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Cloud · head to head

Akamai vs CoreWeave

Akamai logo

Akamai

Cloud

Leading content delivery and security platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CoreWeave logo

CoreWeave

AI

Specialized cloud for GPU compute

From
$0.35/per-hour
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Akamai no public pricing available; custom quotes required; CoreWeave gPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand
  • They diverge on capability: Akamai covers CDN, CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Akamai and CoreWeave actually diverge.

Attributes where Akamai and CoreWeave differ
AttributeAkamaiCoreWeave
Starting price$1000/month$0.35/per-hour
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud
CategoryCloudAI
Founded19982017

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Akamai

  • CDN
  • DDoS Protection
  • Web Application Firewall
  • Bot Management
  • Image Optimization
  • Video Platform
  • API Gateway
  • Analytics

Only in CoreWeave

  • NVIDIA H100/A100
  • Kubernetes native
  • High bandwidth
  • Object storage
  • Kubernetes
  • Terraform
  • Cloud APIs
  • Cloud support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Akamai

  • Content delivery and web performance through Ion and adaptive media deliverynot CoreWeave
  • DDoS protection, bot management and API securitynot CoreWeave
  • Running compute, Kubernetes and managed databases on Akamai's cloudnot CoreWeave
  • Edge compute with EdgeWorkersnot CoreWeave
  • Zero trust access for enterprise applicationsnot CoreWeave

CoreWeave

  • Renting GPU compute for model training and inferencenot Akamai
  • Running large scale AI workloads without buying hardwarenot Akamai

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Akamai

  • No public pricing available; custom quotes required
  • Sales-focused pricing model

CoreWeave

  • GPU nodes are sold as full 8 GPU instances rather than single cards, so the entry cost for an H100 node is $49.24 an hour on demand
  • Spot pricing is roughly 40% of on demand, at $19.71 an hour for the same H100 node, so predictable capacity carries a large premium
  • The newest hardware carries no published price and requires contacting sales
  • Discounts of up to 60% require committed usage agreements negotiated with sales
  • Only the GH200 is offered as a single GPU instance

Pricing, plan by plan

Akamai

$1000/month
  • CDN$1000/month
    • Content delivery
    • Global edge network
    • Real-time analytics
  • Security Suite$2000/month
    • DDoS protection
    • WAF
    • Bot management

CoreWeave

$0.35/per-hour
  • Standard$0.35/per-hour
    • Various GPU types
    • Kubernetes
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Dedicated clusters
    • Custom solutions

Which should you pick?

Choose Akamai if

  • You need cdn.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want ddos protection.
Akamai review

Choose CoreWeave if

  • You need nvidia h100/a100.
  • You work on Cloud.
  • You also want kubernetes native.
CoreWeave review

Questions people ask

Is Akamai or CoreWeave better?
Neither clearly leads. Akamai starts at $1000/month and CoreWeave at $0.35/per-hour, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Akamai or CoreWeave?
Akamai starts at $1000/month and CoreWeave at $0.35/per-hour.
Does Akamai or CoreWeave run on more platforms?
Akamai runs on Web, Api. CoreWeave runs on Cloud.
What is Akamai best used for?
Akamai is most often used for content delivery and web performance through ion and adaptive media delivery, ddos protection, bot management and api security, running compute, kubernetes and managed databases on akamai's cloud, edge compute with edgeworkers. Of those, content delivery and web performance through ion and adaptive media delivery and ddos protection, bot management and api security are not what CoreWeave is typically brought in for.
What can Akamai do that CoreWeave cannot?
Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. CoreWeave covers NVIDIA H100/A100, Kubernetes native, High bandwidth, Object storage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Akamai: How is Akamai pricing structured?

Akamai emphasizes straightforward pricing with no hidden fees, no egress surprises, and no vendor lock-in, but specific pricing is not published. Regional pricing pages exist for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and other areas, with customers directed to contact sales.

Source
CoreWeave: How much does CoreWeave cost?

CoreWeave does not publish pricing on its website. The company uses a quote-based pricing model and directs customers to contact their sales team directly to discuss pricing options and customized solutions.

Source
Akamai: Does Akamai offer a free trial?

Akamai offers a promotional trial with $100 in credits for Akamai Cloud, though conditions apply.

Source
CoreWeave: How can I get a quote from CoreWeave?

To obtain CoreWeave pricing, you must contact their sales team directly through the Contact Us option on their website. They will provide a customized quote based on your specific compute and infrastructure requirements.

Source
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