Amazon CloudFront vs Google Cloud CDN: What are the differences?

Amazon CloudFront and Google Cloud CDN are both Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) that help speed up the delivery of content to users worldwide. Let's explore the key differences between these two services.

1. Pricing model: Amazon CloudFront offers pay-as-you-go pricing, meaning you only pay for the data transferred and the services used. Google Cloud CDN has a tiered pricing model based on usage and location, with discounted rates for higher volumes and additional costs for caching and other features.

2. Network coverage: Amazon CloudFront has a larger number of edge locations globally, with over 225+ points of presence (PoP) in more countries and cities. Google Cloud CDN has fewer edge locations compared to Amazon CloudFront, with around 90+ PoPs globally, but with a strong presence in major cities.

3. Integration with other services: Amazon CloudFront is tightly integrated with other AWS services, such as Amazon S3, EC2, and Lambda, making it easier to architect and deploy applications using these services. Google Cloud CDN integrates seamlessly with Google Cloud Platform offerings like Compute Engine and Load Balancing, allowing for smooth integration with other GCP services.

4. SSL/TLS support: Amazon CloudFront offers SSL/TLS certificates at no additional cost and supports both dedicated and shared certificates. Google Cloud CDN provides SSL/TLS termination at the load balancer level but requires you to bring your own SSL certificate or use Google-managed certificates.

5. Cache Invalidation: Amazon CloudFront allows you to invalidate individual files or directories manually or through an API call, ensuring immediate updates for frequently changing content. Google Cloud CDN supports cache invalidation with a cache invalidation API, allowing you to invalidate and refresh specific cache entries.

6. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection: Amazon CloudFront provides built-in DDoS protection, leveraging AWS Shield, to protect against malicious attacks and ensure high availability of your content. Google Cloud CDN offers DDoS protection through Google Cloud Armor, which provides security policies and defends against Layer 3-7 DDoS attacks.

In summary, Amazon CloudFront offers more extensive global coverage, seamless integration with other AWS services, and inbuilt SSL/TLS support. On the other hand, Google Cloud CDN provides competitive pricing options, strong integration with Google Cloud Platform, and comprehensive DDoS protection.