Softwr

Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

Akamai vs IDrive

Akamai logo

Akamai

Cloud & Infrastructure

Leading content delivery and security platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IDrive logo

IDrive

File Storage & Backup

Affordable online backup with multiple device support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IDrive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Akamai only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price; IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
  • They diverge on capability: Akamai covers CDN, IDrive covers Multiple device backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Akamai and IDrive actually diverge.

Attributes where Akamai and IDrive differ
AttributeAkamaiIDrive
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, ApiWindows, Mac, Linux, Web
CategoryCloud & InfrastructureFile Storage & Backup
Founded19981995

Identical on both: 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 IDrive

  • Multiple device backup
  • True archiving
  • Continuous protection
  • IDrive Express
  • Snapshots
  • File sharing
  • iOS
  • Android

Both cover

  • Web 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 IDrive
  • DDoS protection, bot management and API securitynot IDrive
  • Running compute, Kubernetes and managed databases on Akamai's cloudnot IDrive
  • Edge compute with EdgeWorkersnot IDrive
  • Zero trust access for enterprise applicationsnot IDrive

IDrive

  • Online backup for computers, servers and mobile devicesnot Akamai
  • Backing up multiple machines under one accountnot Akamai

Where each one falls short

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

Akamai

  • Only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
  • Cloud pricing varies by region across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific rather than being a single rate

IDrive

  • The advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
  • The two year offer discounts only the first year, so the second year reverts to the full rate
  • Team plans tie user and computer counts to the storage tier, so 10 TB means exactly 10 computers
  • Business storage costs far more per terabyte than Personal, at $719.88 a year for 1.25 TB against $143.88 for 5 TB

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

IDrive

Free
  • Personal$4/month
    • 5TB storage
    • Unlimited devices
    • IDrive Express

Which should you pick?

Choose Akamai if

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

Choose IDrive if

  • You need multiple device backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
  • You also want true archiving.
IDrive review

Questions people ask

Is Akamai or IDrive better?
Neither clearly leads. Akamai starts at $1000/month and IDrive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Akamai or IDrive?
IDrive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Akamai and Free for IDrive.
Does Akamai or IDrive run on more platforms?
Akamai runs on Web, Api. IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
Can I use IDrive for free?
Yes. IDrive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akamai starts at $1000/month.
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 IDrive is typically brought in for.
What can Akamai do that IDrive cannot?
Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express. Both handle Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Akamai

More on IDrive

Keep looking

Other head to heads