February 16, 2025
How To Use a CDN With WordPress (Plus 10 Fashionable Suppliers)

Because the proud proprietor of a small web site, there’s nothing worse than seeing individuals arrive in your web site and instantly exit. What’s that every one about?

Nicely, it could possibly be as a result of your web site is sluggish to load. Individuals hate that.

A method you’ll be able to enhance your web site’s efficiency is by utilizing a content material supply community (CDN).

A CDN is a community of distant internet servers unfold worldwide, every of which accommodates a replica of your web site that guests can entry. This setup takes some stress off your host server, making your web site sooner. It could possibly additionally scale back your bandwidth utilization and make your web site safer.

Need to study extra? You’ve come to the best place.

What Is a Content material Supply Community (CDN)?

A content material supply community (CDN) is a system of a number of servers in numerous places around the globe.

While you use a CDN service along with your web site, all of these servers will probably be loaded with static variations of your recordsdata. That features code like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, together with photos, paperwork, movies, and different knowledge.

However wait. This sounds lots like website hosting…?

Whereas the 2 could appear related, a CDN is just not the identical as a website hosting service. Your host is the server the place your web site “lives”, and it’s typically referred to as the origin server.

In distinction, CDN servers merely copy static recordsdata out of your origin server to ship them to your guests extra shortly.

Comparative illustration showing Web Hosting with a single server icon versus CDN with distributed servers across a world map

The Advantages of Utilizing a CDN With Your WordPress Web site

When a person visits your web site, they’d usually join on to the origin server by way of their browser, and obtain all the required recordsdata from there.

That is wonderful for customers who dwell close to the origin server. Nevertheless, for guests who’re additional away, the gap could cause considerably longer loading instances (we name this latency).

Sluggish web site velocity can negatively have an effect on bounce charges, which could be catastrophic in your conversions. And when all guests are requesting the identical recordsdata from one server, you would possibly even experience downtime.

In different phrases, this isn’t a small situation.

That’s the place a CDN is useful. While you use a CDN, guests connect with your web site by way of the server that’s closest to them. Consequently, pages will load sooner, and also you see much less pressure in your origin server.

Utilizing a CDN additionally:

  • Makes your web site extra crash-resistant: If one CDN server goes down, your web site will merely load from one other. This setup lets your web site deal with extra visitors.
  • Improves the person expertise: The truth that your web site is successfully unfold throughout the globe creates a extra constant expertise for all guests.
  • Improves your search engine marketing rankings: Web site efficiency is factored into search engine rankings, so rushing up your web site will make it extra more likely to seem greater in search outcomes.
  • Reduces bandwidth utilization: Since your origin server doesn’t have to ship as a lot knowledge to every customer, you reduce the bandwidth used.
  • Helps shield in opposition to fundamental assaults: A CDN is designed to deal with massive quantities of visitors, and it’ll defend your web site in opposition to the most typical varieties of malicious exercise, corresponding to distributed denial of service (DDoS) assaults.
DreamHost Glossary

DDoS Assault

DDoS means Distributed Denial of Service. It’s an assault that tries to make a system or community unavailable by flooding it with visitors from a number of sources.

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As you’ll be able to see, utilizing a content material supply community helps far more than simply your web site’s velocity and reliability. The query is, how do you get began?

Let’s take a look at a number of the greatest CDN options you’ll be able to implement in your WordPress web site.

10 Wonderful CDN Options for WordPress

In the event you determine to arrange a CDN, you will have to discover a answer that fits your present wants and future ambitions.

Listed below are the most well-liked CDN options for small companies to make use of alongside your WordPress web site:

1. Cloudflare CDN: The Most Fashionable CDN for WordPress

Cloudflare might be the best-known CDN answer for WordPress.

Not solely does it have over 330 data centers, however it’s additionally one of many few CDN suppliers that supply a free plan. This makes it a wise choice for web site homeowners who desire a dependable answer that’s additionally easy to implement.

Installing Cloudflare on a WordPress site is as straightforward as putting in the plugin and making a free account. Then, activate the default settings, and also you’re good to go.

Key Options

  • Straightforward to make use of alongside a WordPress web site, with minimal configuration required.
  • Robotically empties your cache while you replace the positioning.
  • Features a internet software firewall (WAF) on all premium plans.

It’s also possible to join Cloudflare’s plans instantly at cloudflare.com. Please notice that you’ll want to modify your nameservers and manage your DNS records your self.

Pricing: Cloudflare is free to make use of however gives a number of premium plans beginning at $20/month. These embrace further web site providers, corresponding to picture optimization, elevated safety, and prioritized help.

2. Bunny CDN: The Rising Newcomer

Over the previous few years, Bunny CDN has earned a popularity as some of the cost-effective CDN options obtainable.

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With over 119 factors of presence worldwide and an easy pay-as-you-go mannequin, it’s significantly interesting for web site homeowners who need premium efficiency with out premium pricing.

Organising Bunny CDN with WordPress is fairly easy. Whereas the dedicated plugin has blended opinions, this CDN works with well-liked caching plugins like W3 Total Cache and WP Rocket. As soon as configured, it robotically figures out your content material supply settings.

Bunny CDN is free as we speak to all DreamPress customers, and obtainable as a paid improve to all different DreamHost clients.

Key Options

  • Pay-per-use pricing mannequin with no month-to-month commitments.
  • Person-friendly management panel for simple administration.
  • Versatile cache management choices.

Pricing: Bunny CDN makes use of a volume-based pricing construction beginning at $0.01/GB for visitors in North America and Europe, with a minimal spend of simply $1 per thirty days.

3. Jetpack Website Accelerator: Greatest WordPress CDN Integration

Likelihood is, you have already got Jetpack put in. It’s some of the well-liked and complete WordPress plugins on the market.

What you may not understand is that Jetpack accommodates a neat little CDN answer referred to as Website Accelerator. This CDN serves all of your photos from a cloud community, to enhance your web site’s velocity. It additionally optimizes and serves static recordsdata corresponding to CSS and JavaScript.

Jetpack landing page offering free CDN service for WordPress sites, with a green 'Get started' button and benefits description

It’s not probably the most superior choice right here, however it delivers content material completely nicely for smaller websites — and it’s free.

Key Options

  • Requires no configuration.
  • Robotically applies to all photos and static recordsdata in your pages and posts.
  • Improves web site efficiency, significantly on websites with many photos.

Pricing: Website Accelerator is included with Jetpack. Merely install the plugin for free and activate it in your web site.

4. KeyCDN: Inexpensive Efficiency

One other answer that simply integrates with WordPress is KeyCDN. This supplier has a community of servers in 40 international locations, and it solely makes use of SSD (solid-state storage), which improves efficiency and shortens web page loading instances.

KeyCDN’s cost plans are primarily based on utilization, so you’ll be able to keep away from paying greater than you want. And it’s very easy to arrange KeyCDN with WordPress using the free CDN Enabler plugin.

Key Options

  • Makes use of solely SSD servers for glorious efficiency.
  • Contains free SSL and HTTP/2 help.
  • Immediately empties your cache when the positioning is up to date.

Pricing: KeyCDN gives a free trial and pay-as-you-go pricing plans that begin at $0.04 per GB. It additionally gives a worth calculator that will help you get an correct quote.

5. CDN77: Greatest Funds CDN

You’ll be able to consider CDN77 because the pleasant neighborhood CDN that grew up right into a celebrity.

This supplier strikes a pleasant stability between energy and ease. It’s additionally very reasonably priced, making it a sensible choice for smaller companies.

CDN77’s community of servers is unfold throughout 147 places, however there’s a excessive focus in Europe — making it greatest suited to websites focusing on that continent. You’ll be able to add CDN77 to your WordPress web site by way of the CDN Enabler plugin.

Key Options

  • Actually user-friendly management panel.
  • No long-term contracts.
  • World presence, however significantly sturdy in Europe.

Pricing: CDN77 gives a free 14-day trial. After that, you’ll be on a customized pay-as-you-go plan. Costs begin at round $0.02 per GB.

6. Sucuri: Greatest CDN for Safety

Sucuri is definitely an internet site safety suite, however it has an excellent built-in CDN. In response to Sucuri, you’ll be able to count on a 60% bump in efficiency with this answer.

Sucuri website page advertising CDN performance optimization, featuring a timer icon and claiming 60% average speed improvement

Sucuri additionally offers on-site safety measures, corresponding to malware cleansing and safety alerts. These are helpful options, though they is probably not obligatory, relying in your internet host (DreamHost plans include a built-in firewall, for instance).

To activate the Sucuri platform, you could use the DNS Manager. There, you’ll be able to add your particulars to activate your firewall and CDN.

Key Options

  • Protects in opposition to spam, malware, and assaults.
  • Integrates into your present CDN supplier.
  • Requires no set up and offers assist when setting it up.

Pricing: The CDN answer comes packaged with Sucuri’s safety plans, which begin at $229 per yr.

7. Amazon CloudFront: Sturdy Free CDN

Amazon CloudFront is likely one of the most distinguished CDN choices obtainable and is famously utilized by each Spotify and Slack.

CloudFront isn’t probably the most user-friendly service on this record, however Amazon’s international community and safety features assist to maintain your web site working easily. It additionally gives full integration with its different AWS services and a extremely beneficiant free tier.

CloudFront could be built-in with WordPress utilizing a caching plugin like WP Super Cache. It’s a bit extra effort than some names on this record, however nonetheless doable.

Key Options

  • Offers trusted and dependable service.
  • Contains full integration with all different AWS providers.
  • Has a beneficiant free tier.

Pricing: AWS’s free tier contains 1TB of information switch out per thirty days. The premium plans for CloudFront are pay-as-you-go, with costs that rely in your location. For america, the costs begin at $0.085 per GB when you exceed your free restrict.

8. Fastly: Greatest CDN for Dynamic Content material

Most CDNs give attention to static content material. However Fastly is nice at dealing with dynamic content material — the stuff that adjustments steadily in your web site, like personalised content material or real-time updates.

Fastly homepage showing four service categories against a starburst background of colored lines

This implies your WordPress web site stays snappy even while you’re doing fancy issues with WooCommerce or membership areas.

Organising Fastly with WordPress is far simpler now than it was once, because of an official plugin. It’s nonetheless not as user-friendly as some choices on this record, however the efficiency upgrades may be definitely worth the problem.

Key Options

  • Tremendous quick loading instances, even underneath stress.
  • Straightforward to scale as your web site grows.
  • Handles visitors spikes like a champ.

Pricing: Utilizing Fastly is free for the primary $50 price of utilization per thirty days. You’ll be able to then leap on a subscription or pay as you go, with pricing beginning at round $0.12 per GB.

9. Shift8 CDN: Made for WordPress

Shift8 CDN is definitely designed particularly for WordPress (and Drupal) web sites. So, it’s no shock that this answer integrates completely with the world’s favourite content material administration system. The official plugin even holds your hand by way of the setup course of.

The opposite stand-out characteristic of Shift8 CDN is pricing. It’s fully free for as much as 1TB per thirty days of bandwidth, and the paid plans provide extraordinary worth.

Key Options

  • Tremendous easy WordPress plugin set up.
  • Beneficiant free tier.
  • Handles picture optimization.

Pricing: Free with restricted options for as much as 1TB of bandwidth throughout two URLs. Paid plans begin at $5 per thirty days, with beneficiant utilization limits.

10. Optimole: Greatest CDN for Photographs

If photos are an enormous a part of your web site, then Optimole is price a glance.

Optimole landing page showcasing image optimization with a collage of sample photos and two action buttons

Technically talking, it’s extra of a picture optimization instrument than a standalone CDN. However look underneath the hood, and also you’ll discover CloudFront expertise serving up your recordsdata.

Optimole is one other answer made particularly for WordPress, and it comes with numerous nice performance-related options, from lazy loading and auto-scaling to clever compression.

Key Options

  • Robotically optimizes your photos for sooner loading.
  • Makes use of the facility of Amazon CloudFront.
  • Improves your web site’s search engine marketing.

Pricing: Optimole is a subscription-based service, with plans beginning at $22.99 per thirty days and reductions on annual funds.

How To Select the Proper CDN for Your Web site

Phew, that’s fairly a range!

Selecting out the proper match in your web site can appear slightly daunting. Every supplier gives one thing completely different, and it’s not like you’ll be able to pattern each answer.

To make clear the choice course of, right here’s a TL;DR purchaser’s information:

  • Operating a easy WordPress weblog or small enterprise web site? Stick to Cloudflare or Shift8 CDN. They work seamlessly with WordPress, received’t overwhelm you with options, and provide helpful free tiers. 
  • Obtained a extra dynamic web site with numerous real-time updates, like a web based retailer or membership web site? That is the place providers like Cloudflare or Fastly shine. Sure, they’re a bit extra advanced to arrange, however they deal with dynamic content material nicely and their safety features are top-notch.
  • Have an image-heavy web site, like a design portfolio or a meals weblog? Optimole or Bunny CDN may be your greatest wager right here. They’re nice at picture optimization and supply, and so they received’t break the financial institution.

And right here’s a professional tip: don’t get caught up within the “greater is healthier” mindset. Generally the only answer is the best one.

Give attention to what your web site wants proper now, not on what it would want for those who abruptly go viral. You’ll be able to all the time improve later when your visitors explodes and also you’re making it rain.

Velocity Up Your WordPress Website

Including a CDN to your WordPress web site is a great transfer.

Even probably the most fundamental answer is more likely to improve the efficiency and safety of your web site. And as your web site grows, the advantages will solely multiply.

Simply keep in mind that CDNs work alongside your internet hosting. If you wish to squeeze the absolute best efficiency out of your web site, it’s important to decide on a stable plan.

At DreamHost, our shared internet hosting delivers 100% assured uptime, limitless bandwidth, and spectacular speeds. We additionally provide managed WordPress internet hosting for even higher efficiency and 0 upkeep. Plus, it additionally comes with free Bunny CDN. Enroll as we speak to present your web site the velocity increase it deserves!

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Jos Velasco is a WordPress Skilled Advisor at DreamHost. His duties embrace serving to with superior WordPress circumstances, creating coaching materials, and figuring out developments impacting the WordPress group. In his free time, he enjoys climbing mountains, maintaining a healthy diet, and watching drama films. Comply with Jos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josvelasco/