KeyCDN vs NS1: 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 KeyCDN and NS1 side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, NS1 leads on a free plan. 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:
KeyCDN
High-performance content delivery network
Best for you if:
- • You want affordable CDN
NS1
Managed DNS and traffic management
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise DNS management
| At a Glance | KeyCDN | NS1 |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan, paid from $250/mo, billed monthly Essentials plan |
Category | CDN Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.5 · SourceForge 4.3 138 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | n/a | Query volume overages on Premium tier |
Choose KeyCDN or NS1?
Choose KeyCDN if
- You want affordable CDN
- You want good performance
- You work in CDN, not cloud & infrastructure
Choose NS1 if
- You want enterprise DNS management
- You want intelligent traffic steering
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not CDN
In-Depth Analysis
KeyCDN
High-performance content delivery network
KeyCDN's pricing is quite competitive, especially the 'Pay as you go' tier at $0.04/GB, which is fair for smaller users.
Strengths
- Pro: Affordable CDN
- Pro: Good performance
- Pro: Pay-as-you-go
- Pro: Image processing
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller network
- Con: Less features than CF
- Con: Limited DDoS protection
- Con: Support basic
- Con: Less known
Key features
NS1
Managed DNS and traffic management
NS1's pricing structure is fair, offering a generous free Developer tier for basic needs.
Watch out
Query volume overages on Premium tier
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise DNS management
- Pro: Intelligent traffic steering
- Pro: High availability and performance
- Pro: API-driven DNS automation
- Pro: Advanced DNS features
Weaknesses
- Con: Enterprise pricing model
- Con: Complex for simple DNS needs
- Con: Technical expertise required
- Con: Now part of IBM
- Con: Migration complexity from other DNS
Key features
Plans and prices: KeyCDN vs NS1
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KeyCDN |
| keycdn.com/pricing read Oct 14, 2026 |
| NS1 |
| ns1.com/pricing read Oct 22, 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 KeyCDN pricing and NS1 pricing.
Key Takeaways
KeyCDN
- Choose if you want high-performance content delivery network
NS1
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, NS1 leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only KeyCDN has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 138 reviews); NS1 has none we can show.
- NS1 starts at $250/mo, billed monthly; KeyCDN has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only NS1 has 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 KeyCDN and NS1 compare in 2026?
On the data below, NS1 leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only KeyCDN has a published user rating (4.4/5 from 138 reviews); NS1 has none we can show. NS1 starts at $250/mo, billed monthly; KeyCDN has no public paid plan price on file. Only NS1 has a free plan.
What are KeyCDN and NS1 used for?
KeyCDN: High-performance content delivery network. NS1: Managed DNS and traffic management.
What does KeyCDN cost vs NS1?
KeyCDN has no public paid-plan price on file. NS1's cheapest paid plan is Essentials at $250/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 22, 2026.
What's the main difference between KeyCDN and NS1?
KeyCDN's main strength: affordable CDN. NS1's main strength: enterprise DNS management.