Cloudflare
Proton VPN
| Feature | Cloudflare | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $20/mo | Free / from $9.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | websites, web-applications, api-developers, enterprises | privacy-advocates, journalists, remote-workers, travelers |
| Founded | 2009 | 2017 |
| Cdn | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ddos Protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Workers Serverless | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero Trust | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Application Firewall | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ssl Tls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| No Logs Vpn | ✗ | ✓ |
| Kill Switch | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split Tunneling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Secure Core | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tor Over Vpn | ✗ | ✓ |
| Netshield | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Proton VPN Pros
- Strong no-logs policy
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Open-source apps
- Free tier available
✗ Proton VPN Cons
- Free plan limited servers
- Slower than some competitors
- Fewer server locations
The Verdict
Cloudflare is built for websites and web applications, with a focus on cdn and ddos-protection. Proton VPN targets privacy advocates and journalists and leads with no-logs-vpn and kill-switch.
On pricing, Proton VPN is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $9.99/mo compared to $20/mo for Cloudflare. That $10.01/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.
Feature-wise, Cloudflare offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 6), while Proton VPN takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.