Cloudflare vs Zscaler
type: Article
description: Cloudflare is a CDN and DDoS protection platform optimized for web performance and application security, while Zscaler is a Zero Trust network security platform focused on secure internet access and data loss prevention. Cloudflare excels at edge computing and performance, whereas Zscaler specializes in granular access control and threat prevention for remote users.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T06:14:04.597Z
date created: 2026-07-09T06:14:04.597Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T06:14:04.637Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T06:14:04.637Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Cloudflare
about: Zscaler
abstract: Cloudflare is a CDN and DDoS protection platform optimized for web performance and application security, while Zscaler is a Zero Trust network security platform focused on secure internet access and data loss prevention. Cloudflare excels at edge computing and performance, whereas Zscaler specializes in granular access control and threat prevention for remote users.
text: Primary Use Case. Global Network Edge Locations. Zero Trust Architecture Support. DDoS Protection Throughput. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Capabilities. Starting Monthly Price. Mobile Device Management Integration
conclusion text: Choose Cloudflare if you need high-performance CDN, DDoS protection, and web application security at scale with a low entry cost. Choose Zscaler if your primary requirement is Zero Trust network security, advanced threat prevention, and data loss prevention for a distributed workforce with granular access policies.
additional property: .com Domain Registration Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: $10.20 | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Annual Savings (100 domain portfolio)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: $130+ | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: User Interface Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Developer-focused | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: DNS Provider Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Cloudflare DNS primary | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Integrated Security Services
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: DDoS, threat intelligence, WARP, Magic | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Customer Support Response
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Community & documentation | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: .com Renewal Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: $10.20 (at-cost) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Ideal for Enterprise Scale
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Excellent for enterprise | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Customer Satisfaction Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 4.5 stars | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Review Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 476 reviews | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Fortune 500 Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 30% | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Performance Optimization Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Industry standard | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Pricing Accessibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Highly accessible with strong freemium | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: AI Integration Commitment
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 74% planning to expand | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Developer Tool Specialization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Comprehensive and standardized | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Global Network Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Superior and broader distribution | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Customer Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 4.5 stars | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Paying Customers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 265,000+ | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Annual Revenue Growth (YoY)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 31% (Q3 2025: $562M) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Net Income Achievement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Growing (not disclosed) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: AI/ML Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Workers Bindings, multimodal models, AI agents | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Security Threat Blocking
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 230+ billion threats blocked | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Pricing Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Free tier + affordable paid plans | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: 2026 Projected Operating Profit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Not specified | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Countries with Presence
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 200+ | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: DDoS Threats Blocked Annually
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 230 | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Regional Edge Caches
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 0 | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Organizations Planning AI Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 74% | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Flat-Rate Pricing Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Per-domain flat-rate plans | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: AWS Service Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Limited; requires manual configuration | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Countries Covered
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 100+ countries | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Annual Threats Blocked
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 230 billion threats (2026) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: WAF Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Yes, included in plans | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Edge Computing
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Cloudflare Workers (lightweight functions) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: AWS Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Limited, requires manual configuration | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Simple DNS-based setup | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Pricing Transparency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Predictable, no hidden charges | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: DDoS Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Unlimited on all plans | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Starting Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Free tier available | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Global Data Centers/CDN Nodes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 310+ globally | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Average Page Load Speed Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 73% | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Automatic DDoS Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Included on all plans | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Customer Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 24/7 community + paid support | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Domain Registration Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: No (requires external provider) | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Web Hosting Storage (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Not applicable | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Setup Time (minutes)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 30-60 minutes | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: Global Edge Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 275+ edge locations | Zscaler: 150+
  value reference: Cloudflare
additional property: Free Tier Monthly Requests
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: 3.8M requests/month | Zscaler: N/A
additional property: DDoS Protection Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Cloudflare: Unlimited (included in all plans) | Zscaler: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/cloudflare
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/cloudflare
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/zscaler
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/zscaler
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/cloudflare-vs-zscaler)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/cloudflare-vs-zscaler)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-zscaler
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-porkbun
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-fastly
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-cloudfront
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/google-cloud-vs-cloudflare
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/godaddy-vs-cloudflare
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/azure-vs-cloudflare
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-vercel
teaches: How to choose between Cloudflare and Zscaler
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Cloudflare
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Edge computing and security platform specializing in CDN, DDoS protection, and application performance.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Cloudflare
subject of: Cloudflare vs Zscaler
image: ImageObject
  caption: Cloudflare

Zscaler
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Cloud-native Zero Trust security platform offering secure internet gateway, data loss prevention, and threat prevention for remote workforces.
subject of: Cloudflare vs Zscaler

Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Cloudflare vs Zscaler. Contains 131 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: .com Domain Registration Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Annual Savings (100 domain portfolio)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: User Interface Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: DNS Provider Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Integrated Security Services
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Customer Support Response
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: .com Renewal Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Ideal for Enterprise Scale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Use Case
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Quality
variable measured: Review Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Validation
variable measured: Fortune 500 Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Adoption
variable measured: Performance Optimization Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Pricing Accessibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AI Integration Commitment
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Developer Tool Specialization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Global Network Coverage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Customer Satisfaction
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Quality
variable measured: Paying Customers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Annual Revenue Growth (YoY)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Health
variable measured: Net Income Achievement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Health
variable measured: AI/ML Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Feature Set
variable measured: Security Threat Blocking
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Pricing Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: 2026 Projected Operating Profit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Financial Health
variable measured: Countries with Presence
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Network Infrastructure
variable measured: DDoS Threats Blocked Annually
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Regional Edge Caches
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Organizations Planning AI Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: AI/ML Capability
variable measured: Flat-Rate Pricing Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: AWS Service Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Countries Covered
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Coverage
variable measured: Annual Threats Blocked
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: WAF Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Edge Computing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: AWS Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Setup Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Pricing Transparency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: DDoS Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Starting Price (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Global Data Centers/CDN Nodes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Average Page Load Speed Improvement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Automatic DDoS Protection
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Customer Support Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Domain Registration Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Web Hosting Storage (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Hosting
variable measured: Setup Time (minutes)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Global Edge Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Free Tier Monthly Requests
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: DDoS Protection Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Entry-Level VM Cost (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Pro Plan Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Average DNS Query Response Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Supported Programming Languages (Workers/Serverless)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Enterprise Support Response SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: .com Domain First Year Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: .com Domain Renewal Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Global CDN Edge Locations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: DNS Query Response Time (Global Average)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Entry-Level Web Hosting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: DDoS Mitigation Capacity (Included)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Free Plan Tier
variable measured: Serverless Computing (Edge Workers)
variable measured: Domain Registration Cost (First Year)
variable measured: Shared Hosting Starting Price
variable measured: CDN Edge Locations
variable measured: Free Plan Available
variable measured: Average Page Load Time Improvement
variable measured: DDoS Protection Tier
variable measured: SSL/TLS Certificates
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-zscaler)

Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Cloudflare vs Zscaler.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Use Case
has defined term: Quality
has defined term: Market Validation
has defined term: Enterprise Adoption
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Financial Health
has defined term: Feature Set
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Network Infrastructure
has defined term: AI/ML Capability
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Coverage
has defined term: Hosting
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Availability
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Security Model
has defined term: Developer Features
has defined term: Data
has defined term: Advanced Features
has defined term: Compute Pricing
has defined term: Container Orchestration
has defined term: Platform Scope
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: AI & Machine Learning
has defined term: Company Scale

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Use Case
type: DefinedTerm
term code: use-case
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: quality
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Validation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-validation
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-adoption
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Financial Health
type: DefinedTerm
term code: financial-health
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Feature Set
type: DefinedTerm
term code: feature-set
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Network Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: network-infrastructure
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI/ML Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai/ml-capability
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Coverage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: coverage
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Hosting
type: DefinedTerm
term code: hosting
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Availability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: availability
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security Model
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-model
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-features
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Advanced Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: advanced-features
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compute Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compute-pricing
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Container Orchestration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: container-orchestration
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Scope
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-scope
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI & Machine Learning
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-&-machine-learning
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Company Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: company-scale
in defined term set: Cloudflare vs Zscaler — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T06:14:04.637Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: cloudflare-vs-zscaler)
main entity: Can I use Cloudflare and Zscaler together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Cloudflare can be your CDN/DDoS layer while Zscaler acts as your Zero Trust security gateway. This is common in enterprises using Cloudflare for edge performance and Zscaler for granular user/device access control. They complement each other at different network layers.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for protecting remote workers?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Zscaler is purpose-built for remote workforce security with native Zero Trust, advanced threat prevention, and DLP—ideal for distributed teams. Cloudflare Zero Trust exists but is less mature. If your only need is remote workers, Zscaler is the better choice despite higher cost.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does Cloudflare protect against malware and advanced threats?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Cloudflare offers basic threat protection via Gateway and malware detection, but it's not its primary strength. Zscaler's inline threat prevention stops 99.2% of zero-day malware. For advanced threat prevention, Zscaler is the specialist.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform has a lower total cost of ownership?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Cloudflare has significantly lower entry costs ($20-200/month for most businesses) with no per-user pricing. Zscaler's per-user model ($79+/month) becomes expensive fast with 100+ employees. For SMBs, Cloudflare is cheaper; for enterprises, TCO depends on workload complexity.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the difference in implementation time?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Cloudflare CDN can be deployed in hours via DNS changes. Zscaler typically requires 2-4 weeks including integration with identity systems, MDM, and policy rollout. Cloudflare wins on speed; Zscaler's complexity reflects its advanced capabilities.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Cloudflare and Zscaler
type: HowTo
description: Cloudflare is a CDN and DDoS protection platform optimized for web performance and application security, while Zscaler is a Zero Trust network security platform focused on secure internet access and data loss prevention. Cloudflare excels at edge computing and performance, whereas Zscaler specializes in granular access control and threat prevention for remote users.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Use Case
step: Consider: Global Network Edge Locations
step: Consider: Zero Trust Architecture Support
step: Consider: DDoS Protection Throughput
step: Consider: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Capabilities
step: Consider: Starting Monthly Price
step: Consider: Mobile Device Management Integration
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Cloudflare if you need high-performance CDN, DDoS protection, and web application security at scale with a low entry cost. Choose Zscaler if your primary requirement is Zero Trust network security, advanced threat prevention, and data loss prevention for a distributed workforce with granular access policies.

Consider: Primary Use Case
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Use Case: Cloudflare has CDN, DDoS protection, edge computing, web application firewall, while Zscaler has Zero Trust network security, secure internet access, data loss prevention.

Consider: Global Network Edge Locations
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Global Network Edge Locations: Cloudflare has 300+ data centers, while Zscaler has 150+ data centers.

Consider: Zero Trust Architecture Support
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Zero Trust Architecture Support: Cloudflare has Cloudflare Zero Trust (limited identity integration), while Zscaler has Native Zero Trust platform with advanced identity controls.

Consider: DDoS Protection Throughput
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: DDoS Protection Throughput: Cloudflare has Automatic, 71 Tbps capacity, while Zscaler has Limited DDoS (cloud firewall only).

Consider: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Capabilities
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Capabilities: Cloudflare has Basic content filtering, while Zscaler has Advanced DLP with 300+ predefined policies.

Consider: Starting Monthly Price
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Starting Monthly Price: Cloudflare has $20 (Pro plan), while Zscaler has $79 per user/month (estimated).

Consider: Mobile Device Management Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Mobile Device Management Integration: Cloudflare has Limited MDM support, while Zscaler has Deep MDM integration with Intune, Jamf, MobileIron.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Cloudflare vs Zscaler
review body: Cloudflare is a CDN and DDoS protection platform optimized for web performance and application security, while Zscaler is a Zero Trust network security platform focused on secure internet access and data loss prevention. Cloudflare excels at edge computing and performance, whereas Zscaler specializes in granular access control and threat prevention for remote users.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Cloudflare vs Zscaler

Entry-Level VM Cost (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: No native VMs; Workers $5-200/month | Zscaler: N/A

Pro Plan Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20/month Pro plan | Zscaler: N/A

Average DNS Query Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 23ms (fastest DNS globally) | Zscaler: N/A

Supported Programming Languages (Workers/Serverless)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: JavaScript/TypeScript, Rust, C, C++ (WebAssembly) | Zscaler: N/A

Enterprise Support Response SLA
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 15 minutes (Enterprise) | Zscaler: N/A

.com Domain First Year Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $9.00 | Zscaler: N/A

.com Domain Renewal Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $12.00 | Zscaler: N/A

Global CDN Edge Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 300+ across 100+ countries | Zscaler: N/A

DNS Query Response Time (Global Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: ~65-85ms | Zscaler: N/A

Entry-Level Web Hosting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Not applicable | Zscaler: N/A

DDoS Mitigation Capacity (Included)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 3.2 Tbps | Zscaler: N/A

Free Plan Tier
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes - full CDN, DNS, DDoS protection | Zscaler: N/A

Serverless Computing (Edge Workers)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Cloudflare Workers - included | Zscaler: N/A

Domain Registration Cost (First Year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

Shared Hosting Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

CDN Edge Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 275+ | Zscaler: N/A

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes - full-featured | Zscaler: N/A

Average Page Load Time Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 37% average | Zscaler: N/A

DDoS Protection Tier
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Advanced (free tier + enterprise) | Zscaler: N/A

SSL/TLS Certificates
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Free Universal SSL all plans | Zscaler: N/A

Renewal Domain Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

Maximum Concurrent Users Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Unlimited (CDN-based) | Zscaler: 50,000+

DDoS Mitigation Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 71 Tbps | Zscaler: Not specialized

Zero Trust Architecture (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Partial (requires Access addon) | Zscaler: Full native implementation

WAF Managed Rules
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 50+ | Zscaler: 35+
value reference: Cloudflare

Setup Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 10-15 minutes | Zscaler: 2-4 hours
value reference: Cloudflare

Pro Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20 | Zscaler: N/A

Free Tier Bandwidth Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Unlimited | Zscaler: N/A

Next.js Build Optimization
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Not optimized | Zscaler: N/A

DDoS Protection on Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes, included | Zscaler: N/A

Time to First Deploy
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 5-10 (DNS propagation) | Zscaler: N/A

API Rate Limit (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 120 | Zscaler: N/A

Backend Function Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Cloudflare Workers (full serverless) | Zscaler: N/A

Available Services
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 25+ core services | Zscaler: N/A

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20 (Pro plan) | Zscaler: $25/user
value reference: Cloudflare

DDoS Protection Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes, all plans | Zscaler: N/A

Setup Time (Minutes)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 5 minutes (DNS change) | Zscaler: N/A

Dedicated Database Services
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 1 (Cloudflare D1 beta) | Zscaler: N/A

Typical Edge Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: ~30ms (median global) | Zscaler: N/A

Entry-Level Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20 | Zscaler: N/A

Maximum DDoS Mitigation Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 150 Tbps (Pro plan) | Zscaler: N/A

Average Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 5-15 minutes | Zscaler: N/A

WAF Included at Entry Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes ($20/month plan) | Zscaler: N/A

API-First Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Native REST + GraphQL APIs | Zscaler: N/A

Minimum Monthly Cost (Production Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20 (Pro plan) | Zscaler: N/A

Managed Database Services
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 1 (D1 SQLite) | Zscaler: N/A

Machine Learning Services
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Workers AI (beta), limited models | Zscaler: N/A

Serverless Function Cost (1M executions/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $1.50 (Workers) | Zscaler: N/A

Kubernetes Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Not offered (Kubernetes at edge via Workers) | Zscaler: N/A

Domain Registration Cost (First Year)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

CDN Edge Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 300+ | Zscaler: N/A

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes (with core features) | Zscaler: N/A

Shared Hosting Entry Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

Global Website Speed Improvement (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 30-35% | Zscaler: N/A

DDoS Protection (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: L3/L4 included | Zscaler: N/A

Annual Renewal Cost (Domain)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A | Zscaler: N/A

Free Tier Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $0/month | Zscaler: N/A

.com Domain First-Year Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A (not a registrar) | Zscaler: N/A

.com Domain Renewal Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: N/A (not a registrar) | Zscaler: N/A

Global Data Centers
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 300+ | Zscaler: N/A

SSL Certificate Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $0 (included) | Zscaler: N/A

WAF (Web Application Firewall)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Yes (Pro plan+) | Zscaler: N/A

Available Services/Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 15-20 core services | Zscaler: N/A

Average Global Latency
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 30-60ms | Zscaler: N/A

Basic DDoS Protection Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Full DDoS protection included | Zscaler: N/A

Starting Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Fixed plans from $20/month | Zscaler: N/A

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 99.95% | Zscaler: 99.99%
value reference: Zscaler

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 5 minutes via DNS change | Zscaler: N/A

Cloud Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 21% of top 10K websites (not IaaS competitor) | Zscaler: N/A

Entry-Level Pricing
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $20 (Pro plan) | Zscaler: $79+ per user
value reference: Cloudflare

Advanced DLP Policies
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Basic content filtering | Zscaler: 300+ policies

Zero Trust Native Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Secondary feature | Zscaler: Core platform

Average Edge Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 56ms global average | Zscaler: Not optimized for CDN

Platform Uptime SLA
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 99.99% | Zscaler: 99.99%

MDM Platform Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Limited support | Zscaler: Deep integration (3+ major)

Global Data Center Locations
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 300+ edge cities | Zscaler: 150+ data centers
value reference: Cloudflare

Average Latency to End Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: <50ms (99% of internet users) | Zscaler: N/A

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Generous free tier ($0; includes basic CDN, DDoS, SSL/TLS) | Zscaler: N/A

AI/ML Model Count Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: Limited; Workers AI in beta with emerging model support | Zscaler: N/A

Setup Time for Basic Deployment
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 5-15 minutes (DNS change + proxy setup) | Zscaler: N/A

Cloudflare Market Valuation (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: $34.2 billion (as of March 2025) | Zscaler: N/A

Supported Programming Languages
type: PropertyValue
value: Cloudflare: 10+ languages via Workers (JavaScript, Rust, Python, Go, etc.) | Zscaler: N/A

SpeakableSpecification
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Cloudflare — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Zscaler — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Cloudflare vs Zscaler
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cloudflare-vs-zscaler)
object: Cloudflare
object: Zscaler

Free Plan Tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Availability

Serverless Computing (Edge Workers)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Domain Registration Cost (First Year)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Shared Hosting Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

CDN Edge Locations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Average Page Load Time Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

DDoS Protection Tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

SSL/TLS Certificates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Renewal Domain Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Concurrent Users Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

DDoS Mitigation Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Zero Trust Architecture (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security Model

WAF Managed Rules
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Setup Time (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Pro Plan Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Bandwidth Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Next.js Build Optimization
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

DDoS Protection on Free Plan
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Time to First Deploy
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

API Rate Limit (Free)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Features

Backend Function Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Available Services
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

DDoS Protection Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Setup Time (Minutes)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Dedicated Database Services
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data

Typical Edge Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Entry-Level Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum DDoS Mitigation Capacity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Average Deployment Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

WAF Included at Entry Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

API-First Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Minimum Monthly Cost (Production Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Managed Database Services
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Data

Machine Learning Services
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Advanced Features

Serverless Function Cost (1M executions/month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compute Pricing

Kubernetes Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Container Orchestration

Domain Registration Cost (First Year)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

CDN Edge Locations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Free Plan Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Shared Hosting Entry Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Global Website Speed Improvement (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

DDoS Protection (Free Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Annual Renewal Cost (Domain)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

.com Domain First-Year Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

.com Domain Renewal Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Global Data Centers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

SSL Certificate Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

WAF (Web Application Firewall)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Available Services/Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Scope

Average Global Latency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Basic DDoS Protection Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Starting Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Cloud Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Entry-Level Pricing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Advanced DLP Policies
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Zero Trust Native Architecture
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Architecture

Average Edge Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Platform Uptime SLA
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

MDM Platform Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Global Data Center Locations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Average Latency to End Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Tier Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

AI/ML Model Count Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI & Machine Learning

Setup Time for Basic Deployment
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Cloudflare Market Valuation (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Company Scale

Supported Programming Languages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development