Looking to give your website a serious speed boost?
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are a real game-changer for WordPress sites.
Now, I’ve been working with WordPress for years, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a good CDN turn a sluggish site into a blazing fast one.
First, what exactly is a CDN?
A CDN is a network of servers spread out across the globe. These servers store copies of your site’s static content – things like images, CSS, and JavaScript files. When someone visits your site, instead of all the data coming from your main server, the CDN serves up these files from a server that’s closest to the visitor.
The result? Faster load times, happier visitors, and a site that can handle more traffic without breaking a sweat.
There are lots of CDN options out there, each with their own pros and cons. So I’ve put together this list of the 9 best CDN services for WordPress. I’ve used quite a few of these myself, and I’ve done my research and testing on some of the others, so I’ll be sharing some real-world insights.
Now let’s find the perfect CDN to supercharge your WordPress site!
How I Test and Review WordPress CDN Services
If you truly want to test a CDN, you need to use it for an extended period of time. It can speed up your website instantly, but it’s important to check how it works at different times and especially during high traffic.
Our team has extensive experience with WordPress CDN services. We’ve used many of these on our own websites and thoroughly tested the rest.
So we combine our real-world experience with these test results. The great part about working with our team is that our members share insights from using these CDNs on various projects. This approach helps us provide practical, reliable information about each WordPress CDN service.
Here’s our general testing process:
- Install and configure the CDN service usually on a test site to see how easy the CDN is to set up and use
- Measure site speed and loading times before and after adding the CDN
- Look for any potential issues or conflicts
- Compare features across different CDN services
- Consider pricing and plans
- Read user reviews for additional perspectives
- Compare test results with my own experiences using these CDNs
My goal is to help you find the best CDN for your website, based on both thorough testing and real-world use.
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Best WordPress CDN Services
This is an extensive showcase so here’s the list of CDN services I’ll be covering today. Feel free to use the quick links to jump to any tool that interests you:
- Bunny.net
- Cloudflare
- Sucuri
- RocketCDN
- KeyCDN
- Amazon CloudFront
- Google CloudCDN
- CDN Microsoft Azure CDN
- Fastly
I’ll go into depth with the first 5 options that we’ve used ourselves. I’ll also give you 8 more options that we’ve tested and researched and have proven to be good options.
Let’s get started.
1. The Best CDN Service for User-Friendliness: Bunny.net
Bunny.net is my #1 pick of the CDN services out there.
The first thing that struck me was how incredibly user-friendly it is. Their WordPress plugin is a breeze to set up – you’ll be up and running in no time. Trust me, I’ve set up my fair share of CDNs, and this one’s as smooth as they come.
Bunny.net stands out because it’s designed to be easy to use, especially for WordPress sites. Plus, they have data centers worldwide. You can choose any one of its 119 Global PoPs (point of presence) across North America, South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania.
Now, let’s talk pricing because I know that’s always a big concern. Bunny.net is surprisingly affordable, especially for small businesses. If you’re based in North America, you’re looking at just $0.01 per GB. And if you’re not sure about the costs, they’ve got a calculator on their site that helps you estimate your monthly bill.
Key Features:
- 119+ points of presence (PoPs) across the world, ensuring fast content delivery.
- Known for competitive rates, especially for small to medium-sized websites.
- Simple integration process with various platforms, including WordPress.
- Free shared SSL certificates and support for custom SSL.
- Provides real-time analytics and logs for monitoring performance.
- Offers a RESTful API for custom integrations and automation.
- Ability to restrict content access based on geographic location.
Bunny.Net Pricing:
Bunny CDN uses a pay-as-you-go model with rates varying by region. They also offer volume discounts for higher usage. They also offer other products that include:
- Bunny Optimizer: Offers image and video optimization to reduce file sizes without significant quality loss.
- Bunny Storage: Distributed storage solution that integrates seamlessly with the CDN.
- Video Streaming: Supports both live and on-demand video streaming.
Who is Bunny.Net Best For?
Bunny.net is suitable for a wide range of users, from small personal blogs to larger enterprise websites. It’s particularly popular among cost-conscious users who need a reliable CDN without breaking the bank.
Performance:
It’s a high-performance CDN with great speed and reliability, competing effectively with more expensive CDN options.
Overall, Bunny.net is known for offering a good balance of features, performance, and affordability, making it a popular choice in the CDN market.
Why I Recommend Bunny.net:
When you decide to speed up your website using a CDN, the setup process can often seem intimidating and overly technical. I’ve found that Bunny.net completely solves this problem; it stands out due to its exceptional user-friendliness, making it truly ideal for WordPress users of all skill levels.
With an intuitive setup process and worldwide data centers, it ensures a seamless integration and visibly improved performance without the usual technical hassles. This is the definition of a powerful tool made simple.
2. The Best CDN for Free DDoS Protection: Cloudflare
Cloudflare is one of the most popular Content Delivery Network (CDN) services. They offer a free CDN plan which is widely used among small businesses. This plan even includes unmetered DDoS protection. This detects irregular amounts of traffic that could indicate an attack and allows only legitimate traffic to visit your site.
To set up Cloudflare, you need to sign up for a plan, add your website to Cloudflare and then replace your domain’s nameservers with Cloudflare’s. It’s a pretty straightforward process.
Our friends over at WPBeginner use Cloudflare’s paid security and CDN services. They had good things to say about the service especially with regards to their CDN network, excellent uptime, and fast performance.
Key Features:
- 330+ data centers worldwide, providing extensive coverage.
- Offers a robust free tier, making it accessible to many users.
- Advanced protection against Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) helps protect against various web-based threats.
- Free SSL certificates and easy HTTPS implementation.
- Intelligent caching to reduce server load and improve speed.
- Identifies and mitigates bot traffic.
Pricing:
There’s a free plan with basic features. Premium plans start from $20 per month and include:
- Pro plan for enhanced performance and security
- Business plan for businesses and larger organizations
- Enterprise plan for custom solutions
Who is Cloudflare Best For?
Cloudflare’s free plan makes it accessible to small websites, while its advanced features appeal to larger businesses with complex needs.
Performance:
Generally considered one of the top performers in the CDN market, with consistent speed improvements for most websites. It’s easy to set up, especially for popular CMS platforms like WordPress. Can be implemented by changing nameservers or through plugins.
Cloudflare is known for its combination of CDN, security features, and performance optimization tools, making it a comprehensive solution for many web-based needs. Its free tier and ease of use have made it particularly popular among a wide range of website owners.
Why I Recommend Cloudflare
One of the best feelings is getting a massive boost in performance and security for your website without having to spend a single cent. I’ve found that Cloudflare is an incredible choice because its robust free tier includes advanced features like DDoS protection, which is fantastic for protecting your site against threats without a hefty price tag.
3. The Best CDN for Added Security: Sucuri
Sucuri offers a unique blend of security and content delivery for WordPress sites. Unlike typical CDNs, Sucuri focuses on protecting websites while improving speed.
It uses a global network to deliver content fast and includes features like a Web Application Firewall and malware scanning. This makes it ideal for WordPress users who want both better performance and strong security.
Sucuri is easy to set up with its WordPress plugin and is particularly useful for sites that need extra protection against online threats.
While it might not have all the customization options of other CDNs, its combination of security and speed makes it a solid choice for many WordPress website owners.
Key Features:
- Anycast Network that uses multiple data centers worldwide for fast content delivery.
- Website Firewall (WAF) to protect against various web-based attacks, including DDoS.
- Regular scans and cleanup of malware.
- Free SSL certificates and easy HTTPS implementation.
- Performance Optimization that includes caching, compression, and minification.
- Continuous monitoring of website availability and security.
- 24/7 support for security incidents.
- Hardening Features to implement security best practices on your website.
Pricing:
Sucuri offers several plans with different levels of features and protection. It starts at $9.99 per month.
Who is Sucuri CDN Best For?
Sucuri CDN is particularly appealing to website owners who prioritize security alongside performance. It’s suitable for various types of websites especially those running on popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, or Magento.
Performance:
While primarily known for its security features, Sucuri’s CDN also provides good performance improvements, though it may not be as fast as some purely performance-focused CDNs. Sucuri offers a plugin for WordPress, making integration relatively straightforward.
Why I Recommend Sucuri:
When you run a WordPress site, you need both speed and ironclad security, and managing those two things separately can be a huge headache. I’ve found that Sucuri provides a unique and powerful solution by combining top-tier security enhancements and speed optimization tailored specifically for WordPress.
Their strong defensive features, including a powerful WAF and regular malware scanning, are perfect for anyone who prioritizes their site’s security above everything else. It’s also good to know that their support team is available 24/7 to help clean up your site if it does ever get infected.
4. The Best CDN for Simple WordPress Integration: RocketCDN
RocketCDN is a content delivery network service created by the team behind WP Rocket, a popular WordPress caching plugin.
What I love about RocketCDN is:
- No technical knowledge needed
- No bandwidth limits or overage charges
- 24/7 support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
RocketCDN is a good choice for WordPress site owners who want a straightforward, easy-to-use CDN solution with predictable pricing.
It’s especially appealing to those already using WP Rocket, as it provides a seamless extension of their existing optimization setup.
Key Features:
- With 120+ edge locations around the world.
- Seamless integration with WordPress, especially for WP Rocket users.
- Free SSL certificates and easy HTTPS implementation.
- For WP Rocket users, enabling CDN is extremely simple.
- Reduces the size of CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files.
- Compresses files before sending them to visitors.
- Takes advantage of the faster HTTP/2 protocol.
Pricing:
RocketCDN offers a simple, flat-rate pricing model starting at $8.99 per month per website, regardless of bandwidth usage.
Who is RocketCDN Best For?
RocketCDN is primarily targeted at WordPress users, especially those already using WP Rocket. However, it can be used with any WordPress site, even without WP Rocket. It’s particularly suitable for small to medium-sized websites looking for an easy-to-use CDN solution.
Performance:
Leveraging StackPath’s infrastructure, RocketCDN generally provides good performance improvements, especially for sites with a global audience. For WP Rocket users, integration is extremely simple – just a one-click process. For other WordPress users, it’s still relatively straightforward to set up.
Why I Recommend RocketCDN
If you’re already using the popular WP Rocket caching plugin, adding a CDN should be a completely seamless, one-click experience. That said, RocketCDN is streamlined entirely for simplicity, requiring literally no technical expertise to set up, which is a huge time-saver.
Beyond the convenience, the predictable, straightforward pricing and robust support make RocketCDN my go-to option when performance and ease of use are my top priorities.
5. The Best CDN for Pay-as-You-Go Pricing: KeyCDN
KeyCDN is known for its user-friendly features and robust performance that makes it particularly appealing for small business owners and those new to CDN implementation.
One of KeyCDN’s standout features is its CDN Enabler plugin. This WordPress plugin makes it easy to integrate the CDN with your site by automatically rewriting your website URLs to serve content through the CDN.
The plugin offers granular control, allowing you to select specific file types for CDN delivery, focusing on essential elements to optimize performance.
Their CDN network network can handle all levels of traffic whether you have a small blog to large eCommerce website.
Key Features
- 60+ strategically located data centers, across 40+ countries and 6 continents.
- Transparent pricing model based on actual usage.
- Simple setup process with various content management systems and platforms.
- Support for custom SSL certificates at no extra cost.
- Origin shield reduces the load on your origin server by acting as an intermediate caching layer.
- RESTful API for custom integrations and automations.
- On-the-fly image resizing, optimization, and WebP conversion.
- HTTP/2 and IPv6 modern protocol support for improved performance.
- Push Zones give you the ability to push content directly to the CDN for static sites.
- Pull Zones easily create multiple CDN instances for different websites or applications.
- Secure Token for URL token authentication for securing premium content.
- Basic protection against Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
Pricing:
KeyCDN uses a pay-as-you-go model with rates varying by region. It starts at $0.01/GB to $0.10/GB.
They offer volume discounts for higher usage. Pricing is generally considered competitive, especially for small to medium-sized websites.
Who is KeyCDN Best For?
KeyCDN is suitable for a wide range of users, from individual developers to large businesses. It’s particularly popular among cost-conscious users who appreciate the pay-as-you-go model and transparent pricing.
Performance:
KeyCDN has built a reputation for delivering solid performance, which is crucial for any Content Delivery Network. In general, users typically report noticeable improvements in load times and overall site performance after implementing KeyCDN.
Why I Recommend KeyCDN
When you’re running a small to medium-sized website, you absolutely need a CDN, but you typically don’t want to commit to a massive monthly fee when your traffic is still variable.
KeyCDN is well-known for solving this exact problem with its incredibly transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing model, which gives you maximum flexibility and cost-efficiency.
That’s my top 5 recommendations for WordPress users. Below, I’ll also give you more options but keep in mind that these are not necessarily WordPress solutions but rather for any kind of website.
6. The Best CDN for AWS Integration: Amazon CloudFront
If you’re new to AWS, you’ll be happy to know that they offer 1 TB of data transfer out with their Free Tier, which is a great way to get started.
CloudFront has over 600 locations (called Points of Presence or PoPs) spread across the globe. When someone visits your website, CloudFront figures out the fastest way to deliver your content to them. It sends your website’s data from the location closest to the user. This means your website loads quickly for visitors, no matter where they are in the world.
Security is also covered. It offers traffic encryption and access controls to keep your data safe. Plus, you get AWS Shield Standard included at no extra cost, which helps protect you against those nasty DDoS attacks we all worry about.
Now, let’s talk money. CloudFront can actually help you cut costs in a few ways. It consolidates requests, offers customizable pricing options, and – here’s a big one – there are zero fees for data transfer out from AWS origins.
If you’re the type who likes to tinker and optimize, you’ll love CloudFront’s serverless compute features. These allow you to run custom code right at the CDN edge, giving you the flexibility to balance performance, security, and cost according to your specific needs.
Why I Recommend Amazon CloudFront
If you’re already running your website or application within the powerful AWS ecosystem, integrating your CDN should be completely effortless. Amazon CloudFront offers exactly as that, as it integrates seamlessly with the entire suite of AWS services.
For environments that demand high performance and maximum security, Amazon CloudFront truly excels. I also really appreciate that its customizable pricing options mean you can manage costs precisely, tailoring the service to fit various business needs.
7. The Best CDN for Google Ecosystem Integration: Google CloudCDN
Google Cloud CDN’s main advantage is its deep integration with the Google Cloud Platform ecosystem.
For businesses already using Google services, it offers seamless integration with Cloud Storage, Compute Engine, and Load Balancing. This enables streamlined workflows and a unified management experience.
Google Cloud CDN caches your content at Google’s edge locations (Points of Presence or PoPs) strategically positioned closer to your users. This proximity minimizes latency and ensures rapid content delivery, resulting in improved page load times and a seamless user experience.
With a vast network spanning over 100 PoPs across the globe, Google Cloud CDN effectively handles traffic spikes and serves content with consistent speed and performance to users in various geographical locations.
You’ll also get access to a robust security infrastructure to protect your content from DDoS attacks and other online threats. Features include Cloud Armor and SSL/TLS encryption for further enhance security.
Why I Recommend Google Cloud CDN:
If your business infrastructure is already built on the powerful Google Cloud Platform, choosing a CDN that works perfectly with that environment just makes sense.
Google Cloud CDN is the definitive choice here, thanks to its flawless integration and powerful backend infrastructure. Plus, its extensive Point of Presence (PoP) network guarantees swift, reliable content delivery to your users around the globe.
I also particularly like that the robust security features are baked right into the platform, making it easy to protect my site without having to configure extra services.
8. The Best CDN for Microsoft Platform Users: Microsoft Azure CDN
Microsoft Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a global content caching and delivery service that brings your web content closer to users, providing faster load times, global reach, and security.
It has a vast network of servers across multiple continents so your content is delivered reliably and quickly to users worldwide, regardless of their location.
The CDN is built on Microsoft’s robust infrastructure, so Azure CDN scales automatically to handle traffic spikes and deliver content consistently, even during peak demand.
Added to this, features like HTTPS support, custom domain integration, and token authentication help safeguard your content and prevent unauthorized access.
Azure CDN pricing is based on a tiered structure with factors like bandwidth consumption, storage usage, and features influencing the cost. Azure CDN uses a pay-as-you-go model based on data transfer and request volume.
- Azure CDN from Microsoft: A basic CDN solution with cost-effective delivery for general web content.
- Azure CDN from Verizon: High-performance CDN with advanced features for large-scale media delivery and live streaming.
- Azure CDN from Akamai: A premium CDN offering with unparalleled performance, security, and global reach.
Offers high performance, especially with the Premium Verizon tier. Performance can vary based on the chosen tier.
Why I Recommend Microsoft Azure CDN:
If your business already relies on Microsoft’s Azure cloud ecosystem, then you’ll want a CDN that integrates perfectly with those existing services. In that case, Microsoft Azure CDN is the best choice, delivering reliable and speedy performance across its expansive global network.
Its comprehensive offerings, like enhanced security and effortless scalability, align perfectly with the needs of large enterprises. This ensures your content is delivered efficiently, effectively supporting large-scale operations with total ease.
I especially appreciate how seamlessly it works with other Azure tools, making it easy to manage my entire cloud infrastructure from one place.
9. The Best CDN for Real-Time Edge Computing: Fastly
Fastly is a cloud computing services provider that offers a content delivery network, edge cloud platform, and cloud security services.
Founded in 2011, Fastly has quickly become known for its high-performance, real-time CDN services. The company differentiates itself through its emphasis on edge computing, allowing developers to run code at the edge for customized content delivery and application logic. You can run custom code at the edge with Compute@Edge, allowing for highly tailored content delivery solutions.
This CDN is a good choice if you have high-traffic websites and applications that require real-time updates and complex content transformations.
This CDN may be more complex and potentially more expensive than some basic CDN services. That said, it offers advanced features that are needed for sites where speed and customization are critical.
Fastly uses a pay-as-you-go model based on bandwidth usage and request volume. Pricing can be complex due to the various features and options available.
Why I Recommend Fastly
When your website needs more than just simple caching (maybe you have highly complex content or need to make updates instantly across the globe) you need a powerful, innovative solution.
I’ve found that Fastly truly excels in these demanding areas, thanks to its real-time edge computing capabilities. This means it can handle complex content transformations and deliver rapid updates almost instantaneously, which is critical for high-traffic, dynamic websites.
If speed and high levels of customization are non-negotiable for your project, this is the powerful platform you need.
What Is the Best WordPress CDN Service?
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If you need free DDoS protection with extensive coverage, then Cloudflare is a great choice. Its free tier includes robust security features, making it ideal for sites that need reliable protection and performance optimization without financial constraints.
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If you need enhanced security alongside performance improvements, Sucuri may be the perfect solution for you. It provides robust security enhancements, including a Web Application Firewall and malware scanning.
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If you prefer seamless WordPress integration with straightforward pricing, I suggest looking at RocketCDN. Its simple setup and integration with WP Rocket, paired with predictable pricing, make it a hassle-free choice for optimizing WordPress sites.
FAQs on WordPress CDNs
What are CDN plugins for WordPress?
CDN plugins are tools that help you easily integrate a CDN with your WordPress site. They can improve your website performance and speed.
Is there a free CDN for WordPress?
Yes, some CDN providers offer free plans. Cloudflare CDN and Amazon Cloudfront are popular free options for WordPress sites.
How does Cloudflare CDN work with WordPress?
Cloudflare CDN caches your WordPress site’s static content on its global network, speeding up your site for visitors worldwide.
Can a CDN improve my WordPress site performance?
Yes, a CDN can significantly improve your WordPress site’s speed and overall performance by reducing server load and shortening content delivery distances.
Do WordPress hosting providers offer CDN services?
Many WordPress hosting providers like Bluehost include CDN services in their plans. Check with your host to see if this is included.
What’s the fastest WordPress hosting option?
SiteGround and Hostinger are some of the fastest WordPress hosting often combines high-performance servers with integrated CDN services. Research different hosting providers to find the best option for your needs. See: Best WordPress Hosting: Which One is Right for You?
How can I improve my WordPress PHP performance?
Optimizing WordPress PHP, along with using a CDN, can significantly boost your site’s speed and performance.
You may also want to see our other complete gguides:
- 16 Best WordPress SEO Plugins and Tools
- 11 Best WordPress Page Builders Reviewed
- 7 Best Form Builder Plugins for WordPress
These guides reveal more of the best plugins for WordPress to boost SEO, and build stunning landing pages and forms.
Just getting started with WordPress? Want to learn how to use this platform to maximize your online reach? Sign up for our video tutorials and unlock your website’s full potential: