Google Cloud CDN
Google Cloud's content delivery network that caches content on Google's global edge network.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is Google Cloud CDN free?
No, it's a paid product
- Cache egress price:
- From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB)
Checked on Google Cloud CDN's site Nov 8, 2026
5 alternatives with a free optionSwitch from Google Cloud CDN to
All 8
Cloudflare CDNCompareStarting price: $20 a month, billed annually (Pro)
NetlifyStarting price: $9/month (Personal, 1 member)
AkamaiComparePaid
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 8
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Google Cloud CDN
Google Cloud CDN caches web content on Google's global edge network so that pages, images and downloads are served from a location near each visitor. It is not a standalone service in the way some CDNs are: it is switched on for backends behind Google Cloud's external Application Load Balancer, which can point at Compute Engine VMs, Cloud Storage buckets, GKE services, Cloud Run, or origins outside Google Cloud. It supports modern protocols such as HTTP/3 and QUIC, signed URLs for private content, cache key and TTL controls, and works with Cloud Armor for web application firewall and DDoS protection. Google sells a separate product, Media CDN, for large-scale video streaming and big file downloads. Cloud CDN has no monthly plan; it is billed purely on usage, mainly cache egress by volume, cache fill between regions, and lookup requests, with volume discounts at higher tiers. New Google Cloud customers get trial credits. It suits teams already running workloads on Google Cloud more than people looking for a quick drop-in CDN for any site.
Best for: Teams running on Google Cloud who want caching in front of their load-balanced apps and buckets.
Google Cloud CDN pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Google Cloud CDN's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache egress price | From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB) | Nov 8, 2026 | cloud.google.com |
| Lookup requests | $0.0075 per 10,000 | Nov 8, 2026 | cloud.google.com |
| Free credits | $300 for new customers | Nov 8, 2026 | cloud.google.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Runs on the same global network Google uses for its own services
- Integrates with Cloud Armor for WAF and DDoS protection
- Supports HTTP/3, QUIC and signed URLs
- Can front origins outside Google Cloud as well
Why people leave
- Requires setting up a Google Cloud external Application Load Balancer
- Usage-only billing with no free plan beyond trial credits
- Video streaming at scale needs the separate Media CDN product
Google Cloud CDN vs Cloudflare CDN, Netlify and Akamai
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Google Cloud CDN | Cloudflare CDN | Netlify | Akamai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Verified price | From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB) | $20 a month, billed annually (Pro) | $9/month (Personal, 1 member) | — |
| Free plan | No | Yes, $0 a month | Yes, $0 forever | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Web | Web |
Full Google Cloud CDN vs Cloudflare CDN comparisonFull Google Cloud CDN vs Akamai comparison
Top Google Cloud CDN alternatives
See all 8- 1Cloudflare CDN68.8
Works with any host via DNS, has a free plan, and doesn't need a load balancer setup.
- 2Netlify64.0
Static sites and frontends get CDN delivery built in with git-based deploys.
- 3Akamai62.6
Enterprise CDN with very large reach and mature media delivery and security products.
- 4
Sucuri61.8Website firewall plus CDN for smaller sites that mostly want security and simple setup.
- 5
Cloudflare Workers51.2Edge compute and caching in one place, with a free tier and no cloud lock-in.
Why people left Google Cloud CDN
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Google Cloud CDN, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Google Cloud CDN: common questions
What is Google Cloud CDN?
Google Cloud CDN: Google Cloud's content delivery network that caches content on Google's global edge network. Best for teams running on Google Cloud who want caching in front of their load-balanced apps and buckets. Available for Web.
Is Google Cloud CDN free?
No, Google Cloud CDN is a paid product. Cache egress price: From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB) (checked on Google Cloud CDN's own site).
How much does Google Cloud CDN cost?
Google Cloud CDN is a paid product. Cache egress price: From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB); Lookup requests: $0.0075 per 10,000; Free credits: $300 for new customers. Checked on Google Cloud CDN's own site, November 2026.
Is Google Cloud CDN open source?
No, Google Cloud CDN is not open source.
What platforms does Google Cloud CDN run on?
Google Cloud CDN is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to Google Cloud CDN?
The highest-ranked Google Cloud CDN alternatives right now are Cloudflare CDN, Netlify and Akamai. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Google Cloud CDN vs Cloudflare CDN: what's the difference?
Google Cloud CDN is a paid product; Cloudflare CDN is free with paid plans. Verified prices: Google Cloud CDN From $0.08 per GiB (first 10 TiB), Cloudflare CDN $20 a month, billed annually (Pro). Both run on Web.