MaxCDN Review: The Best CDN Solution for WordPress?

Quick answer: MaxCDN was once a go-to CDN for ecommerce stores wanting fast, reliable content delivery.

But since its transition into StackPath, a lot has changed. I spent several months testing it across multiple stores to see if it’s still worth your time – and money.

Here's what I found.

Why You Can Trust This Review

I’ve been building ecommerce stores for over a decade. From Shopify and WooCommerce to headless builds with custom stacks, I’ve tested dozens of CDNs – including Cloudflare, Bunny.net, Fastly, Akamai, and yes, MaxCDN. This isn’t a fluff review.

I’ve actually used MaxCDN before it merged into StackPath, and again after the transition. My goal was to see how it performs for online stores today: page speed, security, ease of use, SEO lift, and support.

The good news? StackPath (formerly MaxCDN) still has some serious perks. But it also comes with a few catches.

MaxCDN Pros and Cons

I’ll break this down clearly. Here’s what I liked and what frustrated me.

My Experience Using MaxCDN

I used MaxCDN for three ecommerce stores – one running WooCommerce, one on Shopify Plus, and one custom store using React and a headless CMS.

Each project had different technical needs, so I was able to get a full picture of how MaxCDN performs across different platforms.

Setup Process

Getting set up wasn’t overly complicated, though it required a bit of technical comfort depending on the platform:

• Shopify: Setup required a simple DNS adjustment and connecting via StackPath’s dashboard. This took under 10 minutes. I didn’t need any apps or custom coding, which was a big plus.
• WooCommerce: A bit more complex, since WordPress caching plugins needed configuration. I used W3 Total Cache, which integrated smoothly with MaxCDN using a pull zone.
• Custom Site: This was where things got technical. I used StackPath’s API to connect our frontend assets to edge locations. It gave me complete control over how and when assets were cached, but it took longer to configure.

The documentation helped, but it’s geared toward developers. If you’re used to plug-and-play platforms, expect a short learning curve.

Speed Gains

Here’s where MaxCDN really delivered. I measured speed improvements using Google PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest before and after implementation.

Each test was run in multiple regions to simulate real customer experiences.

Before MaxCDN:

Store	Avg Load Time	TTFB	Mobile Score
Shopify Plus	3.1s	750ms	68
WooCommerce	4.6s	920ms	54
Custom Site	3.8s	840ms	61

After MaxCDN:

Store	Avg Load Time	TTFB	Mobile Score
Shopify Plus	2.0s	430ms	83
WooCommerce	2.7s	510ms	78
Custom Site	2.2s	490ms	80

It shaved over a second off load times in some cases, especially from locations outside the US. That had a noticeable impact on mobile bounce rates and conversion rates during A/B testing.

If you’re selling internationally or using heavy assets like images, video, or 3D renderings, this kind of improvement matters. Load time is a direct factor in ecommerce performance.

Page speed also boosted our Core Web Vitals, which gave us a lift in organic search rankings.

Day-to-Day Management

Once it was up and running, day-to-day management was mostly hands-off. Still, I regularly checked performance logs and cleared cache when new site changes were pushed.

What stood out:

• Cache Purge: Instant purging with no lag. One click and the updated assets were live worldwide.
• Analytics: Real-time logging with breakdowns by file type, region, and HTTP status codes. This was helpful for debugging or spotting issues quickly.
• Security Settings: I could set headers, block bad bots, and enforce HTTPS without needing another plugin or service.

What I didn’t love was the interface. It’s clean but not intuitive. If you’re new to CDNs, it’ll take a bit of time to understand the layout and features. StackPath clearly built this for developers, not first-time store owners.

Still, if you value performance and control over simplicity, the trade-off is worth it.

Key Features Breakdown

If you’re running an ecommerce store, these are the features that will matter most to you. They’re what I looked at when comparing MaxCDN (now part of StackPath) to other CDN providers I’ve used in my ecommerce builds.

EdgeRules

EdgeRules is one of the standout tools in the StackPath (MaxCDN) platform. It lets you customise behaviour at the edge, without needing to write code or deploy from a dev environment.

For ecommerce, this means faster rollout of caching strategies and better control over how dynamic vs static content is handled.

You can do things like:

• Redirect traffic by country or device type
• Bypass cache for pages like /cart, /checkout, or /account
• Force HTTPS across your entire store
• Block malicious bots or referrers quickly

The best part? It’s all done from the control panel with toggles and dropdowns, not scripts or terminal commands. For stores handling international traffic or flash sales, EdgeRules gave me the flexibility I needed without delay.

Real-Time Analytics

Visibility into your site’s edge performance is critical, especially when you’re running paid traffic or selling into global markets.

MaxCDN’s real-time logging dashboard gave me access to detailed usage metrics that helped fine-tune my strategy.

Here’s what I tracked regularly:

• HTTP response codes to identify issues fast
• Cache hit/miss ratio to monitor caching effectiveness
• Bandwidth usage by region to manage traffic surges
• File types requested the most (JS, CSS, images, fonts)

These insights helped uncover issues like oversized image files, missed cache opportunities, and regional spikes in demand – all in real-time.

Global PoPs

A CDN is only as strong as its edge network.

MaxCDN, through StackPath, operates a robust footprint of global Points of Presence (PoPs), ensuring content is served as close to your customer as possible.

Coverage includes:

• North America: Multiple data centers across US and Canada
• Europe: Major cities like London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam
• Asia: Singapore, Tokyo, Mumbai
• South America: São Paulo, Santiago
• Australia & NZ: Sydney, Melbourne

This level of distribution meant my customers in the UK, India, and Brazil saw noticeable speed improvements – even compared to Cloudflare’s free tier.

SSL & Security

Security is non-negotiable in ecommerce, and MaxCDN meets that standard. Every integration came with free SSL, enabled with one click. No third-party certificates, no manual installs.

You also get:

• TLS 1.3 and HTTP/2 support for modern, fast connections
• Origin Shield, which helps reduce origin server load
• IP Whitelisting and Access Rules for restricting traffic
• DDoS mitigation, inherited from StackPath’s security infrastructure

I didn’t need to bolt on extra services to secure my stores, which kept setup simple and my costs contained.

Pricing: Is MaxCDN Worth It?

Here’s where things get tricky, especially after the StackPath merger.

The pricing structure has changed, but it’s still competitive when you look at performance and support included.

Legacy MaxCDN Pricing (Before StackPath)

Plan	Price (Monthly)	Bandwidth Included
Starter	$9	100GB
Pro	$39	500GB
Business	$79	1TB

This was simple, flat pricing. Great for small to mid-size stores, especially ones focused on the US market. But it’s no longer available as MaxCDN has been absorbed into StackPath.

Current StackPath CDN Pricing

Plan	Price (Monthly)	Bandwidth	Notes
Edge Delivery 20	$27	1TB	Ideal for early-stage stores
Edge Delivery 200	$99	5TB	Scales for mid to large stores
Enterprise Custom	Custom	5TB+	Tailored for enterprise use

There’s no free tier, which is a strike against StackPath if you’re budget-conscious or still validating your store. However, the Edge Delivery 20 plan handled over 1.2 million monthly page views without hitting limits in one of my WooCommerce setups.

If you care about support, bandwidth control, and consistent global speeds, the price is worth it.

Customer Support

Good support is the safety net most ecommerce store owners overlook until something goes wrong. I tested MaxCDN’s support repeatedly – during setup, troubleshooting, and optimisation.

What I Liked:

• 24/7 live chat with fast first response (under 2 minutes each time)
• Ticket responses were detailed and resolved issues within 12 hours
• Knowledgebase includes API docs, platform guides, and use cases
• Support agents didn’t push canned responses – they understood CDN use in ecommerce contexts

What Could Be Better:

• Some articles still reference MaxCDN separately from StackPath, which can be confusing
• Walkthrough videos or step-by-step visual guides are limited – written documentation dominates
• The chat assistant didn’t always route to the right department the first time

Still, for a paid CDN service, I’ve had worse experiences. StackPath has one of the more responsive support teams in the space compared to budget options like Bunny.net or even Cloudflare’s free tier.

Security and Reliability

From day one, StackPath’s reliability gave me peace of mind. For ecommerce, security features should be baked into your CDN – not tacked on. MaxCDN covered every baseline I needed and added some helpful extras.

Here’s a look at what’s included:

Feature	Included
DDoS Protection	Yes
Free SSL Certificate	Yes
Web Application Firewall	Yes
TLS 1.3 and HTTP/2 Support	Yes
Real-Time Threat Alerts	Yes

I especially liked that I didn’t need to bring in a third-party security layer or upgrade to another tier just to get protection. Everything was included on the Edge Delivery 20 plan.

Over a 6-month period, I recorded zero downtime, which aligned with their 99.99% uptime SLA.

MaxCDN vs Other CDNs (2025)

Choosing a CDN often comes down to trade-offs: price vs features, ease of use vs flexibility, support vs scale. Here’s how StackPath (MaxCDN) stacked up against other popular CDN options I’ve used on ecommerce projects.

Feature	StackPath (MaxCDN)	Cloudflare	BunnyCDN
Free Tier	No	Yes	Yes (pay-as-you-go)
Starting Price	$27/mo	Free–$200+	$1/mo + usage
Ease of Use	Moderate	Easy	Very Easy
Performance	Excellent	Good	Great
Security	Strong	Excellent	Moderate
Best For	Mid–large ecommerce	Small–enterprise	Budget/DIY setups

StackPath shines where performance and control are priorities. If you’re scaling and want a solid support team to back you up, it’s a good investment.

But if you’re just getting started or need basic static file delivery, BunnyCDN or Cloudflare are more forgiving.

Cloudflare is especially appealing to stores on a tight budget, thanks to its generous free tier and built-in security tools.

BunnyCDN, on the other hand, excels in simplicity and low cost, making it ideal for dropshippers or micro-brands looking to move quickly without complexity.

StackPath stands apart when uptime SLAs, technical flexibility, and high traffic thresholds become mission-critical to your operations.

Final Verdict: Should You Use MaxCDN?

Here’s the deal – if you’re running an ecommerce store with international traffic, large asset sizes, or SEO goals tied to page speed, StackPath (MaxCDN) is still a solid bet in 2025.

It’s built for growth-focused stores that need real infrastructure, not quick hacks or stopgap tools.

It’s especially useful if:

• You want control without hiring a developer
• You need a CDN with strong global reach and uptime
• Your site handles frequent updates or launch events
• You rely heavily on performance for SEO and conversion

It’s also a smart choice if your audience is spread across multiple regions, or if your conversion rates dip anytime your load times rise above 2 seconds.

If you’ve ever dealt with traffic spikes during a product drop or ad campaign, you’ll appreciate the reliability. I’ve tested dozens of CDNs over the years, and StackPath’s balance of performance and security lands it comfortably above mid-market options.

I wouldn’t recommend it if:

• You’re just launching and need a free or budget CDN
• You get overwhelmed by technical setups or dashboards
• You’re not yet monetising your store or rely on minimal traffic

The platform is powerful, but it’s more than you need if you're just validating your product or building your first store.

You won’t get much value out of it if you're only serving a few hundred visits a month. In that case, starting with a free tier from Cloudflare or a lightweight BunnyCDN plan makes more sense.

For ecommerce stores doing over $10,000/month, the speed gains, analytics, and security justify the cost. StackPath offers a professional-grade solution without the chaos of enterprise platforms like Akamai, and it scales cleanly without forcing you into custom contracts or sales calls.