Cloudflare Quick Tunnels (try.cloudflare.com)

Article summary

Cloudflare has introduced Quick Tunnels, a service that allows users to create a public, encrypted URL for their local server with just one command, without requiring an account, DNS, or open ports. The service uses an outbound-only connection to Cloudflare's edge network, providing automatic HTTPS and DDoS mitigation. This allows developers to share their local work with others, such as teammates or webhooks, without exposing their laptop to the internet. The service is designed for ephemeral, encrypted tunnels and can be used for previews, CI, webhooks, and agents.

Main themes

• Cloudflare Quick Tunnels
• security and trust
• centralization and power
• convenience and usability
• alternative solutions
• trade-offs and limitations

What commenters say

• Some users are concerned about the terms of use and potential risks of relying on Cloudflare's services.
• The service may cannibalize Cloudflare's existing paid services, as some users may opt for the free tunnel option instead.
• There are concerns about the centralization of power and data with Cloudflare, and the potential risks of trusting a single company with sensitive traffic.
• Others see the service as a convenient and secure way to share local work, especially for prototyping and testing purposes.
• Some users prefer alternative solutions, such as Tailscale or ngrok, due to concerns about trust, security, and control.
• The service's limitations, such as bandwidth and streaming limits, may not be suitable for all use cases.
• There are differing opinions on the trade-offs between convenience, security, and control when using Cloudflare's services.
• Some users are wary of Cloudflare's growing size and influence, and the potential implications for the internet as a whole.