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What is a CDN?

Learn what a content delivery network (CDN) is, how it speeds up your website, and why managed WordPress hosts include one.

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If a visitor in Tokyo opens your website and your server is in Chicago, their request has to travel a very long way. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) solves this problem by putting copies of your site's files closer to wherever your visitors are.

Quick summary

A CDN is a global network of servers that stores copies of your website's files. When someone visits your site, the CDN delivers those files from a server near them, which usually makes the page load faster, especially for visitors far from your main server. All three of our recommended hosts (Flywheel, WP Engine, Kinsta) include a CDN at no extra cost.

How a CDN works

Here's what happens without a CDN:

  1. A visitor in London opens your website.
  2. Their browser sends a request to your server in Dallas.
  3. The server sends back your images, fonts, and code files.
  4. All of that data travels thousands of miles — adding time to every load.

Here's what happens with a CDN:

  1. A visitor in London opens your website.
  2. Their browser requests files from a CDN server in or near London (much closer).
  3. Those files are already cached there and are delivered quickly.
  4. Only data that isn't cached needs to travel to the origin server.

The result: faster load times for visitors who are far from your server.

What a CDN delivers

A CDN typically handles static files — content that doesn't change with every request:

  • Images (photos, logos, icons)
  • Fonts
  • CSS stylesheets (the code that controls how your site looks)
  • JavaScript files (the code that makes things interactive)
  • Videos and PDFs

Dynamic content (like shopping carts, logged-in user data, or search results) usually still comes from your origin server. Some setups cache more than static files: WP Engine's optional Edge Full Page Cache, for example, stores your pages' HTML on the CDN network too.

Why a CDN matters for your business

Speed

Faster pages make for a better experience, and Google's ranking systems reward pages that give a good experience. Serving files from nearby servers is a simple way to speed up delivery for visitors who are far from your server.

Reliability

Because a CDN serves files from many servers, it takes load off your own server and helps your site cope when traffic is high.

Security

The Cloudflare-powered CDNs that Kinsta and WP Engine use come with DDoS protection (defense against malicious floods of traffic). Kinsta's also includes a firewall.

Global reach

If your customers are anywhere in the world — not just near your server — a CDN helps them get a faster experience wherever they are.

Flywheel lists a CDN powered by Fastly as a feature of its plans, at no extra cost. It works alongside FlyCache, Flywheel's own caching. If you're not sure whether it's active on your site, ask Flywheel support.

Common questions

Do I need to set up the CDN myself?

No. On Flywheel, WP Engine, and Kinsta, the CDN is included. Kinsta turns it on by default for new sites, and WP Engine turns it on once your domain points to its network. We handle any setup during your site launch.

Can a CDN cause problems?

Occasionally, aggressively cached files can mean visitors see an old version of your site after an update. This is called a "cache issue." Clearing the CDN cache (usually a one-click step in your hosting dashboard) resolves it.

Is a CDN the same as caching?

They're related but different. Caching stores pre-built copies of pages. A CDN distributes those copies geographically. Most modern systems use both together. See caching explained for more.

What if most of my visitors are local?

The speed benefit is smaller, and visitors close to your server may see no speed boost at all (Kinsta's own CDN tests found this). A CDN still takes load off your server, and all three of our recommended hosts include one anyway.

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

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On this page

How a CDN worksWhat a CDN deliversWhy a CDN matters for your businessSpeedReliabilitySecurityGlobal reachCDN on our recommended platformsCommon questionsDo I need to set up the CDN myself?Can a CDN cause problems?Is a CDN the same as caching?What if most of my visitors are local?Related guides