All of us have a goal to improve the ranking of our web page. Most of us focus on our content, building backlinks, social signals.
But there is also an excellent way to boost the ranking of your WordPress site. That is by speeding it up.
When a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is well integrated, it works wonders for WP SEO tools. In just a bit, we will see how it could help you speed the page in various ways.
In this article, we will look at the various CDN services that are available, and we will discuss the best.
Shortlisting the best Content Delivery Network (CDN) service for your WordPress can be quite a task. Let’s take a look at a few things that you would need to consider.
To begin with, ask yourself what it is you expect from the network. There are multiple options available.
However, not all these options are alike. For instance, we know of a few networks that focus entirely on security.
While there are some that are limited in a particular region. However, they work exceptionally well for all businesses that are local and not in the international market.
The majority of CDN providers provide free CDN trials to their users, to name one – Jetpack CDN. In this way, it is very convenient, especially if you are skeptical of certain services.
You can use their services and pick for yourself as to which one suits your business requirements. We have shortlisted a couple of CDN providers; however, here’s our top three;
- Cloudflare
- StackPath
- KeyCDN
We will discuss at length the various features, prices and the easiest way to set them up. So without further ado, let’s begin with on #1 contender;
Cloudflare
If your company serves international clients or has clients that are based globally, then we suggest you take a look at Cloudflare.
Cloudflare provides an extensive global network and has more than 200 data centers that are located around the world.
Many of these centers are based in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Since their data centres are distributed globally, you can be confident that all of your clients will have access to lightning-fast speeds. Their sites would also load very quickly from any location.
Cloudflare CDN service is exceptionally well known for its security features. Cloudflare is well equipped to handle and manage DDoS strikes and traffic soldiers on the WordPress website.
They believe in offering their customers secure and safe encrypted connections by providing an SSL certificate along with their plans.
I’m sure at this point many of you are curious about their plans and costs. Let me tell you they offer free CDN plans as well as the paid ones.
Let’s take a look at some of the important features;
Key Features
- Data is cached according to file types.
- File size of up to 5 GB can be cached by them.
- The website speed is boosted by the Anycast Network.
- They are well equipped to handle huge DDoS attacks.
- They offer Page Rules that help with cache optimization.
- They also offer quick delivery of video.
- They also support HTTP/ 3.
WordPress Integration
If you’re looking at setting up your WordPress site with Cloudflare and utilizing a free Cloudflare plugin for the same.
You don’t need to worry about it; you can with much ease install it from WordPress.org for free.
Once you have completed this step and you have the plugin installed. All you need to do is login into the Cloudflare account.
Once you’re in, you can configure all the settings as per your preference.
| Price per Month | File Size | SSL Certificate | DDoS Migration | Page Rules | |
| Free | $0 | 512 MB | Yes | Yes | 3 |
| Pro | $20 | 512 MB | Yes | Yes | 20 |
| Business | $200 | 512 MB | Yes | Yes | 50 |
| Enterprise | Ask for price | 5 GB | Yes | Yes | 125 |
There are multiple reasons that big companies depend on Cloudflare for the better performance of their websites. The reasons are;
- They have more than 115 data centers that are located across the globe.
- They also provide all their users SSL certificates for free.
- You will also receive a maximum of 10 TB every second.
- They also offer their users protection from DDoS attacks.
- The integration with WordPress is a very straightforward process.
Cloudflare CDN Setup
To begin with, you will have to sign up on the Cloudflare site. This account is free. Once you get this account, they will prompt you to add a website.
This is where you will enter the company URL, click the icon to proceed further. At this point, if you feel you require an account that’s Premium, you can get it done at this level.
Once you’re done with the previous level, you will be directed to a screen. But you will get NameServers that must be added to the host settings. You will need to replace it with the existing ones by adding the new NameServers.
On average, it takes up to 24 hours in order for the DNS record to be updated. Once it is updated, you will be able to view it on your Cloudflare site.
Our View
We feel this is an excellent option for companies and individuals that require fast performance yet are on a tight budget.
The free version is a good product. However, the paid packages are very reasonable.
They also offer additional security benefits that can assist you and your WordPress website.
StackPath
This is also an excellent Content Delivery Network (CDN) service, especially for WordPress. We say this because it does everything.
It increases the speed of your website, offers strong security, decreases the total cost.
It also improves the experience of your users. They also offer you the opportunity to observe real-time analytics. This will help you understand how your website and the CDN services are performing.
Apart from this, they also offer EdgeRules that helps you to have control over the working of your CDN service. This is especially during content delivery and requests.
They also have an inbuilt optimization feature that has tools like Large File Segmentation and GZIP compression.
In addition, they also offer security features that are advanced. This brings together a perfect Content Delivery Network (CDN) solution designed especially for WordPress.
Let’s take a look at a few essential features that you would receive;
Key Features
- You can now have complete control over the behaviour of the CDN service with EdgeRules.
- They also offer their users real-time analytics.
- You will also receive free or private SSL certificates.
- Large files can be quickly downloaded like HD videos and softwares.
- It also reduces the downtime and the cost of bandwidth.
- They also offer inbuilt optimization tools.
WordPress Integration
StackPath can now be easily used with your WordPress website with the help of the CDN enabler. This plugin is absolutely free. It also rewrites the URLs connecting the assets to your CDN service.
Pricing
With Cloudflare, the company offers detailed pricing plans that we shared. However, it is not the same with StackPath. If you wish to learn more about their plans, prices and want to set up a demo.
Well, then you can connect with their sales team. It is not a complex process at all. You only need to fill out a form that is available on their web page. Someone will connect with you shortly.
StackPath CDN Setup
StartPath was initially called MaxCDN. I must say that they are one of the major giants in the industry. They provide packages that offer Web Application Firewall for your website.
In case you are a bit skeptical about their services, you could go ahead and avail of a free CDN trial. This trial is made available for one month.
If at any point in time, you feel that you are unsure or unhappy with the service, you wouldn’t be at any loss. You could simply discontinue using their solution.
To begin with, it’s a regular drill. You would have to create your account by visiting their website.
You have the option of using your email and password in order to set up. Or you can simply log in with your existing Google, Github or Facebook account.
You can now move on to Application Services & Website and select your CDN service package. You will then be directed to a screen that will require you to enter your WP IP address. If you do not have this information, you can easily retrieve it from your cPanel.
And finally, you can now update the records of your DNS so that you can utilize the information for your StackPath that is provided.
They do not utilize name servers. Hence they require their users two make a record to which the network can be directed.
Just like Cloudflare, StackPath will also take approximately 24 hours to update the WordPress site. You can always check after 24 hours.
Our View
StackPath offers excellent features that you would find with any good CDN service provider if you are currently looking for a solution that is trustworthy.
That will also provide additional benefits, including real-time analytics, optimization tools and security. Then we recommend using StackPath.
KeyCDN
Every CDN service must look into focusing on certain important aspects like offering improvised speed to the end-user. KeyCDN does exactly this. They do understand the requirements of their users and cater to them.
In addition, getting started is a very straightforward process. I would say it is, just like customizing your CDN, adding a domain and getting your CMS integrated into it.
The prices of KeyCDN vary according to the location. Apart from this, they do charge their users a minimum of $4 every month.
Their users have the opportunity to calculate and get an estimation of how much they will be charged in a given month. This will be based on the consumption of bandwidth.
Let us take a look at a few beneficial features that they offer;
Key Features
- The users can now optimize as well as transform images in real-time.
- You will also receive a restful API that gives you complete control of your account.
- You can also easily integrate your frameworks and CMS.
- The dashboard they offer is extremely user-friendly.
- You will also receive various security measures.
- They offer all their customers a free CDN trial period of 14 days.
- Must admit they have more than 40 data centers that are located across the globe.
WordPress Integration
They offer a WP plugin that is known as CDN enabler, which is utilized to integrate with WordPress. It is extremely easy to use and configure, and above all, it is available for free.
They also have a support page that will assist you with the entire process by referring to their guide.
KeyCDN offers various packages and pricing plans, which are as follows;
| Location | Plans & Prices Per Month | Plans & Prices Per Month | Plans & Prices Per Month | Plans & Prices Per Month |
| South America/Africa | Initial 10 TB available at $0.11 per GB | 40 TB available at $0.08 per GB | 50 TB available at $0.06 per GB | 100 TB available at $0.04 per GB |
| Oceania/Asia | Initial 10 TB available at $0.09 per GB | 40 TB available at $0.06 per GB | 50 TB available at $0.04 per GB | 100 TB available at $0.02 per GB |
| Europe/North America | Initial 10 TB available at $0.04 per GB | 40 TB available at $0.03 per GB | 50 TB available at $0.02 per GB | 100 TB available at $0.01 per GB |
KeyCDN is a network that various experts have recommended. They are a very reliable service provider.
They are also very accessible and highly user-friendly for newcomers. There are a couple of additional features that I would like to point out, including;
Additional Benefits
- They have plenty of data centers that are located across the globe.
- They offer their customers SSL certificates for free.
- You will receive a latency SSD that is low.
- The dashboard is very intuitive.
- They also offer two-factor authentication, bot blocking and encryption.
KeyCDN Setup
We know of many WordPress users that prefer to use KeyCDN. So far, we have discussed the process to integrate. However, the process with KeyCDN is different.
They offer their users a free CDN trial period. So you can now go ahead and sign up for their service.
If it meets your requirements, you could continue with the same. As soon as you confirm a new account, you will have access to their dashboard.
Users can now navigate to various zones as well as generate a URL. All you need to do is click and patiently wait for a couple of minutes until they activate the zone. You can now choose ‘Purge’ from the dropdown menu under Manage.
Until you generate the network that your WordPress site will utilize to cache duplicate copies, you will need to ensure that you can configure the website allowing it to interact with the entire system.
For doing this, you will require a plugin called Breeze WordPress Cache. This plugin is easy to use.
It is no different from the other WP plugins. All you need to do is remember to activate the plugin once you’re done.
You must install and activate this plugin. Once you’ve completed the steps, proceed to the settings panel and enter the URL that was generated from the KeyCDN. Make sure you click and save it.
At this point, you have successfully managed to integrate the business website with your new network. When you look at the site’s source code, you will notice the change immediately.
Our View
Every region has a different pricing plan. South America and Africa seem to have a disadvantage.
KeyCDN provides a top-level CDN to assist these sites in terms of their performance, boosting and offering excellent speed.
So far, these are our top three CDN services for WordPress. Apart from them, we also have a few more powerful networks that you might also want to consider that includes;
- Sucuri
- Imperva
- Amazon CloudFront
- BunnyCDN
- CacheFly
- CDN77
- Google Cloud
- Fastly
- Microsoft Azure
- Jetpack Site Accelerator
Our Thoughts
A CDN is extremely helpful in terms of improving loading times, page performance, search ranking and user experience. You can also check our article on What is .htaccess? What does it do?, Where is it?, How to Edit?
A CDN tends to take on the significant load from the server. It spreads it across the various data centers that are located across the globe. This results in quick download times, giving your website visitor a pleasing experience.
To sum it up, many of you must be wondering which is the best of all for your website. However, there’s this one thing that I spoke about initially, that all the CDN providers are not the same.
Each one has its own uniqueness. Hence you would need the one that meets your budget as well as requirements.
For instance, you may have thought of a solution that strongly focuses on security and video streaming.
While there may be some, who are in search of an economical CDN service. The best part is, irrespective of your requirements, you can be confident that you’ll find a provider in the above list.
Once you have your individual list of priorities, you can go right ahead and take your website to the next level.
This can be done by boosting your website’s speed immediately. You will also realize that your WordPress site traffic, revenue, SEO and leads will begin to improve.
That concludes our discussion of CDN services for your WordPress site. But I must tell you that this is not the only way to speed up the website. There are also options of plugins like image optimization and speed optimization.
If you are in search of an excellent hosting provider, you could also read up on our review. We have handpicked the best WP hosting providers. That’s all for now, guys; feel free to leave your comments and suggestions.
For our New Readers
WordPress CDN
For those of you who are not familiar with WordPress CDN, here’s a quick download. A CDN service is used to boost your website and make it faster. It works very well when it is teamed with great plugins that include Yoast SEO WP plugin.
CDN is a network of multiple servers that are spread across the globe. These servers host multiple copies of the WP content that includes JavaScript, CSS, images and video streams.
These multiple copies are all extremely essential as it makes it extremely easy for your site visitors to view the content.
Let us take a look at how it works;
For instance, let’s say you are based in Montreal. I’m hosting your website on a regular server. While going over your WP SEO checklist, some of you may be wondering if you need a CDN service as you currently have a good host.
Your customers that are based in Quebec will not need to patiently wait for your web page to download.
However, have you thought about your customers, or I must say, potential customers that are based somewhere in Asia. Due to the latency, they will definitely have a very different experience.
Always remember the distance between your host and your target visitors must be minimum.
The more the distance, the latency will increase. This is actually the time required for both systems to interact.
Latency definitely improves under good circumstances. Now with the help of a CDN service, you may easily transfer or duplicate a copy of the website closer to your target visitors’ location. By doing this, you will increase the speed the site loads.
You will also notice that, at times, the location is not the main reason for bad latency.
For instance, you plan to launch a festive offer. Your local visitors decide to make the most of this offer. Your server, at this point in time, will be highly burdened with a high volume of visitors. This is where CDN steps in and reduces this burden.
Some of you may still be in doubt whether or not you require a CDN service.
You may be right; the features and benefits do sound amazing. However, you must always take a couple of minutes to evaluate whether or not you require a CDN service.
This will definitely cost you a couple of additional bucks, so yes, I encourage you to rethink it. There are certain reasons that would lead you to consider a CDN service for your site; they include;
- If your website experiences high traffic regularly, that adds an additional burden on the server.
- If you are planning to reach an audience at a global level or you already have started to get a few.
- If you are offering a streaming video or audio solution.
- If you have a website that is media-rich and tends to slow down the loading times.
Advantages of getting good WordPress CDN Services
We would like to encourage you to take your time to select a good CDN for your WordPress. If you do get a CDN, you can be sure to receive the following benefits;
- A good CDN will boost your WordPress site performance.
- It will offer you GZIP compression that is excellent for file decompression and compression.
- They also add various SEO benefits improving the ranking of your website.
Selecting a Good WordPress CDN
I’m sure you have understood all about CDN and the way it works. We will now look at the various elements that contribute to a network that is active.
Good distribution and an Extensive Network
Always be sure to select a provider that has a vast network. This will help you reach out to potential customers located across the globe.
Also, be sure to check the location of the CDN service cover. We have noticed that many CDN providers have plenty of servers that are situated in Europe and America.
However, they have minimum coverage in South America, Africa, Middle East and many other regions.
Good Quality Customer Assistance
Be sure that your provider offers excellent customer support and is available 24/7 to assist you. They should also have a team that is highly knowledgeable and robust.
Transparent Pricing
A good CDN is never expensive. Their prices and packages are highly transparent. If you are not too sure about the provider, many of them also offer free CDN trial periods. So be sure to avail them before you can come to a conclusion.