Early March 2019, I launched a free CDN service which I named ANYONE CDN. The mission of making this free CDN is to provide an opportunity for everyone to be able to implement CDN on all websites, whether personal or corporate.
A question arises, why make a free CDN service if you already have Cloudflare? Anyone CDN is an alternative solution for those who "don't like" using Cloudflare, and only need static files that pass through the CDN, not the website as a whole. As we all know, to use the Cloudflare service, we are "forced" so that our website is proxied through the Cloudflare infrastructure. On the one hand it can be profitable, but on the other hand, for some parties, they don't like the solution.
Anyone CDN only caches your website's static files, for website pages, it will still be served by your web server.
What are the advantages of using a CDN?
If you do a load test with Load Impact For example, if you compare using a CDN and without a CDN, there will be a difference in CPU load. Without a CDN, the CPU will work harder because it not only serves web pages, but also has to serve static files. Meanwhile, if using a CDN, the CPU performance will be lighter, because it only works to serve web page processing, while static files (such as css, javascipt, images, videos, fonts) will be submitted to the CDN service.
Anyone CDN Features
As I have listed on the Anyone CDN website, the features are as follows:
- Cache Time
Your site's static files will be cached on the Anyone CDN browser and server for 30 days, after 30 days the Anyone CDN server will fetch again to your site's web server. - Secure CDN
Anyone CDN only fetches your site via an https connection, and can only be accessed via an https connection. - No Limit
No traffic and throttling restrictions. - No Cost
There is no cost, aka free CDN! - GZIP Compression
I activate GZIP compression, in order to reduce bandwidth and files can be loaded faster. - Remove Cookies
Cookies are removed in every file that goes through Anyone CDN, this can reduce latency and increase the score on the GT Metrix. - CORS Header
CORS or Cross Origin Resource Sharing I activate to all, this is usually the solution to errors in fontawesome display fonts and icons. - WordPress Friendly
Anyone CDN runs smoothly without problems on WordPress, just install the CDN Enabler plugin. I will review the tutorial below. - Global Network
Anyone CDN servers are spread all over the world, and with Anycast IP, files will be sent to your visitors from the nearest datacenter.
Limitation of Free CDN from Anyone CDN
This free CDN service from Anyone CDN has limitations, namely:
- No Control Panel
For now, Anyone CDN does not have a control panel, whether to view statistics, change or delete CDNs, and so on. - No Purge Button
There are no buttons to do purge. If you need Anyone CDN to do fetch, you have to wait 30 days; or it can be tricked by changing the file name, then Anyone CDN will automatically do fetch. - Beta Stage
Anyone CDN is still in Beta, meaning there might be bugs or errors. - 20% Rule
Although there is no traffic limit, Anyone CDN has 20% fair usage rules, where the maximum bandwidth per CDN is 20% of the total bandwidth per month. - HTTPS Only
Anyone CDN will only fetch the https site, so make sure your site has an SSL certificate. - No Origin IP or Custom Port
Currently Anyone CDN does not support options Origin IP or custom port. All fetch directly to the site address via https. - No Cloudflare
If your site is currently using Cloudflare, then Anyone CDN will not work.
Creating a CDN on Anyone CDN
Creating a CDN on Anyone CDN is very easy, you only need to enter the domain of your site, without https: //; and press "Create CDN“.
Within 60 seconds, your CDN is ready to use.
NOTE: If your site uses www, then you need to add www as well in the domain name.
Integration with WordPress
Note: As of February 2021, CDN Enabler version 2.0 is not supported custom hostname, for that use version 1.0.9 in order to use this AnyoneCDN service.
To use this free CDN service from Anyone CDN on your WordPress site, simply install it CDN Enabler - WordPress CDN Plugin, and the following settings:
In the "CDN URL" field enter the CDN url that you got from Anyone CDN, without any slashes at the end of the url.
Check the "CDN HTTPS" option, and press the "Save Changes" button. Done, your WordPress site is already using the free CDN service from Anyone CDN.
