In the internet community, the term "CDN" is frequently mentioned. It affects whether your website loads smoothly or gets stuck, whether your site can handle a sudden surge in traffic, and even whether you will be "blocked" by the Great Firewall.

Today, we are going to talk about two commonly confused CDNs: Non-Filing CDN and Domestic CDN.

What exactly are the differences between them? Who is each one suitable for? Could you make a mistake by choosing the wrong one?

Don’t worry. In this article, I will clarify everything step by step, explaining the basic principles and practical usage scenarios, so you can fully understand the differences between these two types of CDNs.

Table of Contents:

• 1. What is CDN? Let’s clarify that first
• 2. Non-Filing CDN VS Domestic CDN: What’s the difference?
• 3. Why do so many people choose Non-Filing CDN?
• 4. Does Non-Filing CDN have no drawbacks?
• 5. Real-world usage examples: Which one is right for whom?
• 6. Technical comparison summary table
• 7. How to choose a reliable Non-Filing CDN provider?
• 8. Choosing the right CDN is choosing your website’s lifeline

1. What is CDN? Let’s clarify that first

CDN, short for Content Delivery Network, is a network for distributing content.

In simple terms: it doesn’t just deliver your website content from one place, but copies it and places it in multiple server nodes across the country or even the world. This way, users can access content from the nearest server, improving speed and stability.

Imagine opening a restaurant with only one branch in Beijing. People from all over the country would have to come to Beijing to eat, which is slow. CDN is like opening branches in every province so that people can eat closer to home, making it much faster.

2. Non-Filing CDN VS Domestic CDN: What’s the difference?

Below, we will clarify each difference one by one.

1. Biggest Difference: Do You Need to Register?

✅ Domestic CDN: Domain must be registered in China

To use a CDN in mainland China, like Alibaba Cloud or Tencent Cloud’s CDN, your website’s domain must go through ICP Registration. This is required by Chinese law, meaning your website needs to be "registered."

The registration process can take 1 to 3 weeks and is quite cumbersome, requiring you to fill out information about the hosting organization, website details, and sometimes even take photos of the backdrop.

✅ Non-Filing CDN: No need for registration

You can use international domains like .com, .net, .xyz and connect directly to Non-Filing CDN without any domestic qualifications. You don’t need to report it to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These types of CDNs are usually deployed outside of mainland China, such as in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the United States, etc.

To summarize in one sentence: Non-Filing CDN is a CDN "not subject to Chinese regulation."

2. Node Deployment Locations

• Domestic CDN nodes are mainly concentrated in various provinces of mainland China, close to users, resulting in very fast access speeds.
• Non-Filing CDN nodes are mainly located outside of mainland China, close to regions like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and overseas Chinese areas.

That means, if your main users are in mainland China, domestic CDN is definitely faster; but if your users are global or if your website faces the risk of being blocked in mainland China, Non-Filing CDN is more advantageous.

3. Connection Methods and Access Barriers

• Domestic CDN: Requires domain binding and ICP number upload. Some platforms may even require you to verify your ID or business information, making it suitable for certified official websites.
• Non-Filing CDN: More flexible connection; you can simply point your domain to the CDN. It is suitable for startup websites, temporary projects, gray area projects, or foreign services.

4. Review Mechanism Differences

• Domestic CDN automatically cooperates with content review systems, such as keyword filtering and blocking illegal content. If your website content is "non-compliant," it may be forcibly taken offline.
• Non-Filing CDN generally has a more relaxed review process, making it more suitable for websites with high content freedom requirements, such as overseas news, forums, financial platforms, cryptocurrency, game accelerators, etc.

5. Resistance to Blocking

If your website has "wall" sensitive content or is likely to be blocked (such as Telegram mirror sites, VPN promotion pages, cryptocurrency wallets), a domestic CDN will not be accessible.

Non-Filing CDN can combine technologies such as intelligent routing + IP rotation + international BGP + DNS intelligent resolution to bypass the Great Firewall and increase availability.

3. Why do so many people choose Non-Filing CDN?

Here are a few practical reasons explaining why Non-Filing CDN is becoming increasingly popular.

1. Registration is too troublesome, especially for individuals or startup projects

Many people just want to test a project, create a temporary activity page, or set up a small site without dealing with the hassle of registration and photo-taking. Non-Filing CDN allows instant use and can be online in a few minutes.

2. Working on foreign markets without Chinese traffic

For example, if you’re doing cross-border e-commerce, overseas marketing, or running an English blog, and you don’t want domestic users to access it, then registration is a burden. Non-Filing CDN is the right choice.

3. Content is likely to be blocked or you don’t want restrictions

For websites like private game servers, movie sites, blockchain, adult content, or web novel sites, content may be immediately scrutinized if hosted on domestic CDNs. Non-Filing CDN provides better "privacy space."

4. Does Non-Filing CDN have no drawbacks?

Of course, it has some drawbacks. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Speed is not as fast in mainland China as domestic CDN

After all, the physical nodes are not in mainland China, which still causes some network delay, especially during peak hours when there may be slight buffering.

2. The risk of being "blocked" still exists

Although Non-Filing CDN is more resistant to blocking compared to direct servers, if technologies like IP rotation, domain distribution, SNI encryption, and DNS pollution protection are not implemented, there is still a risk of being blocked.

3. Some operators may limit speed

Some of China’s major telecom operators limit the speed of international traffic. For example, if you use a Non-Filing CDN with a Hong Kong node, there may sometimes be interruptions or speed throttling.

5. Real-world usage examples: Which one is right for whom?

6. Technical comparison summary table

7. How to choose a reliable Non-Filing CDN provider?

When selecting a Non-Filing CDN, keep these factors in mind:

• Node Quality: Does it have nodes in places like Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United States, etc.? Does it support BGP and multi-line access?
• Anti-blocking Mechanisms: Does it support IP rotation, domain rotation, DNS intelligent resolution, TLS obfuscation, etc.?
• Stability: Does it provide SLA service guarantees? Is there real-time monitoring?
• After-sales Support: Does it have dedicated customer support, a Telegram technical group, and a ticket system?
• Payment Methods: Does it support multiple payment methods like USDT, Alipay, PayPal, etc.?

Recommended brands include: 08Host High Defense CDN, CDN07, etc.

8. Choosing the right CDN is choosing your website’s lifeline

Whether you're working on a formal project or exploring freely, the choice of CDN is the foundation for your website's stability.

Choose domestic CDN for speed and compliance; choose Non-Filing CDN for flexibility and freedom. Both have their advantages, and it’s not about one being better than the other, but rather—the best choice is what suits you.