Fastly is a top-tier programmable CDN, and its Image Optimizer does real-time transforms at the edge — excellent if you're already an enterprise Fastly customer. swiftimg targets everyone else: built-in hosting plus on-the-fly transforms, signed URLs, and global delivery, with flat self-serve pricing and a free tier instead of enterprise commitments.
swiftimg vs Fastly Image Optimizer at a glance
| Feature | swiftimg | Fastly Image Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Self-serve, any size | Enterprise CDN customers |
| Built-in hosting | Yes (upload & store) | Optimizes your origin |
| Real-time transforms | Yes (signed) | Yes |
| Pricing | Flat plan, free to start | CDN contract + usage |
| Setup | Upload and go | Configure service + origin |
| Free, no-account uploads | Yes | No |
List prices as of 2026 for context — directional, not apples-to-apples. Check each provider for current pricing.
When Fastly Image Optimizer is the better choice
Fastly if you're already on their CDN at scale and want image optimization integrated with their programmable edge (VCL/Compute) and SLAs.
swiftimg vs Fastly Image Optimizer — FAQ
Is swiftimg as fast as Fastly?
For image delivery, swiftimg serves globally with immutable caching — fast worldwide. Fastly is a phenomenal general-purpose CDN; swiftimg focuses specifically on hosting and delivering images well.
Do I need my own origin?
No. swiftimg is the origin and the CDN — upload an image and it's hosted and served. Fastly's optimizer sits in front of storage you provide.
Ready to switch from Fastly Image Optimizer?
Start free, then unlock the full API, transforms, signed URLs, and a custom domain on the Developer plan.