Running websites in the US means you learn to deal with DDoS attacks—the hard way. I've tripped over more "budget" CDN promises than I care to remember.

"Cheap" and "good value" aren't the same thing. Get it wrong, and you'll still watch your site go down mid-attack, except now you've paid for the privilege.

Ignore the marketing fluff about "Tbps-level protection for pennies." Half of it's pure spin.

Let's start with the crowd favorite for value: Cloudflare. Yeah, I know—you're thinking "the free plan?" But hold up.

Their free and basic Pro tiers won't stop a major flood, but the paid Pro ($20/mo) and Business ($200/mo) plans—especially with Under Attack Mode and custom firewall rules—handle everyday application-layer attacks and mid-sized DDoS just fine.

The real win is their Anycast network. It's everywhere, and their speed optimization actually works. Unless you're a constant target for huge attacks, Pro is plenty. For the price, it's almost unfair to the competition.

That said, if you're getting hit with hundreds of Gbps, you'll need their Enterprise plan—and that's where pricing gets "contact us" flexible.

If you've got a bit more to spend or your traffic's mostly in Asia-Pacific, check out Alibaba Cloud or Tencent Cloud's international sites.

Alibaba's DCDN (with built-in DDoS protection) has scrubbing centers in APAC, so it responds faster to attacks from that region. Their pricing often beats US/EU vendors, and they offer plenty of plan options.

One big gotcha: their international site and China-facing site are different. Prices, plans, node locations—all different. Buy the international version unless you want overseas visitors crawling.

Then there are the heavy hitters: Akamai and Imperva (formerly Incapsula). No one questions their ability to eat huge attacks.

But "budget" they are not. Akamai's entry-level pricing will make your eyes water. If you're not spending thousands a month, they might not even return your email.

Imperva's Cloud WAF + DDoS packages are slightly more approachable, but you're still paying a premium. Best for enterprises with compliance needs or deep-seated attack trauma.

Here's a quieter option: Sucuri. They're a website security (WAF) and monitoring company first, with DDoS protection added on. Pricier than Cloudflare Business, but their security monitoring is sharper, especially for WordPress and other CMS platforms. If you're dealing with constant SQLi or XSS attacks, their cleanup and blacklist services save headaches. They're not built for giant volumetric attacks, but for application-layer stuff and smaller floods, they're solid and reasonably priced.

Lately, newer players like CDN07 have jumped into the ring.

These providers often niche down—specific regions, specific attack types—and offer more tailored setups.

CDN07, for example, runs scrubbing centers in Asia and the West, focusing on mid-to-large DDoS (tens of Gbps to Tbps), plus WAF and CC protection. Their pricing lands between Cloudflare Business and Alibaba Cloud. Good fit if you need more muscle than Cloudflare but can't swing Akamai money.

But with newer providers, test everything: node latency, actual scrubbing during a simulated attack, and read the SLA fine print on response times and overage charges.

Here's the real talk: don't just look at the monthly fee. The trap is in the details: What happens when you exceed the included traffic? What if the attack's bigger than their "guaranteed" peak? Are all nodes protected? How long until scrubbing starts? Is support 24/7 or just ticket-based?

Some cheap or white-label CDNs look great on paper until you're hit. Then your site limps along, or you get a surprise five-figure overage bill. Not fun.

Before you sign, read the contract. Ask for a test IP or a small attack simulation. Any decent provider will oblige.

So, who's the best bang for your buck?

If you're: on a tight budget, facing small-to-mid attacks (under ~10 Gbps), and need global speed → Cloudflare Pro/Business. The $20–$200 range is still unbeatable.

If you're: focused on APAC, want Chinese support, have a moderate budget → look hard at Alibaba Cloud DCDN International or CDN07. Pick the right plan and it's great value.

If you're: running WordPress or another CMS, getting hit with app-layer attacks, want strong security monitoring → Sucuri is a smart compromise.

If you need heavier global protection but still want to control costs, test someone like CDN07 or Tencent Cloud thoroughly first.

And if you're rolling in budget or get attacked at nation-state scale daily? Akamai or Imperva will sleep easy—if your wallet can handle it.

Oh, and "unlimited protection" is marketing fairy dust. Nothing's unlimited. Match the service to your actual traffic, threat level, and bank balance.

Money saved here? Upgrade your server. Or treat yourself to a nice dinner. You've earned it.

(—Old Jamie, Brooklyn, New York. Server dashboards are quiet tonight.)