Company snapshot

CategorySimpleCDNSystem73
Statusactiveactive
Founded
Headquarters
Website
Docs

Overview

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.
System73, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Santa Cruz, United States, with a registered entity in Malta, provides a MultiCDN platform focused on optimizing video streaming. Its Edge Intelligence solution uses AI to monitor and route traffic across multiple CDNs, improving Quality of Experience (QoE) and reducing costs. The platform serves content providers, particularly in live and VoD streaming, with a focus on scalability and cost efficiency. System73 has delivered high-profile events like the UEFA Champions League Final, achieving significant cost savings. Customers include OTT providers and broadcasters seeking reliable, high-quality streaming in regions with limited infrastructure.

Network & Architecture

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.
System73 operates as a MultiCDN, leveraging a global network of partner CDNs without specifying its own Points of Presence (POPs). Its Edge Intelligence platform uses AI to monitor network conditions and select optimal routes, bypassing congestion. It excels in regions like Latin America, particularly Peru, where traditional CDN infrastructure is sparse. The platform employs peer-to-peer (P2P) technology to create centrally orchestrated content delivery trees, reducing reliance on physical CDN infrastructure. This approach supports scalability for high-traffic events but may face limitations in areas with low P2P adoption or restrictive network policies.

Feature comparison

FeatureSimpleCDNSystem73
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

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/.
System73 offers a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model, with reported costs as low as $2 per TB for scalable delivery, as seen in the UEFA Champions League Final case study. Pricing details are not fully public; interested parties must contact System73 directly for quotes. The platform emphasizes cost savings, claiming up to 65% reduction in delivery costs compared to traditional CDNs. No free tier or trial is explicitly mentioned. For detailed pricing, visit https://www.system73.com.

Integrations & DevEx

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.
System73 provides an SDK for integration, supporting WebRTC DataChannel with fallback to CDN-only delivery for unsupported browsers. The API-first approach enables programmatic control of content delivery. Edge Analytics offers real-time dashboards for monitoring network and viewer data. No public support for Terraform, CI/CD pipelines, or migration tools is documented. The platform’s focus is on seamless integration for OTT and broadcasting services, with quick onboarding demonstrated in customer case studies.

When it fits

  • 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 fits

  • Ideal for OTT providers and broadcasters needing scalable, high-QoE video streaming, especially for live events like sports.
  • Suits customers in regions with limited CDN infrastructure, such as Latin America, due to P2P-enhanced delivery.
  • Fits businesses seeking cost-efficient MultiCDN solutions with real-time analytics and API-driven control.
  • When it doesn’t

  • Less suitable for applications requiring WAF, DDoS protection, or image optimization, as these are not documented features.
  • May not fit small-scale projects or those needing a free tier, as pricing requires direct contact and no trial is mentioned.
  • Not ideal for use cases needing edge compute or advanced caching features like tiered cache or instant purge, which lack public support.

When it doesn’t

  • 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