CacheFly vs Fastly: What are the differences?

Introduction:

1. Edge Locations: CacheFly has 45 edge locations globally, whereas Fastly has 64. This difference in the number of edge locations can impact the latency and speed at which content is delivered to end-users.

2. Back-end Infrastructure: CacheFly utilizes physical infrastructure in its data centers, while Fastly relies on a virtualized cloud infrastructure. This distinction can influence the scalability and flexibility of the CDN services provided by both companies.

3. Purge Methodology: CacheFly uses a cache invalidation approach for purging content, whereas Fastly employs instant purging, allowing for real-time updates to content. The choice between these purge methodologies can affect the speed and efficiency of content refreshes.

4. Security Features: CacheFly offers DDoS protection as a separate service, while Fastly includes DDoS protection as part of its CDN offering. This difference in security features can impact the overall protection of content against cyber threats.

5. Streaming Capabilities: CacheFly specializes in video and media streaming services, providing advanced features tailored for this purpose. In contrast, Fastly offers a broader range of streaming capabilities, including real-time and on-demand streaming, catering to diverse streaming needs.

6. Customization Options: CacheFly provides more standardized CDN solutions with limited customization options, while Fastly offers extensive customization capabilities through its VCL (Varnish Configuration Language). This difference can be crucial for clients requiring tailored CDN configurations for their specific requirements.

In Summary, CacheFly and Fastly differ in key aspects like edge locations, back-end infrastructure, purge methodology, security features, streaming capabilities, and customization options, offering distinct benefits for different use cases.