Company snapshot
| Category | BytePlus | Limelight |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
BytePlus, a division of ByteDance, provides a global Content Delivery Network (CDN) with over 1,300 points of presence (PoPs) and a bandwidth capacity exceeding 120 Tbps. It serves businesses needing low-latency content delivery for web, apps, video streaming, and downloads. Its customer base includes media, e-commerce, and gaming companies, particularly in APAC and China, leveraging ByteDance’s infrastructure expertise. The CDN integrates security features and edge computing capabilities, targeting enterprise clients with high-traffic demands.
Limelight Networks, later rebranded as Edgio, was a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2001, specializing in digital media and software delivery. It offered services for video streaming, web acceleration, and content delivery with a global network. The company ceased operations on January 15, 2025, following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2024, driven by mismanagement, failed acquisitions, and operational challenges.
Network & Architecture
BytePlus operates over 1,300 PoPs across more than 70 global locations, with a focus on APAC and China, where it holds a China-licensed CDN status. Its network supports over 120 Tbps of bandwidth, optimized for video streaming and large file downloads. The architecture uses SSD-based cache servers and DNS-based load balancing for reliability. Strong peering in APAC ensures low latency, though coverage in Africa and LATAM is less extensive compared to providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
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Feature comparison
| Feature | BytePlus | Limelight |
|---|---|---|
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
BytePlus uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with enterprise-focused pricing, though specific per-GB rates are not publicly disclosed. No free tier is available, and pricing details require contacting their sales team. The model supports flexible scaling for high-traffic needs, often customized for enterprise clients. No public pricing page is provided; contact sales for details.
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Integrations & DevEx
BytePlus supports API-driven configuration for automation, with real-time logs and log push for monitoring. It offers SDKs for integration but lacks Terraform support. Migration guides are available, covering DNS updates, SSL/TLS setup, and A/B testing for transitions. The console provides tools for managing domains, certificates, and edge functions, though developer-centric features are less extensive than Fastly or Cloudflare.
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When it fits
- Enterprises needing high-capacity video streaming or large file downloads, especially in APAC and China.
- Businesses requiring China-licensed CDN services with strong regional performance.
- Users leveraging edge compute for custom logic or low-latency key-value storage.
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When it doesn’t
- Small businesses or startups seeking free tiers or transparent, low-cost pricing.
- Organizations needing extensive coverage in Africa or LATAM, where PoP density is lower.
- Developers requiring robust Terraform or CI/CD integrations for infrastructure-as-code workflows.
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History & Notes
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Limelight was a key player in the CDN market, delivering content for major events like the 2008 Olympics and Obama’s inauguration. Its 2022 acquisition of Edgecast aimed to expand its edge computing and security offerings but led to integration challenges and talent loss. Financial restatements in 2023 and a slowdown in internet traffic growth further strained operations. Some assets, like the Uplynk platform, were acquired by Lynrock Lake LP, while Parler Cloud Technologies purchased Edgecast’s CDN business. No official EOL notice remains publicly available.