Overview

CacheFly, founded in 2002 and based in Chicago, IL, is a content delivery network (CDN) provider specializing in high-performance delivery of static and dynamic content. It serves businesses in video streaming, gaming, software distribution, and e-commerce, emphasizing speed and reliability. CacheFly pioneered TCP Anycast routing in 2002, which optimizes traffic delivery to the nearest point of presence (PoP). Its customers range from startups to enterprises seeking efficient content delivery. The company has gained attention for capitalizing on recent CDN industry consolidation, positioning itself as an alternative to providers like StackPath and Lumen Technologies.

Network & Architecture

CacheFly operates over 75 points of presence (PoPs) across all seven continents, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its network uses TCP Anycast for efficient routing, ensuring low-latency delivery. CacheFly reports a 98% cache hit ratio, with 100% availability for its S.O.S. (Storage Optimization Service) customers. The network is optimized for high-throughput use cases like large file downloads and media streaming. It has a notable footprint in Latin America compared to some competitors but may have fewer PoPs in certain regions compared to larger providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.

Features

CacheFly supports a range of CDN capabilities:

  • Image Optimization: Smart Image Optimization for compression, watermarking, and intelligent cropping.
  • Video Delivery: Supports video on demand (VOD) and live streaming with RTMP ingest for low-latency broadcasts.
  • Security: DDoS protection is included to mitigate volumetric attacks.
  • Performance: HTTP/3 (QUIC) and TLS 1.3 for faster, secure connections; tiered caching and origin shield for efficient content delivery.
  • Cache Management: Instant purge for rapid cache invalidation; WebSocket and signed URL support for dynamic and secure content.
  • Analytics & Logs: Realtime logs and log push capabilities, with analytics available for performance monitoring via an API-first platform.

Pricing Snapshot (2025-08-16)

CacheFly offers pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and enterprise plans, with a free tier providing 5TB of monthly usage. Pricing is flexible with month-to-month billing and no long-term contracts. A special offer for former StackPath customers includes 64TB for $595. New users can access a free month of service. Detailed pricing is available at https://www.cachefly.com/pricing/.

Integrations & DevEx

CacheFly provides an API-first platform for configuration and management, with comprehensive documentation at https://www.cachefly.com/docs/. Realtime logs and analytics support performance monitoring, and log push enables integration with external systems. A dedicated Slack channel is available for enterprise accounts to ensure responsive support. Migration guides are provided for customers transitioning from StackPath and Lumen Technologies, including self-service setup and white-glove onboarding for accounts using over 150TB monthly. Terraform support is not documented.

When it fits / When it doesn’t

When it fits:

  • Businesses needing high-throughput CDN for video streaming, gaming, or large file downloads, particularly with global audiences.
  • Companies migrating from StackPath or Lumen Technologies, leveraging CacheFly’s dedicated transition support.
  • Developers seeking an API-first CDN with flexible pricing and a free tier for testing or small-scale projects.

When it doesn’t:

  • Organizations requiring advanced edge compute or serverless functions, which CacheFly does not currently offer.
  • Users needing robust WAF, bot mitigation, or rate-limiting features, as these are not publicly documented.
  • Companies focused on China-specific delivery, where CacheFly lacks a specialized license compared to providers like Tencent CDN.