Company snapshot
| Category | Alibaba Cloud CDN | BaishanCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Alibaba Cloud CDN, operated by Alibaba Cloud, is a global content delivery network with over 1,200 points of presence (POPs) across more than 70 countries. It specializes in accelerating content delivery for websites, video streaming, and large-scale downloads, particularly in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and China. The service supports a range of industries, including e-commerce, gaming, and media, with a strong focus on compliance with China’s regulatory requirements. Customers include enterprises and developers needing low-latency delivery in APAC markets. The platform integrates with other Alibaba Cloud services like Elastic Compute Service (ECS) and Object Storage Service (OSS) for streamlined content hosting.
BaishanCloud, founded in 2015, is a global cloud data service provider specializing in content delivery network (CDN) services, edge security, and data lifecycle management. Headquartered in Guiyang City, China, with international operations in Bellevue, Washington, it offers cloud delivery, storage, and security solutions. The company serves internet and enterprise customers, particularly in China and Asia, with a focus on data transmission, storage, and governance. BaishanCloud has a strong presence in the tech services industry, supporting applications like TikTok and Tencent QQ. It has raised approximately $173 million in funding and employs over 600 staff as of 2023.
Network & Architecture
Alibaba Cloud CDN operates over 1,200 POPs globally, with a significant presence in APAC, including China, where it holds a Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) license for compliance. The network leverages extensive peering with local ISPs in China to ensure low-latency delivery. It uses tiered caching and origin shield to reduce origin server load. The service is optimized for high-traffic scenarios like e-commerce events (e.g., Singles Day), but its coverage in Africa and Latin America is less extensive compared to North America and EMEA.
BaishanCloud operates a global edge cloud platform with over 1,700 edge nodes across 300+ cities in more than 150 countries, with a strong focus on China and Southeast Asia. Its network includes 1,029 IPs, with 823 IPv4 and 206 IPv6 addresses, deployed across 28 cities in two countries (China and Hong Kong). The platform leverages intelligent routing, load balancing, and high-performance SD-WAN for efficient data transmission. Regional strengths include unparalleled performance in China due to its china-licensed status, but its global footprint is less extensive than some competitors in North America and EMEA. The network handles 600 billion daily requests and supports 80T of redundancy bandwidth.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Alibaba Cloud CDN | BaishanCloud |
|---|---|---|
waf | ✓ | ✓ |
bot_mitigation | ✗ | ✓ |
ddos | ✓ | ✓ |
rate_limit | ✗ | ✓ |
http3_quic | ✓ | ✓ |
tls13 | ✓ | ✓ |
tiered_cache | ✓ | ✓ |
origin_shield | ✓ | ✓ |
instant_purge | ✓ | ✓ |
stale_while_revalidate | ✗ | ✗ |
stale_if_error | ✗ | ✗ |
image_optimization | ✓ | ✓ |
video_vod | ✓ | ✓ |
video_live | ✓ | ✓ |
drm | ✗ | ✗ |
hls_dash_packaging | ✗ | ✓ |
websockets | ✗ | ✓ |
signed_urls | ✓ | ✓ |
edge_compute | ✓ | ✓ |
functions | ✗ | ✓ |
kv_storage | ✗ | ✓ |
api_first | ✗ | ✓ |
realtime_logs | ✓ | ✓ |
log_push | ✓ | ✓ |
terraform | ✓ | ✗ |
Legend: ✓ = Supported, ✗ = Not supported, — = Not listed
Pricing
Alibaba Cloud CDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with pricing based on traffic volume and region. A free trial is available, offering up to 12 months of usage for select services like Elastic Compute Service, which integrates with CDN. Per-GB pricing varies by region, with China typically higher due to regulatory compliance costs. Detailed pricing is available at https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/cdn/pricing.
BaishanCloud operates on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model, primarily targeting enterprise clients. Specific per-GB pricing details are not publicly disclosed. The company emphasizes tailored solutions for large-scale deployments, with no free tier or public trial information available. For pricing details, visit https://www.baishancloud.com/.
Integrations & DevEx
The service supports Terraform for infrastructure-as-code, enabling automated configuration of CDN domains. SDKs are available for multiple languages, facilitating integration with CI/CD pipelines. Real-time logs and analytics are accessible via the console or API, with log push capabilities for external storage. A self-service diagnostics tool helps troubleshoot issues like page loading failures. Domain transfer tools simplify migrations across Alibaba Cloud accounts.
BaishanCloud provides an API-first platform with support for real-time logs, log streaming, and analytics. It offers edge-native technology for standardized application development across heterogeneous edge nodes. No specific Terraform or CI/CD integration details are documented, but its developer-centric tools support SDKs for custom integrations. Migration tools are not explicitly mentioned, but its partnership with Mlytics facilitates multi-CDN ecosystems.
When it fits
- Businesses targeting APAC and China markets, especially those needing MIIT-compliant CDN services.
- E-commerce and media companies handling high-traffic events with video streaming or large downloads.
- Users integrating with Alibaba Cloud’s ecosystem (ECS, OSS) for end-to-end content management.
When it fits
- China-focused businesses needing a licensed CDN with strong regional performance and regulatory compliance.
- Enterprises requiring edge computing and serverless solutions for data-intensive applications.
- Organizations seeking integrated security with WAF, DDoS protection, and zero-trust networking.
When it doesn’t
- Companies needing extensive North American or EMEA coverage may find BaishanCloud’s footprint limited compared to Cloudflare or Akamai.
- Small businesses or startups looking for free-tier or low-cost options may find its enterprise focus less accessible.
- Users requiring Terraform or CI/CD integration may need to confirm support, as documentation is sparse.
When it doesn’t
- Organizations prioritizing extensive coverage in Africa or Latin America, where POP density is lower.
- Small businesses seeking simple, low-cost CDN solutions without complex integrations.
- Users requiring advanced bot mitigation or managed WAF rules, which are not fully supported.
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History & Notes
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