Google Cloud CDN

What Google Cloud CDN is
Google Cloud CDN serves web application content from Google’s global edge network, placing it closer to users. It can fetch content from any HTTP-capable origin, including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Google Kubernetes Engine, and sources outside Google Cloud. Caching can be configured by origin, with controls for cache keys and time to live, while HTTP routing maps traffic to edge configurations and origins. The service works with the global external or classic Application Load Balancer. When content is not cached, a request passes through that load balancer to an origin; cacheable responses may be stored for future requests. Delivery features include TLS 1.3, QUIC, and Global Anycast, and Cloud Armor integration helps protect content at the edge. Cloud Logging and Cloud Monitoring can track traffic. Configurable caching and dynamic compression can help accelerate APIs and user-specific content. There is no free plan, though a free trial is offered. Charges are based on bandwidth and HTTP/HTTPS requests; cache fill and applicable load balancing or Cloud Storage charges may also apply. Charges accrue daily and are billed at the end of the billing period.
Who it suits
Google Cloud CDN suits teams serving web applications from HTTP-capable origins that want configurable caching and edge routing. It may also suit workloads serving APIs or user-specific content, where dynamic compression and cache controls can help.
What it does well
- Accepts HTTP-capable origins inside or outside Google Cloud.
- Caching rules can be set by origin.
- Includes HTTP routing to edge configurations and origins.
- Integrates with Cloud Armor.
- Traffic monitoring uses Cloud Logging and Cloud Monitoring.
What to know first
- No free plan.
- Requires the global external or classic Application Load Balancer.
- Charges can include bandwidth, requests, cache fill, and other services.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud CDN | Starting at $0.03 GiB per month for cache egress at 150 TiB–500 TiB; other charges apply. · 150 TiB–500 TiB cache egress · cache fill $0.01–$0.04 per GiB · $0.0075 per 10,000 HTTP/HTTPS lookup requests | $0.03 a month |
As cloud.google.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Google Cloud CDN offers configurable caching and edge routing for workloads using a supported Application Load Balancer. Review the usage-based charges and related service costs when estimating spend.
Facts from Google Cloud CDN's own pages
- Billing limit
- Charges accrue daily, while Cloud CDN bills at the end of the billing period. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Cache miss behavior
- On a cache miss, Cloud CDN forwards the request through the external Application Load Balancer to an origin server and may store cacheable responses for later requests. · docs.cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Caching controls
- Caching behavior can be configured by origin, including cache keys and TTLs. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- Google Cloud’s ISO/IEC 27001 certified information security management system includes Cloud CDN in its listed scope. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Dynamic content
- The product page says configurable cache controls and dynamic compression can help accelerate APIs and user-specific content. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · cloud.google.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Image optimization
- No · cloud.google.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Load balancing requirement
- Cloud CDN works with the global external or classic Application Load Balancer. · docs.cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Observability
- Traffic can be monitored with Cloud Logging and Cloud Monitoring. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Origins
- It can pull content from any HTTP-capable origin, including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Google Kubernetes Engine, and origins outside Google Cloud. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Origin shield
- No · cloud.google.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Pricing basis
- Cloud CDN charges for bandwidth and HTTP/HTTPS requests, with cache fill and applicable load balancing or Cloud Storage charges also possible. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- The product page identifies TLS 1.3, QUIC, and Global Anycast among the protocols and network features supporting delivery. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Cloud CDN uses Google’s global edge network to accelerate web applications by serving content closer to users. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Routing
- Cloud CDN provides HTTP routing capabilities to map traffic to specific edge configurations and origins. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Security integration
- Cloud CDN integrates with Cloud Armor to help protect content at the edge. · cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Support resources
- Cloud CDN documentation links to API and gcloud references, troubleshooting, billing questions, getting support, and a service level agreement. · docs.cloud.google.com, 8 Oct 2026
Where Google Cloud CDN stands on Freedom251
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