Company snapshot
| Category | Limelight | SimpleCDN |
|---|---|---|
| Status | defunct | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Limelight Networks, later rebranded as Edgio, was a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2001, specializing in digital media and software delivery. It offered services for video streaming, web acceleration, and content delivery with a global network. The company ceased operations on January 15, 2025, following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2024, driven by mismanagement, failed acquisitions, and operational challenges.
SimpleCDN, founded in 2007, provides content delivery network services focused on accelerating website and media delivery. Operated by Site Arrow Pte. Ltd., it serves businesses seeking to improve load times for images, videos, and web content. The service targets web design agencies, small to medium-sized businesses, and developers needing quick integration. SimpleCDN emphasizes affordability and ease of use, with a global network to reduce latency. Its customers include those managing multiple websites or requiring fast content delivery for global audiences.
Network & Architecture
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SimpleCDN operates a network with over 120 points of presence across 77 countries, offering more than 150 Tbps of capacity and an average global latency of 24ms. The network supports HTTP, HTTPS, RTMP, RTSP, and MMS protocols, with on-the-fly gzip compression and cache-control customization. It is designed for high-bandwidth applications like HD video delivery, using a 100% solid-state and 10Gbe architecture. Free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt are included for secure content delivery. The service has a strong global footprint but lacks detailed public information on specific regional strengths or peering arrangements.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Limelight | SimpleCDN |
|---|---|---|
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
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SimpleCDN uses a pay-as-you-go model with plans starting at $5/month. No lock-in contracts are required, and pricing is designed to be competitive with single-source providers like Amazon CloudFront. A free trial is not explicitly mentioned, but quick setup is emphasized. Detailed pricing is available at https://simplecdn.com/pricing/.
Integrations & DevEx
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SimpleCDN provides a web-based interface and API for managing CDN zones, with support for team member accounts suitable for agencies. It integrates with WordPress via the {eac}SimpleCDN extension, which rewrites URLs to load content from the CDN. No Terraform or other IaC support is documented. Realtime logs are available, but no SDKs, CI/CD integrations, or migration tools are publicly detailed.
When it fits
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- Small to medium-sized businesses or agencies managing multiple websites needing affordable CDN services.
- Users requiring quick setup and integration with WordPress or API-driven workflows.
- Applications focused on image and video delivery with global audiences.
When it doesn’t
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- Enterprises needing advanced security features like WAF, DDoS protection, or bot mitigation.
- Users requiring detailed analytics, log streaming, or edge compute capabilities.
- Scenarios needing specific regional optimizations or extensive peering documentation.
History & Notes
Limelight was a key player in the CDN market, delivering content for major events like the 2008 Olympics and Obama’s inauguration. Its 2022 acquisition of Edgecast aimed to expand its edge computing and security offerings but led to integration challenges and talent loss. Financial restatements in 2023 and a slowdown in internet traffic growth further strained operations. Some assets, like the Uplynk platform, were acquired by Lynrock Lake LP, while Parler Cloud Technologies purchased Edgecast’s CDN business. No official EOL notice remains publicly available.
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