speed and simplicity, this content delivery platform provides reliable performance improvements for your website across the world.

It delivers advanced security features, including a secure token capability, to ensure that your site remains free from the types of malicious intervention that’s so prevalent today. The icing on the cake is that their transparent pay-as-you-go pricing model makes it easy for you to keep track of expenses.

8. Microsoft Azure CDN

When discussing viable competitors to CloudFlare, it would be remiss of us not to mention Microsoft Azure CDN.

Part of the comprehensive cloud services offered by Microsoft, Azure CDN leverages intelligent routing and edge caching to ensure swift content delivery with reduced server latency. It also brings strong security solutions, and integration with Azure Security Center for advanced threat detection. If you’re already committed to the Azure ecosystem, this could be an obvious choice to make.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right CDN and web security platform is critical for website performance and protection. While CloudFlare is undoubtedly popular, exploring some of these alternatives can lead to more fitting solutions based on your particular needs, so don’t skip this step.