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Netlify vs Netlify CDN

Based on 66 and 55 real audits

View Netlify details | View Netlify CDN details
MetricNetlifyNetlify CDNWinner
Performance6162Netlify CDN
Accessibility9090Tie
Best Practices9392Netlify
SEO9595Tie
Security6869Netlify CDN
TTFB327ms352msNetlify
Composite7777Tie
Performance
Netlify
61
Netlify CDN
62
Accessibility
Netlify
90
Netlify CDN
90
Security
Netlify
68
Netlify CDN
69
SEO
Netlify
95
Netlify CDN
95
Composite
Netlify
77
Netlify CDN
77

Netlify and Netlify CDN are closely matched, each leading in different categories. Netlify has a composite score of 77 while Netlify CDN scores 77.

When to choose Netlify

Choose Netlify when your primary concern is server response time and best practices. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose Netlify CDN

Choose Netlify CDN 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 66 audited Netlify sites and 55 audited Netlify CDN 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, Netlify or Netlify CDN?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, Netlify CDN sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (62 vs 61 on average).
Which has better security, Netlify or Netlify CDN?
Netlify CDN sites score higher on security analysis (69 vs 68 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Netlify or Netlify CDN?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor Netlify (90 vs 90). 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, Netlify or Netlify CDN?
Netlify sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (95 vs 95 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), Netlify or Netlify CDN?
Netlify sites show lower Time to First Byte (327 ms vs 352 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 Netlify or Netlify CDN for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. Netlify CDN scores higher on overall composite score while Netlify 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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