Cloudflare is the largest CDN and web security provider in the world, serving millions of websites with a vast product ecosystem. NOC is a focused CDN, WAF, and DNS platform designed for website owners who want integrated security and performance without the complexity of a massive platform.
This comparison lays out where each service excels so you can decide which is the right fit for your website.
Overview
NOC provides a cloud-based Anycast CDN, web application firewall, DNS hosting, and uptime monitoring as a single integrated service. Every feature is included at one price point, with no tiered plans or add-on gating.
Cloudflare operates one of the world's largest edge networks with over 300 data centers. Beyond CDN and WAF, Cloudflare offers a broad ecosystem including Workers (serverless compute), R2 (object storage), Pages (static hosting), Zero Trust networking, email routing, and more. It offers a generous free tier that makes it the default choice for many website owners.
Key Differences
- Scope: Cloudflare is a platform with dozens of products spanning CDN, security, serverless, storage, and networking. NOC is a focused product that does CDN, WAF, DNS, and monitoring well without the sprawl.
- Free tier: Cloudflare offers a free plan with basic CDN and DNS. NOC does not have a free tier but includes all features at $5/month.
- WAF rules: Cloudflare's WAF managed rules and custom rules are available on paid plans (Pro at $20/month or Business at $200/month for advanced rules). NOC includes full WAF capabilities at $5/month.
- Support: Cloudflare free and Pro plans have limited support (community forums and email). NOC provides personal support to all customers.
- Simplicity: NOC has a streamlined dashboard focused on CDN, WAF, and DNS. Cloudflare's dashboard can be overwhelming with its breadth of products and settings.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | NOC | Cloudflare |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Global Anycast CDN | Global Anycast CDN (300+ PoPs) |
| Web Application Firewall | Full WAF included ($5/mo) | Basic on free; managed rules on Pro ($20/mo+) |
| DNS Hosting | Anycast DNS included | Anycast DNS included (free) |
| DDoS Protection | Layer 3/4/7 mitigation | Unmetered DDoS protection (all plans) |
| SSL/TLS | Free SSL included | Free SSL included (Universal SSL) |
| Uptime Monitoring | Integrated monitoring and alerts | Health checks (Pro plan and above) |
| Serverless Compute | Not available | Workers (serverless functions at edge) |
| Object Storage | Not available | R2 (S3-compatible storage) |
| Bot Management | Bot filtering included | Basic bot protection (free); advanced on Business+ |
| API Access | Full REST API | Comprehensive REST and GraphQL APIs |
| Free Tier | No (starts at $5/mo) | Yes (generous free plan) |
Pricing Comparison
NOC charges $5/month per site with all features included — CDN, WAF, DNS, monitoring, and API access. There is one plan with no feature gating.
Cloudflare uses a tiered model:
- Free: Basic CDN, DNS, and limited WAF. No managed rules, limited page rules.
- Pro: $20/month — adds WAF managed rules, image optimization, and email support.
- Business: $200/month — advanced WAF rules, custom SSL certificates, 100% uptime SLA.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing — dedicated support, advanced bot management, custom solutions.
If you need only basic CDN and DNS, Cloudflare's free tier is hard to beat. However, if you need WAF rules and custom security controls, Cloudflare's Pro plan at $20/month costs four times more than NOC's $5/month plan that includes full WAF features.
Who Should Choose NOC
NOC is ideal for website owners who want a straightforward CDN, WAF, and DNS solution without navigating a massive platform. If you want full WAF protection at $5/month with personal support and a simple dashboard, NOC delivers. It works well for agencies managing multiple client sites, small businesses that want professional-grade security, and developers who prefer a focused tool over a sprawling platform.
Who Should Choose Cloudflare
Cloudflare is the right choice if you need a free CDN and DNS, or if you want access to its broader ecosystem — Workers for serverless computing, R2 for storage, Pages for static sites, or Zero Trust for corporate networking. Cloudflare's massive network (300+ PoPs) and unmetered DDoS protection are also strong advantages for high-traffic sites. Organizations already invested in the Cloudflare ecosystem will benefit from keeping everything under one roof.
Final Thoughts
Cloudflare and NOC serve different needs. Cloudflare is a platform play — it wants to be your entire edge infrastructure. NOC is a product play — it does CDN, WAF, DNS, and monitoring well at a transparent price. For website owners who just want their site fast and protected, NOC's simplicity and pricing are compelling. For those who need a broader infrastructure platform, Cloudflare's ecosystem is unmatched.
Ready to try NOC? Get started with a free trial and see how integrated CDN, WAF, and DNS can protect and accelerate your website. View pricing and start your free trial.
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