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665 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

From $5/mo

Biggest pro

Enterprise CDN leader

Biggest con

Very expensive

TL;DR - Akamai

  • Akamai is a global CDN and cloud security provider powering many of the world's largest websites
  • It delivers content from edge servers worldwide while protecting against DDoS and web attacks
  • Custom enterprise pricing based on traffic and security requirements
Pricing: Paid only
Best for: Enterprises & pros
4.5/5 across review platforms

What is Akamai?

Editorial review
Akamai built the infrastructure that makes the internet faster. Their CDN delivers content from servers close to users, while security products protect against DDoS attacks and web threats. When you visit major websites, content often comes through Akamai's network. The scale is massive-a significant percentage of web traffic flows through their platform daily. Enterprise organizations choose Akamai for reliability at scale. When performance and security are non-negotiable, Akamai provides infrastructure that rarely makes headlines because it simply works.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Enterprise CDN leader
  • Global network
  • Security features
  • Good performance
  • DDoS protection

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Complex pricing
  • Enterprise sales
  • Overkill for small sites
  • Dated UI

Ratings Across the Web

4.5(665 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

CDNCloud securityEdge computingBot managementDDoSEnterprise

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Jul 8, 2026

Nanode

$5/month

Shared CPU

  • 1 CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 25GB storage
  • 1TB transfer

Linode 2GB

$12/month

Shared CPU

  • 1 CPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 50GB storage
  • 2TB transfer
Most Popular

Dedicated 4GB

$36/month

Dedicated CPU

  • 2 CPUs
  • 4GB RAM
  • 80GB storage
  • 4TB transfer

Enterprise CDN

Custom

Global CDN

  • Edge computing
  • DDoS protection
  • Web application firewall
  • 24/7 support

How Akamai's pricing compares

At $5/mo, Akamai is the most affordable of its 3 direct competitors.

Akamai
$5
$500

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Jul 8, 2026.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 665 verified user reviews on G2

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Akamai FAQ

How does Akamai enhance website performance for enterprise organizations?

Akamai improves website performance by delivering content from servers geographically close to users through its global Content Delivery Network (CDN). This infrastructure is designed for reliability at scale, ensuring content is served quickly and efficiently for major websites.

Which teams within an enterprise would benefit most from using Akamai?

Teams responsible for web operations, cybersecurity, and infrastructure management within large enterprises would benefit most from Akamai. It provides critical infrastructure for ensuring high performance and robust security for their online presence.

How is Akamai priced?

Akamai is a paid product and does not offer a permanently free tier. Its pricing is known to be complex and is typically handled through enterprise sales.

What kind of security features does Akamai offer?

Akamai offers comprehensive security features, including strong DDoS protection and safeguards against various web threats. These capabilities are integrated into its platform to protect enterprise websites and applications.

Can Akamai be overkill for smaller websites or startups?

Yes, Akamai can be overkill for small sites or startups due to its enterprise-focused nature and high cost. Its robust global network and extensive feature set are primarily designed for organizations requiring reliability at massive scale.

How does Akamai compare to Cloudflare in terms of its target users?

Akamai primarily targets large enterprise organizations that require unmatched reliability and performance at a massive scale, often with complex needs. Cloudflare also serves enterprises but is known for a broader range of offerings that can also appeal to smaller businesses.

Source: akamai.com

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