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Akamai vs Splunk

Akamai logo

Akamai

Software

Leading content delivery and security platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Splunk logo

Splunk

Software

Turn Data Into Doing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Splunk 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; Splunk no prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • They diverge on capability: Akamai covers CDN, Splunk covers Log aggregation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Akamai and Splunk actually diverge.

Attributes where Akamai and Splunk differ
AttributeAkamaiSplunk
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
Founded19982003

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Splunk

  • Log aggregation
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Data visualization
  • Full-text search
  • Custom dashboards
  • Alert management
  • Anomaly detection
  • Log parsing

Both cover

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

Splunk

  • Log search and analysis across infrastructurenot Akamai
  • SIEM, SOAR and UEBA for a security operations teamnot Akamai
  • Application performance and infrastructure monitoringnot Akamai
  • Cloud, private cloud or on-premises deploymentnot 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

Splunk

  • No prices are published on any plan; every model requires contacting sales for an estimate
  • Three separate pricing models, workload, ingest and entity, so the same deployment costs different amounts depending on which was signed
  • Ingest pricing bills on data volume, so cost tracks how much you log rather than how much value you get from it
  • Security, observability and platform are priced separately

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

Splunk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log aggregation
    • Real-time monitoring
    • Data visualization

Which should you pick?

Choose Akamai if

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

Choose Splunk if

  • You need log aggregation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want real-time monitoring.
Splunk review

Questions people ask

Is Akamai or Splunk better?
Neither clearly leads. Akamai starts at $1000/month and Splunk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Akamai or Splunk?
Splunk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Akamai and Free for Splunk.
Does Akamai or Splunk run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Splunk for free?
Yes. Splunk 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 Splunk is typically brought in for.
What can Akamai do that Splunk cannot?
Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. Splunk covers Log aggregation, Real-time monitoring, Data visualization, Full-text search. Both handle Web support, Api support.
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