# cloudflare

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/zero-trust/cloudflare/
Last updated: 2026-01-15
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

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## Overview

Cloudflare Zero Trust (Access, Tunnel, and Gateway) delivers [Zero Trust Network Access](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-zero-trust/) on top of one of the world's largest edge networks. It is the most aggressively priced serious ZTNA stack and the natural choice for the many organizations already using Cloudflare for DNS, CDN, or WAF.

## What it is good at

Value and reach. A genuinely usable free tier and transparent pricing make identity-aware access approachable for SMB and mid-market, while the global edge gives enterprise-grade performance. Cloudflare Access puts an identity check in front of any app via your existing IdP and connects private apps through outbound-only Tunnels, so nothing is exposed to the internet. Developer experience is strong, deployment is fast, and the broader Cloudflare platform (WAF, DNS, email security, browser isolation) means one vendor can cover a lot of ground.

## Where it falls short

Concentrating access, DNS, and security at one provider makes Cloudflare a critical path, which some risk-averse buyers deliberately avoid. For organizations standardizing on a single full SSE with the deepest legacy secure-web-gateway parity, [Zscaler](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/zero-trust/zscaler/) and [Netskope](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/zero-trust/netskope/) remain the heavyweight references. It consumes identity from your IdP rather than providing it.

## Pricing

Transparent, with a free tier for small teams and per-user paid plans, generally well below incumbent SSE pricing. One of the clearer pricing stories in the category.

## Best for, and who should look elsewhere

Choose Cloudflare to replace VPNs with identity-aware access at strong value, especially if you already run Cloudflare. Choose Zscaler or Netskope for the largest global SSE consolidations, or [Tailscale](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/zero-trust/tailscale/) for the simplest mesh VPN. See [Cloudflare vs Zscaler](https://startwithidentity.com/compare/cloudflare-vs-zscaler/) and [Tailscale vs Cloudflare](https://startwithidentity.com/compare/tailscale-vs-cloudflare/).

## Bottom line

The best-value ZTNA for SMB through enterprise, and the obvious pick if Cloudflare is already in your stack.