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Why is Cloudflare Pages' bandwidth unlimited? (mattsayar.com)

607 points by MattSayar · 566 days ago · 357 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses Cloudflare Pages' generous free tier, which includes unlimited bandwidth, and explores possible reasons behind this decision. The author suggests that serving static websites is relatively lightweight and easy, and that Cloudflare benefits from a fast and secure internet. Cloudflare's CEO has stated that the company aims to make security tools widely available, which may also contribute to the decision. The article also touches on the topic of data collection and surveillance, with some comments speculating about Cloudflare's potential involvement with government agencies.

Main themes

  • Cloudflare Pages
  • Free tier
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Data collection
  • Surveillance
  • Government involvement

What commenters say

  • Some commenters believe that Cloudflare's unlimited bandwidth is a loss-leader strategy to attract customers and eventually sell them security products.
  • Others speculate that Cloudflare may be collecting data for government agencies, citing the company's history and connections to surveillance programs.
  • A few commenters argue that it is naive to think that US-based companies like Cloudflare are not involved in state-sponsored surveillance, given the presence of programs like PRISM.
  • Some commenters point out that Cloudflare has denied participating in PRISM and other surveillance programs, but these denials are met with skepticism by others.
  • There is a discussion about the trade-offs between using free services like Cloudflare and the potential risks of data collection and surveillance.
  • Some commenters suggest that alternatives to Cloudflare, such as open-source network infrastructure providers, may be more secure and private.
  • Others argue that evading state-level actors is difficult and may even put users on their radar, and that some companies may be designed to reveal as little information as possible even when forced to participate in surveillance programs.
  • A few commenters question the idea that Cloudflare would be involved in surveillance, citing the company's commitment to security and transparency.