Localport vs Cloudflare Tunnel
Cloudflare Tunnel is free and connects a server to Cloudflare's network, for a domain that runs on Cloudflare. Localport gives a local service its own address, with no domain and no client on the other side.
Last checked 2 October 2026
Cloudflare Tunnel connects you to Cloudflare
- Free
- A stable hostname needs a domain on Cloudflare
- Web traffic passes through Cloudflare's CDN
- Other protocols need cloudflared on each client
Localport gives your service an address
- A persistent URL without owning a domain
- Public TCP that any client connects to
- A region you choose for each tunnel
- Traffic content is never logged
What it costs
Cloudflare Tunnel is free. Localport is not, and does not compete on price.
| Cloudflare Tunnel | Localport | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A tunnel for one developer Localport Hobby: 5 members, 20 GB, a custom domain | Free | $6 a month | |
| Tunnels for a team Localport Pro: up to 50 members, 150 GB, Remote Access | Free | $24 a month |
What the price buys is in the table below: no domain to move, TCP for any client, a region you choose.
Side by side
| Cloudflare Tunnel | Localport | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | A site on Cloudflare; quick tunnels get a temporary URL | Not needed |
| Hostname | Quick tunnel hostnames change each time | Stays the same across restarts |
| Public TCP | cloudflared on every client machine | Any TCP client connects to the address and port |
| Region | The nearest Cloudflare data center | EU, US or Asia Pacific, chosen per tunnel |
Cloudflare Tunnel fits when
- Your domain is already on Cloudflare
- You want Cloudflare's CDN and DDoS protection in front of a website
- You need a tunnel at no cost
Localport fits when
- You have no domain, or do not want to move its DNS
- You expose a database, a game server or SSH to ordinary clients
- You need traffic to stay in one region
- Your team shares one webhook URL
What Localport covers
- Public URLs over HTTP, TCP and TLS
- TLS tunnels Localport cannot decrypt
- IP allowlist, basic auth, header authentication, webhook signature verification
- Private access to devices, with an access log
What stays in your hands
- Caching and a CDN stay with the provider you choose
Common questions.
Cloudflare Tunnel details are from Cloudflare Tunnel docs, Quick Tunnels, Arbitrary TCP, Zero Trust plans as published on 2 October 2026.
Is Localport free like Cloudflare Tunnel?
No. Cloudflare Tunnel is free. Localport starts at $6 a month, and every plan starts with a trial.
Do I need a domain to use Localport?
No. Every tunnel gets a persistent URL. You can also attach your own domain.
Can I expose a database or a game server over TCP?
Yes. A Localport TCP tunnel gives the service an address and port that any TCP client connects to. Nothing is installed on the client.
Where does my traffic go?
Through the region you choose for the tunnel: EU, US or Asia Pacific.