Akamai vs CrowdStrike: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Akamai and CrowdStrike. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Akamai starts at $5/mo, making it $55/mo cheaper than CrowdStrike ($59.99/mo). CrowdStrike offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Akamai vs CrowdStrike: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Akamai | CrowdStrike |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $5/mo | $59.99/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Akamai is the more affordable option, starting at $5/mo compared to CrowdStrike's $59.99/mo. Both are Security tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 32 features compared.
CrowdStrike stands out with a free plan for getting started. Akamai uses usage-based pricing while CrowdStrike uses per-seat pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Security needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Akamai Try it free |  CrowdStrike Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Trial $0/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Dedicated CPUPopular $36/monthCheapest Includes
| Go $60/month Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Pro $100/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 4 | — | Enterprise $185/monthCheapest Includes
|
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CrowdStrike
CrowdStrike offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: CrowdStrike
Try CrowdStrike freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Akamai if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Akamai starts at $5/mo, saving $54.99/mo compared to CrowdStrike at $59.99/mo
- •You need predictable billing — Akamai's usage-based model avoids surprise overages
- •Akamai's focused feature set keeps your team in control without tool bloat
Choose CrowdStrike if:
- •You need a free plan with Next-Gen Antivirus, Device Control—CrowdStrike offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—CrowdStrike offers 8 additional features across its plans
CrowdStrike offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Akamai requires paid subscription from the start. This gives CrowdStrike a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow CrowdStrike's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $59.99/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Akamai's tiering starting at $5/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. CrowdStrike's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Akamai's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, CrowdStrike is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: Akamai vs CrowdStrike
Which is cheaper, Akamai or CrowdStrike?
How many pricing plans does Akamai have vs CrowdStrike?
Does Akamai or CrowdStrike offer a free plan?
What is the most popular Akamai plan?
What pricing models do Akamai and CrowdStrike use?
How do Akamai and CrowdStrike compare for Security?
Sources
- Akamai Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- CrowdStrike Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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