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Cloud & Infrastructure · head to head

IBM Cloud vs Akamai

IBM Cloud logo

IBM Cloud

Cloud & Infrastructure

Enterprise cloud solutions from a trusted partner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Akamai logo

Akamai

Cloud & Infrastructure

Leading content delivery and security platform

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IBM Cloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IBM Cloud the USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only; Akamai only the cloud computing services carry published rates; security and content delivery products require contacting sales for a price
  • They diverge on capability: IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Akamai covers CDN.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IBM Cloud and Akamai actually diverge.

Attributes where IBM Cloud and Akamai differ
AttributeIBM CloudAkamai
Starting priceFree$1000/month
Pricing modelusage-basedquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Api, CliWeb, Api
Founded20131998

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cloud & Infrastructure).

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 IBM Cloud

  • Virtual Servers
  • Bare Metal
  • Cloud Foundry
  • Kubernetes
  • Watson AI
  • Blockchain
  • Databases
  • Terraform

Only in Akamai

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

Both cover

  • API Gateway
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

IBM Cloud

  • Running containerized and VM workloads on IBM's public cloudnot Akamai
  • Building on Watson APIs and IBM middleware as managed servicesnot Akamai

Akamai

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

Where each one falls short

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

IBM Cloud

  • The USD 200 starter cloud credit is valid for 30 days only
  • The larger promotional credits are time boxed: USD 1,000 for Bare Metal Servers for VPC over 120 days, USD 2,500 for Power Virtual Server over 90 days, and USD 5,000 for Backup and Recovery over 90 days
  • The USD 5,000 Backup and Recovery promotion is valid for new clients only and requires a checkout promo code
  • The listed promotions carry an expiry date of 31 December 2026
  • Beyond the free tier the account is pay as you go, so cost tracks usage with no published cap

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

Pricing, plan by plan

IBM Cloud

Free
  • Lite PlanFree
    • Free services
    • Limited resources
    • 30-day trial
  • Standard PlanFree
    • Pay-as-you-go
    • Enterprise support
    • Advanced services

Akamai

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

Which should you pick?

Choose IBM Cloud if

  • You need virtual servers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli.
  • You also want bare metal.
IBM Cloud review

Choose Akamai if

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

Questions people ask

Is IBM Cloud or Akamai better?
Neither clearly leads. IBM Cloud starts at Free and Akamai at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IBM Cloud or Akamai?
IBM Cloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for IBM Cloud and $1000/month for Akamai.
Does IBM Cloud or Akamai run on more platforms?
IBM Cloud runs on Linux, Windows, Api, Cli. Akamai runs on Web, Api.
Can I use IBM Cloud for free?
Yes. IBM Cloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Akamai starts at $1000/month.
What is IBM Cloud best used for?
IBM Cloud is most often used for running containerized and vm workloads on ibm's public cloud, building on watson apis and ibm middleware as managed services. Of those, running containerized and vm workloads on ibm's public cloud and building on watson apis and ibm middleware as managed services are not what Akamai is typically brought in for.
What can IBM Cloud do that Akamai cannot?
IBM Cloud covers Virtual Servers, Bare Metal, Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes. Akamai covers CDN, DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall, Bot Management. Both handle API Gateway, Cloud deployment.
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