Overview

Gcore was founded in 2014, headquartered in Luxembourg, as a global technology company focused on edge computing and CDN acceleration. Gcore started with game hosting and DDoS protection, expanding into CDN delivery, edge computing, cloud servers, and AI infrastructure.

Gcore operates 140+ global edge nodes across six continents, deeply integrating CDN, DDoS protection, and edge computing on one platform. Europe and Asia-Pacific node quality is especially strong, making it a key alternative to Cloudflare and Fastly; since 2023 it has accelerated Asia expansion with new nodes in Singapore, India, Japan, and Korea.

Key Strengths

  • Broad global coverage: 140+ nodes across six continents with sub-15ms average latency in Europe and a growing APAC network (Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Mumbai); sensible CDN caching strategies boost performance.
  • Built-in multi-layer DDoS: L3/L4/L7 defense auto-detects and mitigates CC, SYN Flood, UDP Flood, and DNS Amplification; basic protection is free.
  • Edge Functions: Run JavaScript at edge nodes for request modification, A/B testing, URL rewriting, and custom auth.
  • Professional streaming optimization: HLS, DASH, and RTMP with low-latency delivery for video streaming acceleration and OTT.
  • Competitive pricing: Traffic-based from about EUR 1.5/TB with no minimum commitment; new users get EUR 50-100 trial credit.
  • Cloud servers and bare metal: Public cloud VMs and bare metal for CDN + cloud-host integrated deployment.

Product Ecosystem

Global Network Architecture

Europe (core) 40+ nodes, APAC (expanding) 30+ nodes, North America 20+ nodes, plus South America and Africa key nodes; all support HTTP/2, HTTP/3 (QUIC), TLS 1.3, and Brotli with private backbone interconnection.

Edge Computing Platform

  • Edge nodes: Edge Functions (request modification, URL rewriting, A/B testing, auth)
  • Edge containers: Edge Containers (stateful microservices)
  • Cloud servers: VMs/bare metal (general compute)

Edge Functions run on V8 sandboxes with microsecond startup; Edge Containers deploy Docker containers to the edge.

API & Integration

RESTful API, Terraform Provider, Prometheus integration, log export (S3/GCS), Webhook notifications, and CLI tools.

Limitations

  • Low brand awareness: Far less recognized than Cloudflare and Akamai in Western markets; procurement may face resistance.
  • Limited Chinese support: Console and docs are primarily English/Russian with incomplete Chinese translations.
  • North America density gaps: Fewer NA nodes than Cloudflare and Akamai; test coverage for NA-focused businesses.
  • Advanced security gaps: Custom WAF rules, Bot management, and API security trail Cloudflare Enterprise.
  • No mainland China nodes: No domestic PoPs; pair with domestic CDNs for mainland audiences.

Use Cases

  • Europe/Asia-Pacific business (★★★★★): Excellent node quality for sites targeting these regions; a cost-effective choice for Chinese companies expanding to Southeast Asia and Europe.
  • CDN + DDoS combination (★★★★): Built-in DDoS lowers total cost of ownership without extra security spend.
  • Streaming/live platforms (★★★★): Strong HLS/DASH support and low-latency delivery.
  • Gaming (★★★★): Game DNA gives advantages in resource distribution, patch acceleration, and real-time low latency.
  • AI inference and edge computing (★★★★): Edge Functions + Edge Containers for caching and preprocessing AI inference results.
  • Brand-conscious enterprises (★★★): Lower recognition may need additional evaluation.

Pricing

Billing Price Notes
Traffic-based From EUR 1.5/TB Lower unit price at scale
Bandwidth Custom quote Monthly commitment for heavy traffic
DDoS Protection Included Basic free, advanced upgrade
Edge Functions Per request About EUR 0.5/million
Edge Containers Per resource By vCPU/memory/time
Cloud Servers Hourly/monthly From EUR 5/month

No permanent free tier, but new users get EUR 50-100 trial credit (30 days); see the CDN cost optimization guide.

FAQ

  • How does it compare with Cloudflare? Gcore wins on EU/APAC node quality, streaming, and DDoS integration; Cloudflare wins on global coverage, free tier, and Chinese ecosystem; decide by geography and budget; see the CDN provider selection guide.
  • Is it suitable for Chinese users? No mainland nodes; use domestic CDNs domestically, while Gcore's APAC nodes serve overseas Chinese and APAC business well; see the cross-border CDN guide.
  • Is there a free tier? No permanent free tier, but EUR 50-100 trial credit; see the CDN cost optimization guide.
  • Does it support WebSocket? Yes, Gcore CDN supports WebSocket proxying for real-time apps and dashboards; see video streaming acceleration.
  • Are the APIs complete? Yes, a full RESTful API covering CDN config, cache purge, stats, and DDoS policy, with complete docs; see the website CDN setup guide.
  • Is it suitable for AI sites? Yes, Edge Functions handle aggregation, caching, and auth of AI API requests at the edge; see edge computing and CDN convergence.
  • How is customer support? 24/7 with 1-4 hour ticket response; enterprise clients get dedicated managers; see the CDN comparison.