- Published on
Push CDN vs. Pull CDN - What's the Difference and Which One to Choose?
- What is a Pull CDN?
- What is a Push CDN?
- Key Differences: Push CDN vs. Pull CDN
- When to Use Pull CDN
- When to Use Push CDN
- Conclusion
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps deliver digital content to users faster by using a globally distributed network of servers. Two common types of CDNs are Push CDN and Pull CDN. While both improve performance and reduce load on origin servers, they differ significantly in how they handle, store, and serve content.
Below, we break down each CDN type, compare their advantages and drawbacks, and guide you in selecting the best fit for your content strategy.
What is a Pull CDN?
In a Pull CDN, content is not preloaded to the CDN's servers. Instead, the CDN fetches (pulls) content from your origin server only when it's requested for the first time. The fetched content is then cached on the edge server, so future users can access it quickly without going back to the origin server.
How Pull CDNs Work:
- A user requests content (e.g., an image).
- If the CDN doesn't already have it, it fetches the file from the origin server.
- The content is cached on the nearest edge server.
- Future requests are served from the cached copy until it expires (based on TTL).
Popular Pull CDN Providers:
- Cloudflare
- Fastly
- Amazon CloudFront
✅ Advantages of Pull CDNs:
- Easy to set up - Minimal changes needed to your current website or app.
- Bandwidth savings - The origin server is only hit when content is missing or expired.
- Automatic cache handling - CDNs manage cache updates and expiry.
❌ Disadvantages of Pull CDNs:
- First-time delay - Initial request may be slower as the file is fetched from the origin.
- Always-on origin - The origin server must remain available in case content needs to be fetched.
What is a Push CDN?
In a Push CDN, the content is manually uploaded or pushed to the CDN's servers ahead of time. Once pushed, it is stored and distributed across various edge servers, ready for immediate access.
How Push CDNs Work:
- You upload content directly to the CDN.
- The content is distributed to all configured edge servers.
- Users are served directly from the CDN without the need to access the origin.
Popular Push CDN Providers:
- Rackspace Cloud Files
- Akamai NetStorage
✅ Advantages of Push CDNs:
- Full control - You decide what content is stored, updated, or removed.
- Ready-to-serve - Content is preloaded, reducing the chance of delays.
- Better for large/static files - Ideal for heavy assets like videos, software downloads, or infrequently changing files.
❌ Disadvantages of Push CDNs:
- Manual setup - Content must be uploaded or synchronized via custom scripts or tools.
- Higher storage costs - Data is stored both at the origin and across the CDN.
- Manual cache control - Cache invalidation and updates are your responsibility.
Key Differences: Push CDN vs. Pull CDN
| Feature | Pull CDN | Push CDN |
|---|---|---|
| Content upload | Fetched automatically on demand | Manually or automatically uploaded |
| Setup complexity | Easy to implement | Requires setup and sync logic |
| Performance | Slight delay on first request | Instant access |
| Cache control | Managed by CDN | Managed by provider |
| Best for | Frequently accessed content | Large/static/infrequent content |
When to Use Pull CDN
Choose a Pull CDN if:
- Your content changes frequently.
- You want minimal maintenance and setup.
- You expect high traffic and want automatic caching.
- You're using a CMS or eCommerce platform that updates content dynamically.
When to Use Push CDN
Choose a Push CDN if:
- You serve large or static files (e.g., videos, downloadable assets).
- You need tight control over what's cached and when.
- Your content is infrequently updated but must be delivered fast globally.
Conclusion
Both Push and Pull CDNs serve the same goal—faster, more efficient content delivery—but they do so in different ways.
- Pull CDNs are easier to implement, better for dynamic and frequently accessed content.
- Push CDNs offer more control and are great for large or static files where performance consistency is critical.
Choosing the right CDN type depends on your content type, update frequency, and how much control you want over distribution and caching.
If you're just getting started or want an easy-to-maintain setup, go with Pull CDN. If you're delivering large media files or want tight control, consider a Push CDN.