jsDelivr vs Photon: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for jsDelivr and Photon side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Photon leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
jsDelivr
Free CDN for open source packages
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Photon requires payment)
Photon
Accelerate your WordPress.com site with optimized image and static file delivery.
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly improves website loading speed
| At a Glance | jsDelivr | Photon |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | CDN Hosting & Deployment | CDN Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 3.9/5 G2 3.9 148 reviews | 4.5/5 Capterra 4.6 · G2 4.4 17,718 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Requires a full WordPress.com Business/Commerce plan for advanced features. |
Choose jsDelivr or Photon?
Choose jsDelivr if
- You want a fully free tool (Photon requires payment)
- You want free CDN for npm/GitHub
- You want fast global network
Choose Photon if
- You want significantly improves website loading speed
- You want reduces server load on the main WordPress.com site
In-Depth Analysis
jsDelivr
Free CDN for open source packages
jsDelivr's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it offers a completely free CDN service for open-source packages, npm, and GitHub files with unlimited bandwidth.
Strengths
- Pro: Free CDN for npm/GitHub
- Pro: Fast global network
- Pro: No configuration
- Pro: Good uptime
- Pro: Multi-CDN
Weaknesses
- Con: No custom domains
- Con: Limited analytics
- Con: No origin support
- Con: For public packages only
- Con: Rate limits possible
Key features
Photon
Accelerate your WordPress.com site with optimized image and static file delivery.
Photon's pricing is unique as it's not a standalone product but rather a feature bundled with higher-tier WordPress.com plans.
Watch out
Requires a full WordPress.com Business/Commerce plan for advanced features.
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly improves website loading speed
- Pro: Reduces server load on the main WordPress.com site
- Pro: Automatically optimizes images for various screen sizes and formats
- Pro: Enhances user experience with faster content delivery
- Pro: Simple to enable and manage for eligible plans
Weaknesses
- Con: No cache invalidation
- Con: No support for custom theme or plugin assets
- Con: Manual image purging only
Key features
Plans and prices: jsDelivr vs Photon
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| jsDelivr | No plan prices on file | jsdelivr.com read Oct 4, 2026 |
| Photon |
| developer.wordpress.com/docs/photon read Oct 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on jsDelivr pricing and Photon pricing.
Key Takeaways
jsDelivr
- Choose if you want free CDN for open source packages
Photon
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.9/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Photon leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Photon has the higher user rating (3.9/5 from 148 reviews for jsDelivr, 4.5/5 from 17,718 reviews for Photon).
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do jsDelivr and Photon compare in 2026?
On the data below, Photon leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Photon has the higher user rating (3.9/5 from 148 reviews for jsDelivr, 4.5/5 from 17,718 reviews for Photon). Both have a free plan.
What are jsDelivr and Photon used for?
jsDelivr: Free CDN for open source packages. Photon: Accelerate your WordPress.com site with optimized image and static file delivery.
What does jsDelivr cost vs Photon?
jsDelivr is free. Photon has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 4, 2026.
What's the main difference between jsDelivr and Photon?
jsDelivr's main strength: free CDN for npm/GitHub. Photon's main strength: significantly improves website loading speed.