Cloudflare Tunnel vs LocalTunnel: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Cloudflare Tunnel and LocalTunnel side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Cloudflare Tunnel
Expose local services securely without opening firewall ports
Best for you if:
- • You want free tier generous for personal use
LocalTunnel
Expose your local web service to the world with a public URL.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Cloudflare Tunnel requires payment)
| At a Glance | Cloudflare Tunnel | LocalTunnel |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Cloud & Infrastructure Security | Hosting & Deployment API Tools |
Rating | 1.8/5 Trustpilot 1.5 · SourceForge 5.0 1,316 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Zero Trust features cost $7/user | n/a |
Choose Cloudflare Tunnel or LocalTunnel?
Choose Cloudflare Tunnel if
- You want free tier generous for personal use
- You want no need to open firewall ports
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not hosting & deployment
Choose LocalTunnel if
- You want a fully free tool (Cloudflare Tunnel requires payment)
- You want easy to set up and use
- You want no DNS or firewall configuration required
- You work in hosting & deployment, not cloud & infrastructure
In-Depth Analysis
Cloudflare Tunnel
Expose local services securely without opening firewall ports
Cloudflare Tunnel is completely free with no usage limits - one of the best values in secure tunneling.
Watch out
Zero Trust features cost $7/user
Strengths
- Pro: Free tier generous for personal use
- Pro: No need to open firewall ports
- Pro: Automatic HTTPS with valid certificates
- Pro: Integrates with Cloudflare Zero Trust
- Pro: Easy setup with cloudflared CLI
Weaknesses
- Con: Adds latency compared to direct connections
- Con: Dependent on Cloudflare infrastructure
- Con: Complex configuration for advanced use cases
- Con: Limited bandwidth on free tier
- Con: Requires domain on Cloudflare DNS
Key features
LocalTunnel
Expose your local web service to the world with a public URL.
LocalTunnel offers a completely free service, which is exceptionally generous compared to any market alternative.
Strengths
- Pro: Easy to set up and use
- Pro: No DNS or firewall configuration required
- Pro: Provides secure HTTPS connections
- Pro: Useful for sharing development progress and testing
- Pro: Supports webhook testing
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires NodeJS for global installation
- Con: Tunnel is active only as long as the local instance runs
- Con: URL is randomly generated and not customizable (based on provided info)
Key features
Plans and prices: Cloudflare Tunnel vs LocalTunnel
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Tunnel |
| cloudflare.com/zero-trust/products/access read Oct 26, 2026 |
| LocalTunnel |
| theboroer.github.io/localtunnel-www read Oct 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Cloudflare Tunnel pricing and LocalTunnel pricing.
Key Takeaways
Cloudflare Tunnel
- Choose if you want expose local services securely without opening firewall ports
LocalTunnel
- Choose if you want expose your local web service to the world with a public URL
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Cloudflare Tunnel has a published user rating (1.8/5 from 1,316 reviews); LocalTunnel has none we can show.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Cloudflare Tunnel and LocalTunnel compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Cloudflare Tunnel has a published user rating (1.8/5 from 1,316 reviews); LocalTunnel has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are Cloudflare Tunnel and LocalTunnel used for?
Cloudflare Tunnel: Expose local services securely without opening firewall ports. LocalTunnel: Expose your local web service to the world with a public URL.
What does Cloudflare Tunnel cost vs LocalTunnel?
Cloudflare Tunnel has no public paid-plan price on file. LocalTunnel is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 26, 2026.
What's the main difference between Cloudflare Tunnel and LocalTunnel?
Cloudflare Tunnel's main strength: free tier generous for personal use. LocalTunnel's main strength: easy to set up and use.