Cloudflare
Web performance and security platform with CDN, DDoS protection, and edge computing
What I Like
- Generous free tier
- Excellent DDoS protection
- Fast global CDN
- Easy setup
- Workers for edge computing
What Could Be Better
- Advanced features complex
- Support varies by tier
- Learning curve for Workers
- Some features enterprise-only
Why Every Website Should Use Cloudflare
Cloudflare’s free tier offers what others charge for—CDN, DDoS protection, SSL, and more. There’s no reason not to use it.
My Experience
Cloudflare is my first recommendation for any website. The free tier is genuinely useful. Setup is simple. The performance and security improvements are immediate.
What Makes Cloudflare Essential
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Free CDN - Your content cached and served from 300+ edge locations worldwide. Faster load times globally. All free.
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DDoS Protection - Attack mitigation that actually works. Cloudflare handles massive attacks without you even knowing. Protection that enterprises pay millions for.
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SSL/TLS - Free SSL certificates, automatic HTTPS. Secure your site without managing certificates. One-click setup.
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Cloudflare Workers - Edge computing platform. Run code at the edge, globally. Build fast, distributed applications. Powerful for advanced use cases.
Where Cloudflare Falls Short
Advanced features have learning curves. Support quality varies by tier. Some features require enterprise plans. Workers programming takes time to learn.
Who Should Use Cloudflare
- Every website (seriously)
- Developers wanting edge computing
- Companies needing DDoS protection
- Anyone wanting faster websites
Cloudflare Free vs Pro
| Feature | Free | Pro ($20/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | ✅ | ✅ |
| DDoS | ✅ | Enhanced |
| WAF | Basic | Full |
| Image Optimization | No | Yes |
| Best For | Most sites | Business sites |
The Bottom Line
Cloudflare’s free tier is remarkable value. Every website should use it. The paid tiers add features, but the free tier alone handles most needs. Just use Cloudflare.
