Brandwave

Akamai vs Cloudflare:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cloudflare had more branded searches than Akamai among content delivery networks worldwide. Cloudflare had about 4.3 million branded searches, while Akamai had 135,000. Cloudflare made up 94.4% of all content delivery network searches we track, and Akamai accounted for 3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about content delivery networks, both Akamai and Cloudflare appeared in all five answers. Cloudflare was mentioned before Akamai in every answer.

Among content delivery networks worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cloudflare, about 32 searches for every 1 for Akamai

Cloudflare 4.3M searchesAkamai 135K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Akamai in 5 of 5Cloudflare in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Cloudflare, named ahead of Akamai in every answer

Cloudflare first in 5Akamai never first

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Top content delivery networks in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Akamai and Cloudflare showed up in all five answers. Cloudflare was listed before Akamai in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Cloudflare1st
  2. Amazon CloudFront2nd
  3. Akamai3rd
  4. Fastly4th
  5. Bunny.net5th
  6. CDN77–
  7. KeyCDN–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Cloudflare5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Akamai5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Fastly5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon CloudFront5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bunny.net4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CDN770 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • KeyCDN0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about content delivery networks

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Akamai or Cloudflare more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Akamai and Cloudflare by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven content delivery networks we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Akamai and Cloudflare among content delivery networks worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Cloudflare, Akamai. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCloudflareAkamaiFastlyBunny.netAmazon CloudFrontCDN77KeyCDN
Oct 202588.5%5.3%2.9%1%1.9%0.22%0.17%
Nov 202597%1.4%0.78%0.3%0.35%0.06%0.05%
Dec 202594.6%2.5%1.4%0.6%0.62%0.1%0.08%
Jan 202691.7%3.7%2.5%0.93%0.9%0.18%0.12%
Feb 202691.4%3.6%2.9%0.92%0.9%0.15%0.1%
Mar 202692.8%3%2.1%0.94%0.91%0.12%0.08%
Apr 202692.2%3.7%2.1%0.98%0.9%0.12%0.08%
May 202692.5%3.7%2.1%1%0.6%0.1%0.07%
Jun 202693.6%3%1.8%0.82%0.61%0.1%0.05%
Jul 202694.3%2.5%1.7%0.73%0.61%0.1%0.05%
Aug 202695.1%2.1%1.5%0.65%0.51%0.08%0.04%
Sep 202694.4%3%1.3%0.63%0.49%0.12%0.05%

How has the Akamai and Cloudflare comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for content delivery networks worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Akamai gained share of searches among content delivery networks worldwide, from 2.1% to 3%.

  2. In September 2026, Cloudflare lost share of searches among content delivery networks worldwide, from 95.1% to 94.4%.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Akamai’s and Cloudflare’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Akamai

1 branded search term

  • akamai

Cloudflare

4 branded search terms

  • cloudflare
  • cloudflare app
  • cloudflare cdn
  • cloudflare software

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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