Cloudflare Tunnel
Expose local services securely without opening ports
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Cloudflare Tunnel securely connects local services to Cloudflare via outbound-only connections, eliminating the need for public ports.
- for
- Developers and ops teams needing secure remote access to internal services.
- pricing
- freemium
Key features
- Outbound-only connections — cloudflared initiates outbound connections, allowing bidirectional traffic without opening inbound ports.
- Multi-protocol support — Can tunnel HTTP, SSH, remote desktop and other protocols through Cloudflare.
- Scalable connectors — Run multiple cloudflared processes within a single tunnel to handle traffic from any location.
- Firewall-friendly setup — Leverages default outbound firewall rules, letting you block all inbound traffic to the origin.
- Dashboard & API provisioning — Create and manage tunnels via the Cloudflare dashboard or programmatically through the API.
- Global network routing — Traffic is routed to the nearest Cloudflare data center for low latency and DDoS protection.
Use cases
- Expose a local development web server to the internet for testing
- Provide secure SSH access to a remote server without opening ports
- Connect internal APIs to Cloudflare’s CDN and security features
- Enable remote desktop sessions for support staff over a protected tunnel
- Replace traditional port-forwarding with a managed, outbound-only solution
Cloudflare Tunnel pricing
- Free$0Personal or hobby projects · Unlimited tunnels · Basic Cloudflare features
- Pro$20/month billed annually, or Professional websites · Enhanced support · Additional security features
- Business$200/month billed annually, or Small businesses · Higher usage limits · Advanced security
Cloudflare Tunnel vs alternatives
 Cloudflare Tunnel |  zrok |  frp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Outbound-only secure tunnels | Self-hosted secure tunnels | Lightweight local reverse proxy |
| Pricing | Freemium | Free | Free |
| DevHunt upvotes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Launched | — | — | — |
- Cloudflare Tunnel vs zrok: Open-source tunneling tool requiring self-hosting, whereas Cloudflare Tunnel is managed by Cloudflare’s network.
- Cloudflare Tunnel vs frp: Fast reverse proxy focused on local exposure, but lacks Cloudflare’s global network and security features.
Cloudflare Tunnel FAQ
How does Cloudflare Tunnel avoid opening inbound ports?+
cloudflared creates an outbound connection from your server to Cloudflare, and all traffic flows over this tunnel, so no inbound ports need to be opened.
Can I run multiple services through a single tunnel?+
Yes, a tunnel can host multiple cloudflared connectors, each handling different protocols or services.
Do I need to change my firewall rules?+
You only need to allow outbound traffic to Cloudflare; you can block all inbound traffic to the origin.
How do I create a tunnel?+
Create it via the Cloudflare dashboard or using the Cloudflare API, then download and run the cloudflared daemon.
Is there a free tier?+
Yes, Cloudflare offers a Free plan for personal or hobby projects with unlimited tunnels.
What protocols are supported?+
HTTP, SSH, remote desktop and other TCP/UDP based protocols can be tunneled.
Summarized by DevHunt from cloudflare.com · Nov 7, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
About this listing
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