Uncovering the Best Local CDN Alternatives for Faster & Safer Browsing

The Local CDN extension, a fork of the well-regarded Decentraleyes project, offers a clever solution for improving page load times and enhancing privacy by redirecting requests for common libraries to local equivalents. While incredibly useful, some users may seek out a Local CDN alternative that better suits their specific needs, offers different features, or provides broader platform compatibility. This article dives into some of the top contenders that can help you achieve similar benefits.

Top Local CDN Alternatives

If you're looking to optimize your web browsing experience by serving common libraries locally, you're in the right place. Here are some excellent alternatives to Local CDN that offer various features and platform support.

Decentraleyes

Decentraleyes is a fantastic Local CDN alternative, serving as the original project from which Local CDN forked. It protects you against tracking through "free," centralized content delivery by preventing many requests from reaching networks like Google Hosted Libraries. It's a free and open-source solution available across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, Android Tablet, and supports browsers like Chrome, Pale Moon, Opera, Chromium, and Firefox. Its core features revolve around security & privacy, making it a strong choice for privacy-conscious users.

LocalCDN

Despite sharing a similar name, LocalCDN is a distinct, free and open-source web and Firefox extension that emulates remote frameworks (e.g., jQuery, Bootstrap, AngularJS) and delivers them as local resources. Like its namesake Local CDN, it emphasizes privacy and security, making it a solid choice for Firefox users looking for an extension focused on these aspects.

Web Boost

Web Boost is another excellent, free and open-source Local CDN alternative available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chrome. This extension listens for all outgoing requests and substitutes requests for well-known and highly used JavaScript libraries, CSS files, and fonts with local equivalents, providing a direct benefit to page loading speed. Its primary feature is CDN emulation, making it effective for speeding up your browsing.

CDN Desktop

CDN Desktop stands out as a commercial, self-hosted Local CDN alternative primarily aimed at web designers. It provides a perfect tool for using JavaScript and CSS libraries with or without an internet connection and without relying on npm modules. While not free, its unique feature set caters specifically to web development workflows, making it a valuable option for professionals.

Each of these alternatives offers unique advantages, whether it's enhanced privacy, specific platform support, or features tailored for developers. We encourage you to explore these options and choose the best fit based on your individual browsing habits, privacy concerns, and technical needs.