Company snapshot
| Category | CacheFly | Comcast |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
CacheFly, founded in 2002 and based in Chicago, IL, is a content delivery network (CDN) provider specializing in high-performance delivery of static and dynamic content. It serves businesses in video streaming, gaming, software distribution, and e-commerce, emphasizing speed and reliability. CacheFly pioneered TCP Anycast routing in 2002, which optimizes traffic delivery to the nearest point of presence (PoP). Its customers range from startups to enterprises seeking efficient content delivery. The company has gained attention for capitalizing on recent CDN industry consolidation, positioning itself as an alternative to providers like StackPath and Lumen Technologies.
Comcast operates a content delivery network (CDN) focused on delivering video streaming and low-latency content for ISPs and content providers. As a major U.S. telecommunications provider, Comcast leverages its extensive network infrastructure to support high-quality live sports streaming and video-on-demand services. The CDN, enhanced by partnerships like Qwilt, serves content providers seeking reliable delivery within Comcast’s broadband footprint. It primarily caters to enterprise clients, including those requiring high-bitrate streaming for events like the Paris Olympics in 2024. Comcast’s CDN is integrated with its broader connectivity services, targeting users within its 63 million U.S. locations.
Network & Architecture
CacheFly operates over 75 points of presence (PoPs) across all seven continents, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its network uses TCP Anycast for efficient routing, ensuring low-latency delivery. CacheFly reports a 98% cache hit ratio, with 100% availability for its S.O.S. (Storage Optimization Service) customers. The network is optimized for high-throughput use cases like large file downloads and media streaming. It has a notable footprint in Latin America compared to some competitors but may have fewer PoPs in certain regions compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
Comcast’s CDN operates across its U.S. network, covering 63 million locations, with points of presence (PoPs) optimized for North America. The network uses Qwilt’s Open Edge platform for content caching and delivery, built on Open Caching specifications from the Streaming Video Technology Alliance. It supports high-quality streaming, including 4K UHD, with a focus on live sports and video-on-demand. Routing benefits from Comcast’s backbone infrastructure, but its regional focus limits global coverage. Peering with major ISPs enhances performance in the U.S., though competition from fixed wireless providers like Verizon and T-Mobile impacts its broadband market share.
Feature comparison
| Feature | CacheFly | Comcast |
|---|---|---|
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
CacheFly offers pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and enterprise plans, with a free tier providing 5TB of monthly usage. Pricing is flexible with month-to-month billing and no long-term contracts. A special offer for former StackPath customers includes 64TB for $595. New users can access a free month of service. Detailed pricing is available at https://www.cachefly.com/pricing/.
Comcast’s CDN pricing is enterprise-only, with no public pay-as-you-go or free-tier options. Costs are typically negotiated based on volume and contract terms, targeting large content providers. No specific per-GB pricing is publicly available, and no pricing page is listed on the official CDN portal.
Integrations & DevEx
CacheFly provides an API-first platform for configuration and management, with comprehensive documentation at https://www.cachefly.com/docs/. Realtime logs and analytics support performance monitoring, and log push enables integration with external systems. A dedicated Slack channel is available for enterprise accounts to ensure responsive support. Migration guides are provided for customers transitioning from StackPath and Lumen Technologies, including self-service setup and white-glove onboarding for accounts using over 150TB monthly. Terraform support is not documented.
Comcast’s CDN offers API-first integration for content management and monitoring, with support for realtime logs. No public documentation confirms Terraform support, SDKs, or CI/CD integrations. Migration tools or import capabilities are not detailed, suggesting a focus on enterprise clients with custom onboarding processes.
When it fits
- Businesses needing high-throughput CDN for video streaming, gaming, or large file downloads, particularly with global audiences.
- Companies migrating from StackPath or Lumen Technologies, leveraging CacheFly’s dedicated transition support.
- Developers seeking an API-first CDN with flexible pricing and a free tier for testing or small-scale projects.
- Enterprises needing high-bitrate live video streaming, like sports or events, within the U.S.
- Content providers integrated with Comcast’s broadband network for low-latency delivery.
- Organizations seeking a telecom-backed CDN with strong North American coverage.
When it doesn’t
- Organizations requiring advanced edge compute or serverless functions, which CacheFly does not currently offer.
- Users needing robust WAF, bot mitigation, or rate-limiting features, as these are not publicly documented.
- Companies focused on China-specific delivery, where CacheFly lacks a specialized license compared to providers like Tencent CDN.
- Businesses requiring global CDN coverage beyond North America.
- Small or medium-sized businesses looking for pay-as-you-go or free-tier pricing models.
- Users needing advanced security features like WAF or DDoS protection, which are not publicly documented.
History & Notes
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