Company snapshot

CategoryMicrosoft AzureQuantil
Statusactiveactive
Founded
Headquarters
Website
Docs

Overview

Microsoft Azure CDN provides content delivery services through a global network of edge nodes, integrated with Azure’s cloud ecosystem. It serves enterprises, developers, and media companies, offering caching, security, and analytics. The service supports web content, video streaming, and edge compute capabilities. Azure partners with Akamai and Verizon for its underlying infrastructure in some configurations.
Quantil is a global content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2012, headquartered in Santa Clara, California. It offers services for content acceleration, video-on-demand (VOD), live streaming, and edge computing, targeting industries like gaming, social media, and video streaming. Its CDN Pro platform is designed for flexibility in delivering digital assets with a focus on performance and security. Quantil serves enterprises needing robust delivery in Asia, particularly China, due to its compliance with local regulations. Customers include gaming platforms, video websites, and app stores seeking efficient large-file downloads and streaming.

Network & Architecture

Azure CDN operates over 100 points of presence (POPs) globally, with strong coverage in North America, EMEA, and APAC. It leverages Microsoft’s global backbone and partnerships with Akamai and Verizon for optimized routing and peering. The service supports HTTP/3 and dynamic content acceleration. Limited public data exists on specific peering arrangements or regional performance nuances.
Quantil operates a network with over 800 Points of Presence (PoPs) across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, and Asia, with a data throughput exceeding 35 terabits per second. It has a strong presence in China, leveraging partnerships with local ISPs to navigate regulatory requirements like ICP licensing. The network uses a proprietary intelligent scheduling platform and segmented caching technology for optimized content delivery. Its regional strength is in Asia-Pacific, particularly China, though it faces challenges with higher latency in regions like Africa and South America compared to some competitors.

Feature comparison

FeatureMicrosoft AzureQuantil
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

Azure CDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with tiered pricing based on regions and usage. No free tier is offered, and pricing is enterprise-focused. Example: data transfer costs ~$0.08/GB in North America (subject to change). Full details at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/cdn/.
Quantil uses a pay-as-you-go (payg) model with pricing varying by region and commitment level, ranging from $6.50 to $17 per TB based on available data. No free tier or trial is publicly noted. Detailed pricing requires contacting Quantil directly, as no public pricing page is available. Costs may include surcharges for features like SSL certificates or real-time log exports.

Integrations & DevEx

Azure CDN supports Terraform for infrastructure-as-code. SDKs are available for multiple languages (Python, .NET, Java). Real-time logs and analytics integrate with Azure Monitor. Migration tools are provided for importing configurations from other CDNs. The API-first approach simplifies integration with CI/CD pipelines.
Quantil provides an API-first approach with comprehensive documentation for CDN Pro configuration and management. Real-time logs support monitoring and debugging. No public support for Terraform or specific CI/CD integrations is documented. SDKs or migration tools are not prominently featured, but the API supports custom integrations for developers.

When it fits

  • Enterprises already using Azure services, seeking seamless CDN integration.
  • Organizations needing global reach with strong North America and EMEA presence.
  • Developers requiring edge compute with Azure Functions and Terraform support.
  • Enterprises needing strong CDN performance in China due to Quantil’s ICP licensing and local ISP partnerships.
  • Gaming or video streaming platforms requiring large-file download acceleration and HLS/DASH support.
  • Businesses seeking edge computing capabilities for scalable, low-latency applications in Asia-Pacific.

When it doesn’t

  • Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or lower-cost options.
  • Users needing specialized video features like HLS/DASH packaging or DRM.
  • Those requiring detailed public data on network peering or POP specifics.
  • Organizations prioritizing low latency in Africa or South America, where Quantil’s performance lags behind competitors like BlazingCDN.
  • Budget-conscious buyers looking for flat-rate pricing or free tiers, as Quantil’s costs can be unpredictable.
  • Users needing advanced security features like WAF or DDoS protection, which are not clearly documented.

History & Notes