Cloudflare Gateway is one component of Cloudflare One, a full Zero Trust platform that includes a Secure Web Gateway, remote browser isolation, CASB, and network interconnect services. If all you need is DNS filtering, you are paying for an entire platform when you only need one feature.

CleanBrowsing provides dedicated DNS filtering without the overhead of an enterprise platform. You get exactly what you need -- granular content filtering, custom block and allow lists, encrypted DNS, and activity monitoring -- without paying for capabilities you will never use.

Cloudflare's free offering, 1.1.1.1 for Families, gives you a binary choice: block malware only (1.1.1.2) or block malware plus adult content (1.1.1.3). There is no customization, no dashboard, and no way to adjust what gets filtered.

CleanBrowsing's free tier provides three distinct filtering profiles: Family Filter, Adult Filter, and Security Filter. All three support encrypted DNS (DoH and DoT), require no signup, and offer meaningfully different levels of protection. This gives users real flexibility without spending a dollar.

Cloudflare Gateway is free for up to 50 users. Beyond that, pricing falls under Cloudflare One at approximately $7 per user per month. For an organization with 100 users, that translates to roughly $8,400 per year -- and that includes a bundle of features most organizations will never touch.

CleanBrowsing's Pro-100 plan covers 100 devices at $220 per year. That is a massive cost difference for organizations that only need DNS-based content filtering. The savings become even more significant as you scale.

Cloudflare Gateway has been noted for lacking detailed location-based reporting and offering limited bulk allow/block list management. For organizations that need visibility into DNS activity across multiple sites or locations, this can be a significant gap.

CleanBrowsing provides a straightforward activity monitoring dashboard that gives you clear insight into DNS queries, blocked requests, and filtering activity. Managing allow and block lists is simple and does not require navigating through an enterprise platform.

CleanBrowsing has dedicated features for K-12 schools and libraries seeking CIPA compliance. Our filters are purpose-built for education environments, providing the controls institutions need to meet federal requirements for safe internet access.

Cloudflare Gateway does not specifically target the education market or offer dedicated CIPA compliance features. Schools and libraries evaluating Cloudflare for content filtering will find that it was not designed with their regulatory needs in mind.