Company snapshot
| Category | Incapsula | Parler |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Incapsula, now integrated under Imperva, is a cloud-based CDN platform focused on web application security, DDoS mitigation, and performance optimization. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from Imperva, it provides services like web application firewalls (WAF), bot mitigation, and load balancing. The platform serves businesses of varying sizes, including high-traffic websites and enterprises like Wix and Siemens. Incapsula’s global network enhances site speed and security, leveraging intelligent caching and content optimization. It operates as a full proxy, sitting between the website and its host to deliver robust security and performance features.
Parler Cloud Technologies, a subsidiary of Parler, operates a CDN through its acquisition of EdgeCast assets from the bankrupt Edgio in February 2025. The service, branded as EdgeCast Cloud Services, focuses on delivering video-on-demand and software downloads, targeting censorship-resistant platforms. It supports Parler’s ecosystem, including Parler Social, PlayTV, and ParlerPay, with a focus on privacy and decentralized hosting. The company positions itself as an alternative to mainstream cloud providers, appealing to businesses and creators seeking scalable, secure content delivery. Parler claims to serve 16 million users across its platforms, though its CDN customer base beyond its own services remains unclear.
Network & Architecture
Incapsula operates a global CDN with points of presence (PoPs) across the Americas (e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles), Europe (e.g., Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt), and Asia-Pacific (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo). The network includes recent expansions in India (New Delhi, Mumbai). It uses intelligent caching, TCP optimization, and frequency analysis to prioritize frequently accessed files, reducing latency. Routing and peering details are not fully public, but the platform emphasizes high-capacity scrubbing centers (100+ Gbps per Behemoth scrubber) for DDoS mitigation. It performs well globally but has a stronger presence in North America and EMEA, with growing coverage in APAC and India.
Parler’s CDN operates across 25 points of presence (PoPs) in seven countries, expanded from five North American data centers after the EdgeCast acquisition. As of April 2025, it supports 10 Tbps of network capacity, with plans to scale to 50 Tbps globally by year-end, excluding regions like the Middle East, South Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Australia. The network leverages EdgeCast infrastructure, previously used for high-profile streaming like the Super Bowl, and integrates with Triton SmartOS for cloud orchestration. Specific routing or peering details are not publicly disclosed, but the focus is on optimized content delivery for video and software.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Incapsula | Parler |
|---|---|---|
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
Incapsula offers a free tier for up to 10 pages, including CDN, IPv6 support, and basic bot protection. Paid plans start at $59/month (Pro) and $299/month (Business) per site, with enterprise plans customized. Pricing is pay-as-you-go (PAYG) with committed options for enterprises. DDoS protection significantly increases costs on higher tiers. Full details are at https://www.imperva.com/pricing/.
Parler’s pricing model is pay-as-you-go (PAYG), but specific per-GB rates or tiered plans are not publicly detailed. No free tier or trial is mentioned. Committed contracts may be available for enterprise clients, given the hiring of 120 former Edgio employees to support operations. Detailed pricing information is not available on the official website.
Integrations & DevEx
Incapsula supports API-first integrations for configuration and monitoring, with real-time logs and log push for analytics. It lacks Terraform support or dedicated SDKs for CI/CD pipelines. The platform provides a dashboard for bot traffic and WAF alerts, but migration tools are limited, requiring manual configuration or support from Imperva for complex setups.
Parler uses an API-first approach for configuration and management, with real-time logs available for monitoring. Integration with Triton SmartOS supports its cloud hosting capabilities. No public support is documented for Terraform, SDKs, CI/CD pipelines, or migration tools. The focus is on seamless integration within Parler’s ecosystem, including Parler Social, PlayTV, and ParlerPay.
When it fits
- Businesses needing robust web security with CDN, especially for DDoS and bot mitigation.
- High-traffic sites requiring global performance with strong North American and EMEA presence.
- Enterprises seeking API-driven control and real-time monitoring for security events.
- Platforms prioritizing censorship-resistant hosting and privacy-focused content delivery.
- Businesses needing video-on-demand and software download capabilities with scalable infrastructure.
- Users within Parler’s ecosystem (e.g., Parler Social, PlayTV) seeking integrated CDN services.
When it doesn’t
- Sites focused on video streaming or live content, as video-specific features like VOD or HLS/DASH are absent.
- Small projects needing lightweight, developer-centric CDN without security overhead.
- Budget-conscious users, as premium security features increase costs significantly.
- Organizations requiring global coverage in regions like the Middle East, South Asia, or Africa, where Parler’s network is limited.
- Users needing advanced security features like WAF, DDoS protection, or bot mitigation, which are not documented.
- Enterprises seeking transparent pricing or established providers like Akamai or Cloudflare with broader feature sets.
History & Notes
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