Cloudflare Competitors and Similar Companies

Cloudflare is a website security and infrastructure firm that offers content delivery network (CDN) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) to websites. It offers cloud-based website performance and protection tools to mitigate cyberattacks. It does this through its edge computing protection feature to make the internet work effectively for everyone.

Due to its excellent ability, it mitigates the two largest ever recorded DDoS attacks that happened in 2014.

Hence, with its past and present record of web security and protection, Cloudflare remains one of the best cloud-based website performance and protection tools. 

NAME	Cloudflare
FOUNDED	2009
HEADQUARTERS	San Francisco, California, United States
SIC CODE	7372
STATUS	Public Tech Company
INDUSTRY SECTOR	Information and Communication Technology
EMPLOYEES	2,432 as of 2021
TRADING SYMBOL	NYSE:NET

How Cloudflare Makes Money

Cloudflare makes money only through its subscription plan. It has four package tiers it offers users: Free, Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. Its most basic package is free, and it offers users basic cloud protection on their websites. Although the free package is limited, it offers great benefits to most simple websites’ ad blogs.

Below is the Cloudflare money-making scheme through its paid subscription plan.

Features	Pro	Business	Enterprise
Globally launched Balanced CDN	Yes	Yes	Yes
Static content caching	Yes	Yes	Yes
Instant full cache purge	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum Cache TTL Expiry	1hr	30 minutes	1 second
Client Maximum Upload size	100 MB	200 MB	500+ MB
Mobile optimization	Yes	Yes	Yes
CNAME setup	No	Yes	Yes
Chat support	No	Yes	Yes
Price	$20 monthly	$200 monthly	Ask for a plan quote

The Enterprise plan is customizable, you have to contact the sales staff to discuss the pricing of the plan. Also, as a Cloudflare user, you can opt for a particular Cloudflare feature you want. You can do this if the feature is not available on your plan, or if you are on a free version.

Companies Similar to Cloudflare

In recent years, cyber-attacks have been on the rise and there is a need to protect business websites and blogs. Cloudflare has offered to protect sites with its cloud-based website performance and security tool in more than 250 cities and over 100 countries.

But if you want to protect your website from attack with different cloud tools for any reason, continue on this guide. 

Here is our list of the top 12 Cloudflare similar companies that provide excellent cloud-based site performance and website protection.

The biggest rivals to Cloudflare are:

1. Akamai Technologies
2. Amazon CloudFront
3. Fastly 
4. Microsoft Azure CDN
5. KeyCDN
6. Zscaler 
7. Imperva
8. Google public CDN
9. Keystone System
10. Sucuri
11. Reblaze
12. CDN77

One of the major characteristics of these companies is their excellent content delivery tool. They speed up the websites and improve security.

Below is an in-depth analysis of Cloudflare competitors in detail

Akamai Technologies

Akamai Technologies is one of the widest content delivery network (CDN) and website security service providers. This technology established in 1998 is believed to control 15-30 percent of world web traffic. Its headquarters are in Massachusetts, United States.

It protects web content elements such as HTML, CSS, media objects, and downloads from DDoS attacks and other attacks with its top-notch security intelligence features.

When web users visit websites with Akamai CBN technology, the DNS redirects browsers to a proximal edge server with its well-programmed service algorithm. The redirection enables high web download speed.

Aside from its CBN service, Akamai offers other exclusive features to users. One of such features is the ‘Kona Site Defender.’  This feature helps companies get rid of their security and threat protection.

Similarities between Akamai and Cloudflare

• Both offer a content delivery network (CDN): Both cloud-based technologies offer users a group of servers that distribute contents from the ‘origin’ server to where each end-user is accessing the internet to ensure fast delivery of web content.
• Web performance and speed: Both technologies use packets of TCP connection to speed up web delivery.
• Customer support: Both provide 24/7 email and phone support to web users.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$3.5 Billion	$35 Million	Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States	9,000+

Amazon CloudFront

The Amazon CloudFront is a development from AWS (Amazon Web Service) for a content delivery network (CDN) created in 2006. The CDN aims to securely deliver web content with low latency and high transfer speed through its 310+ globally dispersed presence.

CloudFront helps accelerate dynamic content delivery and API to optimize dynamic web content. It also offers live-streaming and on-demand video. You can easily start streaming, play videos with constituency and transfer high-quality videos with the AWS technological feature.

It has a dynamic scaling feature that makes it an effective DDoS threat attacker. It uses its dynamic scaling to allocate hardware resources to cater to web traffic spikes automatically. In addition, you can copy the data you want to distribute with a unique URL.

One of the exceptional features of this cloud-based CDN to make our list is its reverse-proxy architecture. This purpose-built feature allows users to configure apps and websites to leverage on its nameserver.

Similarities between Amazon CloudFront and Cloudflare

• Reverse proxy: Both cloud-based developments have a reverse proxy feature for data delivery, although they use it in a different format.
• Granular control: Web owners use granular content management to sustain every component of websites and apps.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$62.2 Billion	N/A	Seattle, Washington	45,000

Fastly CDN

Fastly was founded in 2011 and has become one of the top competitors of Cloudflare. It’s an American cloud computing service that is used by top-rated platforms for e-commerce, streaming, and cloud security services.

Fastly offers a wide range of services including fast response time with its edge development, accelerating websites with its high-rated CDN, real-time insights, and instant configuration settings.

The amazing feature of the Fastly CDN is its fully programmable product. This feature makes it more competitive over Cloudflare. In addition, the Fastly web app and API security protect your app or site from account takeover (ATO) and business logic attacks.

Furthermore, its Deliver@edge feature is easy-to-use to customize APIs and integrate smooth granular control of how your website’s contents are cached.

Similarities between Fastly CDN and Cloudflare

• Offers scalable options: Both cloud technologies offer scalable options to the user. For example, if your website users are restricted to a particular geographical location, you can find a scaled-down option with both Fastly CDN and Cloudflare.
• API approach to CDN: Both technologies deliver an API approach to offer their CDN function.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$370+ Million	$219 Million	San Francisco, California	1000

Microsoft Azure CDN

The Microsoft Azure CDN is a cloud computing platform with high bandwidth content delivery, created in 1975 and operated by Microsoft. It’s one of the top Cloudflare competitors with the CDN and cybersecurity solution services it offers.

As a proficient CDN tool, it can cache static objects with the help of the closest point presence (POP). In addition, it surpasses major CDN tools with its accelerating dynamic content by utilizing several networks and efficient routing optimization.

Azure CDN contains several integrated cloud tools to develop and manage websites and apps. 

In March 2021, Microsoft Azure introduced a new version of the cloud platform. This version enhances quick global content delivery service and more strict web security. In addition, it offers a premium package with Azure WAF to provide wider protection against threats and front door CDN service.

Similarities between Microsoft Azure CDN and Cloudflare

• Protection against security threats: Both cloud platforms give better web performance and reliable security. They protect websites and apps from DDoS attacks and other cyber threats.
• Quick and reliable CDN service: Azure and Cloudflare offer premium and fast content delivery network service through their cloud technological platforms.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$168 Billion	N/A	Redmond, Washington	182,268

KeyCDN

KeyCDN is another strong competitor of Cloudflare. It’s a customizable content delivery network for both business websites and blog sites. The cloud technology was created in 2012 and has servers globally, majoring in North America and Europe.

KeyCDN is a user-friendly platform that fully features a simplified role in delivering content at a faster speed to users. With this tool, you have access to exceptional features like Origin shield and Black Referrer. The Origin Shield reduces the server load period by providing updates via the designated KeyCDN server.

An amazing feature of the KeyCDN is its customizable function. With this function, it exceeds Cloudflare. You can customize essential components and add any CMS software or custom app to create a personalized experience.

Similarities between KeyCDN and Cloudflare

• User-friendly and efficient CDN delivery: Both technological-based clouds are user-friendly for users to navigate easily. They also deliver their major function (CDN) exclusively.
• Origin shield: Both have origin shields to reduce the server loading period by providing updates.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$5 Million	–	Wollerau, Switzerland	27

Zscaler

Zscaler is the top cloud security and protection service created in 2007. It’s known for its ‘zero trust’ in any useful features. It assumes any user accessing its incorporated website or app is a threat to the network until it verifies the user’s identity.

Zscaler competes with Cloudflare with its ‘zero trust’ function, though Zscaler provides more solutions to any cyber-attacks. Zsclaer boasts of the leading zero-trust approach in this technological niche.

Overall, Zscaler is a cheap cloud security software compared to Cloudflare and remains one of the top competitor’s alternatives to Cloudflare.

Similarities between Zscaler and Cloudflare

• Zero-trust factor: Both technologies use a zero-trust approach to protect websites and apps from any form of cyber threat.
• Real-time protection against malicious content: Both cybersecurity platforms protect users from malicious content and cyber threats.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$673 Million	–	San Jose, California	4000+

Imperva 

Imperva is a content delivery network software previously known as Incapsula. It was created in 2002 and has risen to become an excellent Cloudflare alternative and competitor.

It specializes in offering security solutions and protection for blog sites and business websites. Furthermore, it protects all user digital experiences including APIs, microservice, and data layer.

Imperva’s cloud security system combines app security and data protection to secure cloud-first companies with high vulnerability from cybercriminals. Earlier last year, Imperva introduced its API security with continuous API discovery.

This new feature provides businesses data visibility and protection across its native cloud application.

Similarities between Imperva and Cloudflare

• Dynamic Content delivery network: Both technologies are versatile in delivering content to users.
• Anti-DDoS: They protect blog sites and business websites from DDoS attacks.

Annual revenue	Funding	Headquarters	Employee
$321.7 Million	$71 Million	San Mateo, California	1500

Google Public DNS

Google Cloud Platform is built to enable developers to build, test and deploy applications on Google’s highly-scalable and reliable infrastructure.

The platform enables mobile and web backend solutions.

Google Cloud CDN (Content Delivery Network) enables users to deliver content hosted on-premises or in another cloud over Google’s high-performance distributed edge caching infrastructure. This feature enables users to accelerate websites and applications with privacy and data security. This security software is used by companies like; Pearson, Dun & Bradstreet, and Group M.

Similarities between Google Cloud CDN and Cloudflare

• Both are Content Delivery Network tools

Annual Revenue	Funding	Headquarters	EMPLOYEES
—	—	San Francisco, US	1-10

Keystone Security Systems (Keystone Technologies)

Keystone Systems was founded in 1983 to secure businesses using servers with encrypted network protection and reliable managed servers. The technology company also helps to protect network equipment and the most valuable assets and data.

The company performs its duties through ongoing and continuous remote monitoring of the network, protecting the company’s most valuable assets and IP 24/7, 365 days a year.

Keystone System also provides daily, weekly, monthly, or exception-based reporting depending on the company’s security needs. Parts of their business security measures include on-site consulting and perimeter network management.

Similarities between Keystone Systems and Cloudflare

• Both provide malware scanning solutions

Annual Revenue	Funding	Headquarters	EMPLOYEES
<$5 million	—	East Coast, Southern US	<25

Sucuri 

Sucuri is a Venture series funded tech company founded in 2007 by Daniel B. Cid. The security technology extension emerged from the parent GoDaddy. The security consists of Auditing, Malware Scanning (malware removal & malware monitoring), website protection services, and Firewall Security. 

There is also the Sucuri site check scanner that scans websites automatically to ensure clearance from malware, suspicious redirects, iframes, and link injections.

Top companies that use Sucuri include; Griffin Technology, Inc., Harry County Appraisal District, and Salesfusion, Inc.

Similarities between Cloudflare and Sucuri

• Both Cloudflare and Sucuri offer websites firewall, DDoS protection, and CDN.

Annual Revenue	Funding	Headquarters	EMPLOYEES
$26 Million	—	Menifee, California	55

(https://enlyft.com/tech/products/sucuri-cloudproxy, https://sucuri.net/)

Reblaze

Reblaze is a private-owned Series A funded security technology. The company was founded in 2011. The company provides cloud-based web security and acceleration platforms. Reblaze API serves as an automation tool that enables many security solutions to run effortlessly on protocols that are prone/susceptible to attacks (Data collection, Connection, Firewall access, IP source, etc.) 

Reblaze is used by top company websites and apps like; Reebonez, Payoneer, and eBay.

Similarities between Cloudflare and Reblaze

• DDoS Protection – both have a full-scope DDoS solution, offering protection across layers with a fast response time defeating attacks.
• Machine Intelligence – both are evolved to stop mobile bots and identify automated traffic in mobile apps.

Annual Revenue	Funding	Headquarters	EMPLOYEES
<$5 Million	N/A	San Jose, California	<25

CND77

CDN77 (founded in 2011 by Zdenek Cendra) is an updated security technology that ensures that your IP (source), your connection, and your content are protected when working on any interface that is prone to TCP protocol-based attacks.

CDN77 provides a proprietary DDoS solution, Secure Token, TLS 1.3, etc., that keeps users protected and much more.

CDN77 uses the OWASP Core Rule Set (CRS) which is designed to deflect the most common vulnerabilities, including the OWASP Top 10, such as SQL Injection (SQLi), Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Local File Inclusion (LFI), PHP Code Injection, HTTPoxy, etc.

The modified version of CDN77 disallows multiple false alerts. This feature was implemented for better recognition of premium attacks.

Similarities between CDN77 and Cloudflare

• File Delivery – both securities provide small and large files delivery.
• They both provide Cloud Web Application Firewall.

Annual Revenue	Funding	Headquarters	EMPLOYEES
$14 million	—	London, UK	68

CONCLUSION

Cloudflare’s biggest competitor is Akamai. Akamai has a complete DDoS security solution, plus it has a long track of security services. 

Most companies’ websites and web applications can improve their productivity by improving security modes to protect users from real attacks, spam, etc.

Cloudflare DDoS protection is one of the favorite solutions because it works in concert with other cloud web application firewalls, and bot management services. Competitor security companies tend to stand to expectations in the coming age of internet-scaled businesses.