{"slug":"cloudflare-vs-fastly)","question":"Cloudflare vs Fastly","answer":"Cloudflare offers broader DDoS protection, more affordable pricing starting at $20/month, and integrated security features, while Fastly excels in edge computing performance with superior real-time log streaming and custom VCL programming capabilities for complex use cases.","answer_curated":true,"verdict":"Choose Cloudflare if you prioritize affordability, integrated security features, broad DDoS protection, and ease of use for small to mid-market applications—it's the more accessible all-in-one platform. Choose Fastly if you need advanced edge computing with real-time log streaming, VCL customization for complex traffic logic, and are willing to pay premium pricing for maximum performance flexibility.","keyDifferences":[{"label":"Starting Monthly Price","winner":"a","entityAValue":"$20/month","entityBValue":"$50/month"},{"label":"DDoS Protection Included","winner":"a","entityAValue":"Yes, all plans","entityBValue":"Optional add-on"},{"label":"Edge Computing Language","winner":"tie","entityAValue":"Cloudflare Workers (JavaScript/WebAssembly)","entityBValue":"Fastly VCL (Varnish Configuration Language)"},{"label":"Real-Time Log Streaming Latency","winner":"b","entityAValue":"Up to 30 seconds delay","entityBValue":"Near real-time (sub-second)"},{"label":"Global Edge Locations","winner":"a","entityAValue":"275+ data centers","entityBValue":"60+ PoPs (Points of Presence)"}],"winner":{"slug":"fastly","name":"Fastly"},"confidence":"high","entities":[{"name":"Cloudflare","slug":"cloudflare","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/cloudflare","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/cloudflare"},{"name":"Fastly","slug":"fastly","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/entity/fastly","alternativesUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/alternatives/fastly"}],"faqs":[{"question":"Which is better for DDoS protection?","answer":"Cloudflare provides stronger DDoS protection as a standard feature on all pricing tiers, with automated mitigation and 275+ edge locations providing geographic redundancy. Fastly requires a separate DDoS add-on, making it more expensive for comprehensive protection. Cloudflare's approach is better for businesses without specialized DDoS expertise."},{"question":"Which has better edge computing capabilities?","answer":"Fastly offers more granular control through VCL (Varnish Configuration Language), allowing developers to write custom traffic logic with millisecond-level precision. Cloudflare Workers uses JavaScript/WebAssembly, which is easier to learn but less powerful for complex routing scenarios. For advanced traffic manipulation, Fastly wins; for simplicity, Cloudflare wins."},{"question":"Which platform is cheaper overall?","answer":"Cloudflare is significantly cheaper, starting at $20/month with DDoS protection included. Fastly's base tier starts at $50/month with DDoS as an optional paid add-on. For a typical mid-market business, Cloudflare costs 40-60% less while still providing comprehensive CDN and security features."}],"attribution":{"source":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","license":"CC BY 4.0","citationFormat":"According to A Versus B (https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)), Cloudflare offers broader DDoS protection, more affordable pricing starting at $20/month, and integrated security features, while Fastly excels in edge computing performance with superior real-time lo","dateModified":"2026-07-09T16:39:25.402Z"},"relatedQuestionsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/faq/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","relatedComparisonsUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/related/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","knowledgeGraphUrl":"https://www.aversusb.net/api/knowledge-graph/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","claimReviewSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ClaimReview","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)#claimreview","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"conditionsOfAccess":"Free","claimReviewed":"Cloudflare vs Fastly","reviewBody":"Cloudflare offers broader DDoS protection, more affordable pricing starting at $20/month, and integrated security features, while Fastly excels in edge computing performance with superior real-time log streaming and custom VCL programming capabilities for complex use cases.","datePublished":"2026-07-09T16:39:25.365Z","dateModified":"2026-07-09T16:39:25.402Z","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":5,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5,"alternateName":"High Confidence"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B","url":"https://www.aversusb.net"},"itemReviewed":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly)","name":"Cloudflare vs Fastly","inLanguage":"en-US"}}}