Company snapshot
| Category | BaishanCloud | Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
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.
Cloudflare, founded in 2009, is a San Francisco-based company offering a global content delivery network (CDN), DDoS mitigation, and web security services. Its network accelerates content delivery and protects websites and applications from cyber threats. Cloudflare serves a wide range of customers, from small businesses to enterprises like Shopify, Medium, and IBM. The platform is known for its developer-friendly tools, including serverless edge computing and comprehensive security features. It provides a free tier alongside paid plans, catering to diverse user needs. Cloudflare’s services sit between end users and origin servers, acting as a reverse proxy to enhance performance and reliability.
Network & Architecture
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.
Cloudflare operates over 200 points of presence (PoPs) globally, spanning regions like North America, EMEA, APAC, Latin America, Africa, India, China, and the Middle East. Its Anycast network ensures low-latency content delivery by routing traffic to the nearest data center. The company has strong peering agreements, enhancing connectivity and reducing latency. Regional strengths include robust coverage in North America and Europe, with growing presence in APAC and Latin America. However, performance in certain African and Middle Eastern regions may vary due to fewer PoPs or local network constraints. Cloudflare’s architecture supports dynamic content acceleration and integrates with its security and edge computing services.
Feature comparison
| Feature | BaishanCloud | Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
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
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/.
Cloudflare offers a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model, a free tier, and enterprise plans. The free tier includes basic CDN, DDoS protection, and an SSL certificate, suitable for small sites. Paid plans (Pro, Business, Enterprise) add advanced features like WAF, bot mitigation, and analytics, with pricing starting at $20/month for Pro plans. Enterprise pricing is customized, often requiring committed contracts. Data transfer and HTTP/HTTPS requests are included in subscription plans, with additional costs for features like edge computing or advanced WAF rules. Full details are available at https://www.cloudflare.com/plans/.
Integrations & DevEx
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.
Cloudflare supports Terraform for infrastructure-as-code (IaC), enabling automated configuration management. SDKs and APIs facilitate integration with CI/CD pipelines and custom applications. Real-time logs (Logpush) and analytics (Cloudflare Analytics) provide actionable insights, with RUM support for end-user performance monitoring. Migration tools, like the Cloudflare Dashboard and DNS import features, simplify onboarding from other providers. The developer platform, including Cloudflare Workers and Pages, supports building and deploying serverless applications and static sites, enhancing developer experience.
When it fits
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.
- Small businesses or developers needing a free or low-cost CDN with basic security and SSL support.
- Enterprises requiring robust DDoS protection, WAF, and global content delivery with strong developer tools.
- Teams leveraging edge computing for serverless applications or dynamic content acceleration.
When it doesn’t
—
- Organizations needing specialized video features like HLS/DASH packaging, DRM, or RTMP ingest for advanced streaming use cases.
- Users in regions with limited PoPs (e.g., parts of Africa or the Middle East) where latency may be higher.
- Scenarios requiring origin shield for enhanced caching, which Cloudflare does not natively support.
History & Notes
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