Company snapshot
| Category | Transparent CDN | Uploadcare CDN |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Transparent CDN, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Madrid, Spain, offers content delivery and web optimization services tailored for e-businesses. The provider focuses on accelerating website performance, optimizing images, and providing detailed analytics through real-time logs. Its services are designed to be accessible via an API-first approach, enabling seamless integration for developers. Transparent CDN serves a range of clients, from small businesses to larger enterprises, with a global network presence. The company emphasizes straightforward pricing and ease of use for performance-focused content delivery.
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
Transparent CDN operates a global network with points of presence (POPs) across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, though specific POP counts are not publicly disclosed. The provider leverages HTTP/3 and TLS 1.3 for efficient and secure content delivery. Its architecture supports real-time traffic analytics, which aids in performance monitoring. The network is optimized for general web content and image delivery but lacks specialized capabilities for video streaming or edge computing. Regional strengths include Europe and North America, with growing coverage in Asia and Latin America.
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 | Transparent CDN | 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
Transparent CDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with no minimum commitments, making it accessible for small to medium-sized businesses. Pricing is based on data transfer and requests, though specific per-GB rates are not publicly listed. A free trial is available for testing the service. For detailed pricing, visit https://www.transparentcdn.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
The API-first design supports integration with developer workflows, offering programmatic access to configuration and analytics. Real-time logs are available through the Transparent Edge dashboard, aiding in performance monitoring. The provider does not support Terraform or other Infrastructure-as-Code tools, and no SDKs or CI/CD integrations are documented. Migration tools are not explicitly offered, but the API simplifies onboarding for developers familiar with programmatic setups.
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 e-businesses needing cost-effective CDN services with simple integration.
- Websites prioritizing image optimization and real-time analytics for performance monitoring.
- Developers seeking an API-first CDN for programmatic control and global content delivery.
- 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, serverless functions, or key-value storage.
- Businesses focused on video streaming, needing VOD, live streaming, or HLS/DASH packaging.
- Organizations needing robust security features like WAF, bot mitigation, or rate limiting.
- 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
—
—