Company snapshot
| Category | KeyCDN | Uploadcare CDN |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Uploadcare CDN, part of Uploadcare, is a file management platform and content delivery network designed for web and mobile applications. It specializes in handling file uploads, processing, and delivery, with a focus on media optimization for images and videos. The service caters to developers and businesses, offering tools for content creators and engineers. Its customer base includes startups, SMBs, and enterprises needing efficient media workflows. Uploadcare is headquartered in Palo Alto, USA, and has been operational since 2011.
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.
Uploadcare CDN operates a global network, though specific details on the number of Points of Presence (POPs) are not publicly disclosed. The platform leverages a multi-vendor CDN approach to ensure reliable content delivery across regions, including North America, EMEA, APAC, and others. It integrates with major cloud providers for storage and processing, optimizing for low-latency delivery of media assets. The architecture is developer-centric, prioritizing API-driven workflows and seamless integration with web and mobile apps.
Feature comparison
| Feature | KeyCDN | Uploadcare CDN |
|---|---|---|
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.
Uploadcare CDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with a free tier for low-volume users. Paid plans start at $20/month, with per-GB pricing for CDN traffic and storage. For example, the Regular plan includes 100 GB of CDN traffic for $49/month. A free tier offers limited monthly CDN traffic, suitable for testing or small projects. Enterprise plans are available for custom needs. Full details are at https://uploadcare.com/pricing/.
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.
Uploadcare provides a REST API and webhooks for programmatic control, with SDKs for JavaScript, Python, and other languages. Its React Uploader component simplifies file uploads in React applications. Real-time logs are available for monitoring, and instant purge is supported via API. No Terraform or CI/CD pipeline integrations are documented. The platform includes a dashboard for managing files and monitoring usage, aimed at developers and content teams.
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.
- Small to medium businesses needing a developer-friendly CDN for media-heavy web or mobile apps.
- Projects requiring robust image optimization and video-on-demand delivery with simple API integration.
- Teams on a budget leveraging the free tier or PAYG pricing for low-to-moderate traffic.
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.
- Enterprises needing advanced security features like WAF, DDoS protection, or bot mitigation, which are not offered.
- Applications requiring live video streaming, DRM, or complex edge compute capabilities.
- Organizations needing detailed network transparency or extensive POP coverage, as specific network details are limited.
History & Notes
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