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Google Cloud CDN vs HSTS

Based on 107 and 2601 real audits

MetricGoogle Cloud CDNHSTSWinner
Performance3947HSTS
Accessibility8988Google Cloud CDN
Best Practices8787Tie
SEO9290Google Cloud CDN
Security6770HSTS
TTFB246ms364msGoogle Cloud CDN
Composite7375HSTS
Performance
Google Cloud CDN
39
HSTS
47
Accessibility
Google Cloud CDN
89
HSTS
88
Security
Google Cloud CDN
67
HSTS
70
SEO
Google Cloud CDN
92
HSTS
90
Composite
Google Cloud CDN
73
HSTS
75

Google Cloud CDN and HSTS are closely matched, each leading in different categories. Google Cloud CDN has a composite score of 73 while HSTS scores 75.

When to choose Google Cloud CDN

Choose Google Cloud CDN when your primary concern is server response time and SEO. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose HSTS

Choose HSTS when your primary concern is performance and security. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 107 audited Google Cloud CDN sites and 2601 audited HSTS sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

FAQ

Which is faster, Google Cloud CDN or HSTS?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, HSTS sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (47 vs 39 on average).
Which has better security, Google Cloud CDN or HSTS?
HSTS sites score higher on security analysis (70 vs 67 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Google Cloud CDN or HSTS?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor Google Cloud CDN (89 vs 88). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, Google Cloud CDN or HSTS?
Google Cloud CDN sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (92 vs 90 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), Google Cloud CDN or HSTS?
Google Cloud CDN sites show lower Time to First Byte (246 ms vs 364 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose Google Cloud CDN or HSTS for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. HSTS scores higher on overall composite score while Google Cloud CDN may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.

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