NS1 (IBM) review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DeployCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
NS1 (IBM) suits small teams that want a free entry point and modest delivery rather than the widest reach, and the trade-off is the network itself. Its 26 points of presence rank 29 of 30 brands compared, well short of the alternatives here.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free tier is part of the offering, so a new site can be served from the network without a paid commitment.
- The 26 point network is larger than the smallest footprint in the category, 17.
- A free entry point makes it easy to put one property on the network and see how it behaves before spending.
Cons
- The 26 point network is well under UCloud CDN at 1,200 and UCloud at 500.
- Points of presence rank 29 of 30 brands compared and sit below the category median of 324.
- Visitors outside the 26 listed points are served from longer paths, so a free tier does not widen the footprint.
Ready to try NS1 (IBM)?
Scored 8.6 / 10 by DeployCue.
Who it suits
- Small teams that want a free tier more than a wide edge
- Sites whose visitors sit close to the existing 26 points of presence
- Readers who would rather place one property on the network before committing to a paid contract
Who should look elsewhere
- UCloud CDN, for the broadest reach here at 1,200 points of presence.
- Google Cloud, for a wider network at 202 points of presence.
- UCloud, for readers who rank reach ahead of a free tier, given its 500 points of presence.
How NS1 (IBM) compares
NS1 (IBM) vs ScalaHosting8.6 vs 8.3
NS1 (IBM) vs Contabo8.6 vs 9.2
NS1 (IBM) vs Kamatera8.6 vs 9.5- NS1 (IBM) vs Novada8.6 vs 8.9
NS1 (IBM) vs Cloudways8.6 vs 9.2
NS1 (IBM) vs PlanetHoster8.6 vs 8.7
NS1 (IBM) vs Acronis8.6 vs 9.9
NS1 (IBM) vs Aruba8.6 vs 9.3
NS1 (IBM) vs Decodo8.6 vs 9.1
NS1 (IBM) vs Hostinger8.6 vs 9.1
NS1 (IBM) vs MarsProxies8.6 vs 9.0
NS1 (IBM) vs hide.me8.6 vs 8.7
NS1 (IBM) vs Proton Drive8.6 vs 8.3
NS1 (IBM) vs AIS Cloud8.6 vs 8.1
Frequently asked questions
Does NS1 offer a free tier?+
A free tier is part of the offering, so a small property can be served from the network before any spend. The catch is the footprint it runs on, 26 points of presence, which ranks 29 of 30 brands compared on that measure.
How many points of presence does NS1 run?+
The network lists 26 points of presence. For context, the median footprint across the CDN ranking is 324 and the smallest is 17, so the network sits near the lower end rather than in the middle.
How does NS1 compare with UCloud CDN on network size?+
UCloud CDN lists 1,200 points of presence against 26 for NS1. That gap is the main reason to look elsewhere when the audience is spread across many regions and a free tier is not the deciding factor.
How does NS1 compare with Google Cloud?+
Google Cloud runs 202 points of presence, a wider network than the 26 NS1 lists. On reach alone it leads this comparison, while the free tier is the point in NS1's favour.
Is the NS1 network large enough for a global audience?+
It depends where the visitors are. With 26 points of presence against a category median of 324, visitors far from the listed locations take longer paths, and UCloud's 500 points of presence show what a wider footprint gives you.
How many alternatives are compared with NS1?+
There are 3 alternatives listed: UCloud, Google Cloud and UCloud CDN. Network size separates them cleanly, running from 26 for NS1 through 202 and 500 to 1,200.
Where does NS1 rank on points of presence?+
It ranks 29 of 30 brands compared on points of presence. That is a coverage limit rather than a pricing one, so the free tier still makes it a low cost way to try the network.
Is NS1 the smallest network in the comparison?+
It is the smallest of the listed providers. NS1 lists 26 points of presence, against 202 for Google Cloud, 500 for UCloud and 1,200 for UCloud CDN.
Sources
- ibm.com/products/ns1-connect checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Points of presence
“26 Points of Presence (PoPs) strategically distributed across six continents”
- ibm.com/products/ns1-connect/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free tier
“30 day Free Trial”
Compiled from 2 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price per GB.