Cloudflare Zero Trust replaces a traditional VPN for accessing internal applications: you define policies by user identity and the tunnel connects outbound, so nothing is exposed to the internet. The free tier covers a meaningful number of users, which makes it viable for small teams.
Who it is for
A small team exposing an internal admin panel without standing up a VPN.
Key features
- Identity-based access policies per app
- Outbound tunnels replace inbound ports
- Works with Okta, Google, and Azure AD
- Clientless browser access option
- Free for up to 50 users
- Log retention limited on free
Where it falls short
Setup requires understanding tunnels and identity providers, and the dashboard's terminology is not intuitive on a first pass.
Pricing
Free for up to 50 users with core access policies; paid plans are per user, and the gates are log retention and device posture checks.
Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on Cloudflare Zero Trust.
Alternatives to Cloudflare Zero Trust
Frequently asked
Is Cloudflare Zero Trust free?
Partly. Free for up to 50 users with core access policies; paid plans are per user, and the gates are log retention and device posture checks.
What is Cloudflare Zero Trust best for?
A small team exposing an internal admin panel without standing up a VPN.
What are the best alternatives to Cloudflare Zero Trust?
The closest substitutes we list are Tailscale. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.
Which platforms does Cloudflare Zero Trust run on?
Cloudflare Zero Trust is available on Web.