Cloudflare CDN Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Cloudflare CDN pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $200 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Cloudflare CDN's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Unlimited bandwidth
- DDoS protection
- SSL
- 3 page rules
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Image optimization
- Mobile optimization
- 20 page rules
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Image optimization or Mobile optimization
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Cloudflare CDN branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Pro Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Pro $20/ | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 4 included | 3+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Cloudflare CDN branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Personal websites and small projects | Professional websites |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Cloudflare CDN free?
Yes, Cloudflare CDN offers a forever free plan with 4 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Cloudflare CDN's free plan?
Cloudflare CDN's free plan includes: Unlimited bandwidth, DDoS protection, SSL, 3 page rules. Key limits include basic usage caps.
03 What's NOT included in Cloudflare CDN's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Image optimization, Mobile optimization, 20 page rules. You'll also have Cloudflare CDN branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Cloudflare CDN's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Image optimization or Mobile optimization, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $20/month.
05 Is Cloudflare CDN's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Cloudflare CDN's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Cloudflare CDN pricing updates
We'll notify you when pricing changes or new free features are added.