Company snapshot
| Category | Alibaba Cloud CDN | CDNVideo |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
CDNVideo is a content delivery network provider founded in 2008, specializing in video streaming and content delivery services. Headquartered in Moscow, Russia, it serves a wide range of clients, including media companies, e-commerce platforms, and gaming businesses. The company operates a global network with a strong presence in Russia, EMEA, APAC, and China. CDNVideo focuses on delivering video-on-demand (VOD) and live streaming solutions, catering to businesses needing reliable content distribution. Its customers include broadcasters, OTT platforms, and enterprises requiring low-latency video delivery.
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.
CDNVideo operates over 100 points of presence (PoPs) across North America, Europe, Asia, and Russia, with a notable focus on the Russian market. Its network leverages partnerships with major ISPs and peering points to ensure low-latency delivery. The architecture supports video streaming with adaptive bitrate capabilities and is optimized for high-traffic scenarios. CDNVideo has a China-licensed CDN, enabling compliant content delivery in that region. Limitations include less extensive coverage in Latin America and Africa compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Alibaba Cloud CDN | CDNVideo |
|---|---|---|
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.
CDNVideo operates a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pricing model with no long-term commitments. Pricing details are available on their official pricing page, though specific per-GB rates are not publicly disclosed without a quote. A free trial is offered for testing services. Volume discounts are available for high-traffic customers. https://www.cdnvideo.com/pricing
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.
CDNVideo provides an API-first platform for managing configurations and accessing real-time logs. Documentation is available for integrating with common CMS platforms and video players. It lacks native Terraform support or advanced CI/CD integrations compared to providers like Fastly. Migration tools are available for importing content from other CDNs, with support for standard protocols. Real-time analytics focus on video delivery metrics, such as buffering rates and viewer engagement.
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.
- Businesses targeting Russia or China, where CDNVideo has strong regional presence and licensing.
- Media companies needing reliable video-on-demand or live streaming with RTMP ingest.
- Customers seeking a PAYG model with a focus on video delivery without complex edge compute needs.
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.
- Organizations requiring advanced edge compute, serverless functions, or key-value storage.
- Users needing extensive coverage in Latin America or Africa, where PoP density is lower.
- Enterprises prioritizing WAF, bot mitigation, or advanced analytics, which are not offered.
History & Notes
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