Cloudflare
Edge network with DNS, CDN, security and serverless compute
- #5 of 11 in best cloud hosting platforms
- Free plan, paid upgrades
- Free to use
- Web
Ranked 5 of 11 in best cloud hosting platforms
A network and edge platform rather than a general cloud host, with DNS, CDN, DDoS protection and a web application firewall in front of any host. The uptime SLA sits on the custom Contract tier.
Best for Protection and caching in front of any host
About Cloudflare
Cloudflare runs a global network that sits in front of websites and apps. Its services include DNS, CDN caching, unmetered DDoS protection, a Web Application Firewall and universal SSL certificates. The platform also offers compute and storage products for building applications at the edge.
The Free plan is for personal or hobby projects that are not business-critical. Pro costs $20 a month billed annually or $25 billed monthly, and Business costs $200 a month billed annually or $250 billed monthly. A custom Contract tier covers mission-critical services. Cloudflare suits sites that need protection and caching in front of any host.
Key features
- DNS and CDN
- Unmetered DDoS protection
- Web Application Firewall
- Universal SSL
- Edge compute and storage
Strengths
- Free plan with DNS, CDN and DDoS protection
- Works in front of sites on any host
Limits
- Free plan is for personal or hobby projects only
- Uptime SLA only on the custom Contract tier
Where Cloudflare ranks
How Cloudflare compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Starting price | Billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#3 Microsoft Azure | 89.0 | Pay as you go | Web | $200 credit for 30 days | Free account, then pay as you go |
#4 DigitalOcean | 87.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | Droplets from $4 a month | Pay for what you use |
| #5Cloudflare | 86.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | $0 on the Free plan | Free, Pro, Business and custom Contract plans |
#6 Vercel | 86.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | $0 on Hobby; Pro $20 a month | Plans plus usage above included amounts |
#7 Netlify | 85.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | Web | Free Personal plan at $0 | Free plan; extra usage in credits |
The full comparison table for best cloud hosting platforms has all 11 products.
Alternatives to Cloudflare
All 10 alternatives
Amazon Web ServicesAmazon's cloud platform for compute, storage, databases and AI services
Google CloudGoogle's cloud platform for compute, data, AI and app hosting- Microsoft AzureMicrosoft's cloud platform for apps, data and AI services
- DigitalOceanDeveloper cloud with Droplets, managed databases and App Platform
- VercelHosting platform for web apps with serverless functions and a CDN
- NetlifyHosting and deployment platform for static sites and web apps
Questions about Cloudflare
- Is Cloudflare free?
- Cloudflare can be used without paying: Free plan for personal projects; Pro $20 a month; Business $200 a month. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Cloudflare open source?
- No. Cloudflare is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Cloudflare support?
- Cloudflare is available on: Web.
- What is Cloudflare best for?
- Protection and caching in front of any host. In our ranking of cloud hosting platforms it is number 5 of 11 with a score of 86.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Cloudflare?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, DigitalOcean.
Show this ranking on your site
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