The Science of Acceleration
NetDNA is a content delivery network for platforms: HTTP caching at the edge, SSL termination, rules, reporting and a REST API. Use this cluster when you are choosing a CDN — not when you already know you want EdgeCaching.
| NetDNA | Akamai | CloudFront | Cloudflare | Fastly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Pull/push CDN + platform API | Enterprise media CDN | AWS origin-pull | Reverse-proxy DNS | Varnish-style edge |
| Control panel | Yes, zones and reports | Luna | AWS console | Dashboard | Control panel |
| REST API | Yes, OAuth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| White-label / platforms | EdgeCaching for Platforms, CDNManager | Custom | No | No | Limited |
| SSL at the edge | EdgeSSL | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instant purge | Panel + API | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price (2013 NetDNA) | From $800/month, $0.02–$0.06/GB | Contract | Pay as you go | Free tier + paid | Pay as you go |
How to choose
Pick NetDNA when you need a dedicated CDN hostname, Anycast DNS, SSD PoPs, and an API your application can provision. Pick CloudFront when you already live in AWS. Pick Cloudflare when you want DNS + WAF on the apex. Pick Akamai for global media contracts. Fastly wins real-time configuration. Many NetDNA customers ran a multi-CDN strategy.
Is NetDNA a CDN like Cloudflare or CloudFront?
Yes. NetDNA is a content delivery network. It caches HTTP assets at the edge, terminates SSL with EdgeSSL, and exposes a REST API for purge and provisioning. Unlike Cloudflare’s proxy DNS model, NetDNA is used as a dedicated origin-pull or push CDN, often alongside another provider in a multi-CDN setup.
When should a platform pick NetDNA instead of a DIY CloudFront distribution?
When you need white-label control, instant purge, EdgeRules, and a control panel your customers can use. EdgeCaching for Platforms and CDNManager are built for hosts and SaaS products that resell CDN.
Does NetDNA replace MaxCDN?
MaxCDN is the self-service brand that sat on the same NetDNA network in 2013. NetDNA is the platform, API and enterprise product. Compare on network, SSL, API and pricing rather than the logo.