Logo of Amazon CloudFront

Amazon CloudFront

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Company health

Employee growth
11% increase in the last year
Web traffic
10% increase in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.4/5
(182)
Glassdoor
3.7/5
(206324)

Amazon CloudFront description

Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) service that helps businesses deliver their website and other online content faster and more reliably to users worldwide. It achieves this by caching copies of your content on servers located closer to your users, reducing the distance the data needs to travel and improving loading times. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with global audiences or those delivering large files like videos and images.


What companies are using Amazon CloudFront?

Cloudinary is using Amazon CloudFront
Cloudinary
Amazon.com is using Amazon CloudFront
Amazon.com
Zapier is used by Cloudinary, Amazon.com.

Who is Amazon CloudFront best for

Amazon CloudFront is a powerful CDN solution for businesses seeking to improve website speed and reliability. Its global network and AWS integration are praised for enhancing content delivery. However, users note the complex pricing and initial setup as potential drawbacks. It's ideal for those already within the AWS ecosystem and handling large files or a global audience.

  • Ideal for small, medium, and enterprise businesses.

  • Good fit for Software, IT, & Telecommunications; suitable for E-commerce, Retail, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Education, Real Estate & Construction, Hospitality & Tourism, Media & Entertainment, Marketing & Advertising, and Automotive, Aerospace & Defence.


Amazon CloudFront features

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
Supported

CloudFront is a Content Delivery Network (CDN) service itself.

Supported

CloudFront supports HTTP/2 for efficient content delivery.

Supported

CloudFront distributes content globally via a network of edge locations, improving page load speed.

Supported

CloudFront uses edge locations to cache data, reducing server load and improving page load speed.

Supported

CloudFront offers built-in DDoS protection through integration with AWS Shield.

Supported

CloudFront allows removing outdated content via manual invalidation.

Supported

CloudFront supports SSL/TLS encryption for secure delivery between viewers, CloudFront, and its origins.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Neutral
-0.09

Ease of Use

Rather positive
+0.56

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+1

Ease of Implementation

Neutral
+0

Scalability

Strongly positive
+1

Amazon CloudFront reviews

We've summarised 182 Amazon CloudFront reviews (Amazon CloudFront G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Amazon CloudFront
  • Globally distributed edge locations for fast content delivery.
  • Seamless integration with other AWS services, especially S3.
  • Cost-effective pricing model, pay-as-you-go.
  • Highly scalable to handle traffic spikes.
  • Enhanced security features like HTTPS and DDoS protection.
Cons of Amazon CloudFront
  • Complex pricing structure can be difficult to understand.
  • Initial setup and configuration can be challenging for beginners.
  • Cache invalidation can be slow and cumbersome.
  • Limited control over caching behavior for specific files/paths.
  • Customer support response times can sometimes be slow.

Amazon CloudFront pricing

The commentary is based on 31 reviews from Amazon CloudFront G2 reviews.

CloudFront is praised for its cost-effectiveness, especially for multiple domains and integration with other AWS services. However, some users find the pricing structure complex and wish for lower fees, particularly those with smaller projects. Many consider it a reasonable price for the performance and security it delivers.

Users sentiment

Neutral
-0.09

See the Amazon CloudFront pricing page.


Amazon CloudFront alternatives

  • Logo of Fastly CDN
    Fastly CDN
    More focused on video and live streaming. Fastly CDN has a smaller market share and is growing slower than Amazon CloudFront. Users praise its ease of use and fast cache invalidation, but some find the pricing less transparent and the platform more difficult to manage.
    Read more
  • Logo of Fast.io
    Fast.io
    Simpler setup and geared towards static content delivery. Has fewer features and integrations. Shows higher momentum but lacks extensive user reviews and industry-specific data. A CloudFront alternative or competitor.
    Read more
  • Logo of Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
    Cloudflare Application Security and Performance
    Better security and performance features. Has broader industry applicability. Growing faster than Amazon CloudFront. A good Amazon CloudFront competitor.
    Read more
  • Logo of bunny.net
    bunny.net
    Simpler pricing and easier to use. Has more momentum based on employee growth. A strong Amazon CloudFront competitor.
    Read more
  • Logo of Apache Tomcat
    Apache Tomcat
    Better for Java web applications. Open-source and free, unlike CloudFront. Easier to use for smaller projects but more difficult to configure for complex ones. A good CloudFront alternative for those comfortable with Java and open-source software.
    Read more
  • Logo of Plesk
    Plesk
    Better for server management, website hosting, and email hosting. More suitable for users seeking an all-in-one platform for web management. Caters to a wider range of business sizes. Generally receives more positive user reviews. However, users have raised concerns about cost and bugs.
    Read more

Amazon CloudFront FAQ

  • What is Amazon CloudFront and what does Amazon CloudFront do?

    Amazon CloudFront is a fast content delivery network (CDN) that securely delivers data, videos, applications, and APIs to customers globally with low latency and high transfer speeds. It integrates with other AWS services and offers features like caching, security, and real-time analytics.

  • How does Amazon CloudFront integrate with other tools?

    Amazon CloudFront integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, such as Amazon S3, AWS Shield, and Elastic Load Balancing. This integration simplifies workflows and enhances security and performance for content delivery.

  • What the main competitors of Amazon CloudFront?

    Top alternatives to Amazon CloudFront include Cloudflare, Fastly, and Bunny.net. These CDNs offer similar features like global content delivery, security, and website acceleration. Other competitors include ImageKit, 5centsCDN, and Varnish Software.

  • Is Amazon CloudFront legit?

    Yes, Amazon CloudFront is a legitimate and widely used content delivery network (CDN) service. It's known for its global reach, security features like DDoS protection, and integration with other Amazon Web Services. While the pricing can be complex, many users appreciate the fast content delivery and scalability it offers.

  • How much does Amazon CloudFront cost?

    Amazon CloudFront pricing depends on data transfer, requests, and features like security and streaming. There are no fixed monthly fees, making it a pay-as-you-go service. Specific product pricing details are not available.

  • Is Amazon CloudFront customer service good?

    Customer reviews on Amazon CloudFront's support are mixed. While some users appreciate the eventual resolution of their issues, others express frustration with slow response times. Despite these delays, support ultimately helps customers resolve their problems.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.