Company snapshot
| Category | CacheFly | Streamroot |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| 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.
Streamroot was a provider of peer-to-peer video content delivery network (CDN) solutions, specializing in optimizing over-the-top (OTT) video streaming for broadcasters and content providers. Founded in 2013, the company developed Streamroot DNA™, a WebRTC-based technology that leveraged end-user devices to reduce bandwidth costs and improve streaming quality. It served clients like France Télévisions, Canal+, and Dailymotion, handling millions of daily video sessions globally. Streamroot was acquired by Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink) in September 2019 and is no longer an independent entity, with its operations integrated or discontinued.
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.
—
Feature comparison
| Feature | CacheFly | Streamroot |
|---|---|---|
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/.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
History & Notes
—
Streamroot’s technology was notable for its hybrid approach, combining peer-to-peer delivery with traditional CDN infrastructure to reduce buffering and improve quality in bandwidth-constrained regions. Its acquisition by Lumen Technologies aimed to enhance video delivery in challenging markets like Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Some sources suggest Streamroot’s technology may still be integrated into Lumen’s CDN offerings, but no clear evidence confirms active use. Conflicting reports exist about its revenue and status at the time of acquisition, with estimates of sub-$5M in annual revenue in 2019.