Cloudflare Tunnel vs Northflank: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Cloudflare Tunnel and Northflank comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Cloudflare Tunnel
Expose local services
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 7.3/10)
- • Free secure tunneling to expose local services without opening firewall ports
- • Part of Cloudflare Zero Trust - no public IPs or port forwarding needed
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Best for you if:
- • Deploy and manage applications, databases, and AI workloads across any cloud.
- • Offers comprehensive CI/CD, autoscaling, and observability for a streamlined developer experience.
| At a Glance |  Cloudflare Tunnel |  Northflank |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 86/100 | 73/100 |
| Feature | Cloudflare Tunnel | Northflank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 86 | 73 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentCDN | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD |
How Cloudflare Tunnel and Northflank Compare
Cloudflare Tunnel
Expose local services
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Free tier available · 73/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Cloudflare Tunnel
Want the highest-rated option?
Cloudflare Tunnel: 86/100. Northflank: 73/100.
Go with: Cloudflare Tunnel
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Cloudflare Tunnel
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Cloudflare Tunnel scores higher: 86/100 vs 73/100.
Key Takeaways
Cloudflare Tunnel
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 73
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Northflank
The Bottom Line
Cloudflare Tunnel (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloudflare Tunnel or Northflank better?
Cloudflare Tunnel scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Cloudflare Tunnel and Northflank used for?
Cloudflare Tunnel: Expose local services. Northflank: Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform..
What does Cloudflare Tunnel cost vs Northflank?
Cloudflare Tunnel is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Northflank is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.