Company snapshot
| Category | KeyCDN | Kingsoft Cloud (kscloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
KeyCDN is a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2012, headquartered in Wilen, Switzerland. It specializes in accelerating the delivery of web content, such as HTML, JavaScript, images, and videos, through a global network of edge servers. The service is designed for businesses of all sizes, from small blogs to enterprise websites, offering features like real-time analytics and DDoS protection. KeyCDN emphasizes ease of integration with a user-friendly dashboard and API, making it accessible for developers and SMBs. It supports a wide range of use cases, including e-commerce, media, and gaming, with a focus on performance and security.
Kingsoft Cloud, founded in 2012, is a leading cloud service provider in China, offering CDN, cloud storage, and computing services. It serves industries like gaming, video streaming, healthcare, and finance, with a strong focus on AI-driven solutions. The company operates as a subsidiary of Kingsoft Corporation and is listed on NASDAQ (KC) and HKEX (3896). Its customers include enterprises leveraging its infrastructure for high-performance computing and AI applications, particularly within the Xiaomi and Kingsoft ecosystems. As of 2025, it reports significant growth in AI cloud revenue and operates data centers globally.
Network & Architecture
KeyCDN operates over 50 points of presence (POPs) across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and other regions, ensuring global coverage. Its network leverages SSD storage and HTTP/3 for efficient content delivery. The service uses a tiered caching system and supports origin shielding to reduce load on origin servers. KeyCDN has strong peering agreements with major ISPs, optimizing latency and throughput. Its regional strengths include robust performance in North America and Europe, though coverage in Africa and parts of Asia may be less extensive compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.
Kingsoft Cloud operates data centers in mainland China, Hong Kong, Russia, Southeast Asia, and North America. Specific POP (Point of Presence) counts are not publicly disclosed, but the provider emphasizes a global footprint with strong coverage in APAC, particularly China. Its infrastructure supports high-performance computing for AI and gaming, with robust peering for low-latency delivery in the region. Limitations may include less extensive coverage in EMEA and LATAM compared to providers like Akamai or Cloudflare. The service is optimized for China’s regulatory environment, holding necessary licenses for operation.
Feature comparison
| Feature | KeyCDN | Kingsoft Cloud (kscloud) |
|---|---|---|
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
KeyCDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with no minimum commitments, making it SMB-friendly. Pricing starts at $0.04 per GB for the first 10 TB in North America and Europe, with higher rates for other regions like Asia ($0.14/GB) and Oceania ($0.19/GB). A 30-day free trial includes 10 GB of traffic. Additional features like DDoS protection are included at no extra cost, though custom SSL certificates may incur fees. Full details are available at https://www.keycdn.com/pricing.
Kingsoft Cloud uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with enterprise-focused pricing, requiring custom quotes for most services. No free tier is publicly advertised, and pricing details are not fully transparent without contacting sales. Per-GB pricing for CDN or storage is not publicly listed, but the model supports scalability for large enterprises. See https://en.ksyun.com/pricing for more details.
Integrations & DevEx
KeyCDN provides a robust API for automating tasks like cache purging and zone management, supporting an API-first workflow. Real-time logs and analytics are accessible via the dashboard or API, with log push capabilities for integration with external systems. It offers plugins for platforms like WordPress and Magento, simplifying setup for non-technical users. Terraform support is not available, but the API covers most automation needs. Migration tools are limited, though the dashboard supports easy configuration for importing assets from origin servers.
Kingsoft Cloud provides APIs for service management and real-time logs for monitoring. Documentation is available at https://endocs.ksyun.com/, covering CDN, storage, and compute services. Terraform support is not explicitly documented. SDKs are available for major programming languages, supporting integration with CI/CD pipelines. Migration tools for data transfer, such as Kingsoft Cloud Data Transmission Service (KDTS), assist with moving data between engines.
When it fits
- Small to medium-sized businesses needing a cost-effective, easy-to-use CDN with global reach and real-time analytics.
- Developers seeking an API-first CDN with features like instant purge and signed URLs for dynamic applications.
- Websites with heavy image or VOD content, leveraging KeyCDN’s optimization and delivery capabilities.
- Enterprises needing a China-licensed CDN with strong APAC coverage for gaming or video streaming.
- Businesses within the Xiaomi or Kingsoft ecosystems seeking integrated AI and cloud solutions.
- Organizations prioritizing AI-driven edge computing and high-performance infrastructure.
When it doesn’t
- Enterprises requiring advanced edge computing or serverless functions, which KeyCDN does not offer.
- Users needing extensive coverage in Africa or niche regions where KeyCDN’s POP density is lower than competitors like Cloudflare.
- Applications requiring specialized video features like live streaming or DRM, which are not supported.
- Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or transparent, low-cost pricing.
- Companies requiring extensive POP coverage in EMEA, LATAM, or other non-APAC regions.
- Users needing advanced features like HTTP/3, DRM, or Terraform integration not currently offered.
History & Notes
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