Serious Discussion Cloudflare Gateway Free Plan

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
I initially thought Cloudflare Gateway was for businesses. However, I came across a review mentioning its use for parental control and its solid free plan. I'm currently testing DNS-based services for parental control, such as NextDNS and AdGuardDNS. Comparing them to Cloudflare Gateway, I find it far superior, even with its free plan. It offers advanced features, but for parental control, I focused on testing Zero Trust > Gateway > DNS Locations and Firewall Policies. I created policies for Google search, YouTube, adult content, and movie sites. Cloudflare Gateway effectively enforced safe search on Google, strict restricted mode on YouTube, and blocked all adult and movie sites I tested. The category list is excellent and includes sub-categories. Overall, I find Cloudflare Gateway excellent, and the free plan has more than enough for home users.

What has been your experience with Cloudflare Gateway?

 
Last edited:

Jan Willy

Level 13
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Jul 5, 2019
602
This is something that doesn't make me happy:

1712838021332.png
 
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rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
This is something that doesn't make me happy:

View attachment 282740
I clicked on the "Exit..." text on the payment page, and it redirected me to my account's dashboard. However, I couldn't find any plan information under the billing or subscription section. I haven't verified my email yet, so that might be the reason. I added the DoH address to the Chrome browser, and it is effectively blocking websites based on the policies I have set.
 
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rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Cloudflare Gateway works efficiently without affecting internet speed. It's worth a try for users of DNS-based services like NextDNS and AdGuardDNS. Here are some screenshots and information. As I mentioned before, I'm using its DNS feature for parental control.

Cloudflare Gateway CIPA Filter Categories

Cloudflare Gateway Security and Content Categories

Cloudflare Gateway Interface or DNS Policies Screen
661a3172dc683.png


Cloudflare Block Screen. Install the Cloudflare certificate and turn on the block screen feature. Similar to other DNS-based services, Cloudflare presents an error page if there is no certificate. You can personalize the block screen with your own name, logo, message, and more.
661a313f77039.png
 
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Marko :)

Level 23
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Aug 12, 2015
1,251
I trust Cloudflare and I really believe that policy is just to stop fraud, nothing else really. You can always use prepaid cards for this or use real card and then remove it after registration is complete.
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Thank you for posting (y) but providing a credit card is a threshold for using (n)
Choose the free plan and create your account; enter your email and password, and continue. On the payment page, there is an option to "exit and go back" in tiny text. Click that option, and it will ask you to confirm. Click yes, and it will take you to your account. This is how I created my free plan account without entering payment or credit card details.

 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
I'll continue using Kaspersky Safe Kids for parental control. I liked Cloudflare Gateway, and it's a better, more effective, and faster DNS-based service. Cloudflare Gateway has extensive content categories, and NextDNS has essentials, but both take time or require browser data clearing to allow blocked websites, which is annoying. AdGuardDNS allows blocked websites according to the set seconds in settings, but it doesn't have category blocking.
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Thank you for posting (y) but providing a credit card is a threshold for using (n)
Just click "Cancel and exit" on the top right of the plan page during account creation. It's been over two weeks since I created my account without credit card details or account verification. I'm not sure, but it seems you can use Zero Trust - Gateway without providing those details, while other features may require verifying your account or providing credit card details.

662b486263293.png
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
My account has been active for over 40 days with no payment or verification information. I'm still experimenting with Cloudflare and efficiently using two profiles. Cloudflare Zero Trust Free is superior to NextDNS or AdGuardDNS, except for lacking adblocking. Why do you guys opt for NextDNS, AdGuardDNS, or public DNS servers?
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Just wanted to provide the list for your reference.

66918eb946fec-png.284270

66918e7e96b99-png.284271
 
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rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Here's an update: I recently discovered that there is an "Application" option for content blocking. This feature allows you to block or allow specific applications and websites. The "Application" option includes various categories and their corresponding apps.

Collaboration & Online Meetings
Public Cloud
Human Resources
Finance & Accounting
Legal
IT Management
Productivity
Sales & Marketing
Development
File Sharing
Social Networking
Instant Messaging
Email
Video Streaming
Security
Encrypted DNS
Gaming
News
Search Engines
Shopping
Sports
Dating
Audio Streaming
Artificial Intelligence
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
I have been testing the Cloudflare Gateway Free Plan for about 6 months now. Specifically, I have been testing Cloudflare's DNS feature for parental control. This feature offers category blocking, safe search, YouTube restriction, and more. I evaluated Cloudflare's categorization and effectiveness with Google Search, Kadaza India/US web portals, and regular browsing. Overall, I am impressed with Cloudflare's speed and efficacy. Soon, I'll switch from Kaspersky Safe Kids to CF on our kids' systems. I really wish CF had an ad-blocking feature, as it would make it even better for Android phones.

To summarize, there are several methods for policy creation in CF. My approach is to keep things straightforward and manageable.
I have 7 policies.
1. Search: Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo have enforced Safe Search, with all other search engines blocked.
2. YouTube: Enforced "Strict" Restricted Mode.
3. Custom: If needed, enable the policy to block streaming and gaming websites.
4. Block: Add websites you want to block.
5. Allow: Add websites you want to allow.
6. Content: 28 of 106 categories blocked.
7. Security: All categories blocked.
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Just click "Cancel and exit" on the top right of the plan page during account creation. It's been over two weeks since I created my account without credit card details or account verification. I'm not sure, but it seems you can use Zero Trust - Gateway without providing those details, while other features may require verifying your account or providing credit card details.

View attachment 283004
More info on the above:
I noticed today that my account is on a legacy plan. I found a link in Cloudflare Forums that provides some information on this (https://community.cloudflare.com/t/cloudflare-gateway-free-plan-features/227711/4). The legacy free plan had a 3-user limit, but the updated plan now allows up to 50 users. I think if you click "Cancel and exit" (as stated in the above post), you get the legacy plan without entering credit card details. This plan is more than enough for home users. In Cloudflare's case, users refer to locations (profiles). I tried creating a 4th location, but it wasn't possible. Currently, I have 3 locations: one without policies for my system, one with filtering policies for three systems, and one for policy or testing purposes.
 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
Just click "Cancel and exit" on the top right of the plan page during account creation. It's been over two weeks since I created my account without credit card details or account verification. I'm not sure, but it seems you can use Zero Trust - Gateway without providing those details, while other features may require verifying your account or providing credit card details.

View attachment 283004
I stumbled upon a video that shows how to create a free plan account without providing credit card information. The video shows how to add Pi-hole-like adblocking in Cloudflare, but I don't know if the adblocking steps work.

 

rashmi

Level 11
Thread author
Jan 15, 2024
535
I had 8 policies.
1. Safe Search
2. YouTube Restricted
3. Allow Apps
4. Block Apps
5. Block Websites
6. Allow Websites
7. Content Categories
8. Security Categories

Cloudflare has "AND" and "OR" options in policies. I tested out the options and have fewer policies now.
1. Safe Search
2. YouTube Restricted
3. Allow (Categories, Websites, and Apps)
4. Block (Categories, Websites, and Apps)
 

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