Cloudflare
Fly.io
| Feature | Cloudflare | Fly.io |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $20/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | websites, web-applications, api-developers, enterprises | full-stack-developers, global-apps, edge-computing, hobby-projects |
| Founded | 2009 | 2017 |
| Cdn | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ddos Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workers Serverless | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero Trust | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Application Firewall | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ssl Tls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Global Deployment | ✗ | ✓ |
| Firecracker Vms | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fly Postgres | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Scaling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Volumes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Private Networking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Gpu Support | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Cloudflare Pros
- Generous free tier includes CDN, DNS, and basic DDoS protection
- Global edge network with 300+ data centers
- Workers platform for serverless computing at the edge
- Fast DNS propagation and always-on DDoS mitigation
✗ Cloudflare Cons
- Advanced security features require expensive plans
- Support quality varies by plan level
- Some features have usage-based billing surprises
✓ Fly.io Pros
- Deploy apps globally to 30+ regions easily
- Built-in Postgres and Redis for data at the edge
- Generous free tier for hobby projects
- Firecracker VMs start in milliseconds
✗ Fly.io Cons
- Operational complexity for simple apps
- Documentation can be hard to navigate
- Billing surprises if auto-scaling triggers unexpectedly
The Verdict
Cloudflare is built for websites and web applications, with a focus on cdn and ddos-protection. Fly.io targets full stack developers and global apps and leads with global-deployment and firecracker-vms.
On pricing, Fly.io is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $20/mo for Cloudflare. That $20/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Cloudflare edges out on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Cloudflare offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 7), while Fly.io takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Cloudflare has a slight overall edge — but if deploy apps globally to 30+ regions easily matters most to you, Fly.io may still be the right call.