Software Alternatives & Startups

Cloudflare DNS VS CloudLinux

Compare Cloudflare DNS VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Cloudflare DNS

Install the free app that makes your phone’s Internet more fast, private, and reliable.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Cloudflare DNS seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 16 times since March 2021.

social mentions
16 vs 0
Domain Name Registrar popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Cloudflare DNS
CloudLinux
Website cloudflare-dns.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Cloudflare DNS 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Privacy
    Cloudflare DNS offers robust privacy protections by not logging your IP address and anonymizing DNS queries. This helps ensure that your browsing habits are not tracked or sold to advertisers.
  • Speed
    Cloudflare DNS is one of the fastest DNS services available, ensuring quick resolution of domain names and improved overall internet experience.
  • Security
    Cloudflare DNS includes built-in security features like DNSSEC support to protect against DNS spoofing and other types of DNS attacks.
  • Reliability
    With a globally distributed network of data centers, Cloudflare provides a highly reliable DNS service with minimal downtime.
  • Free Service
    Cloudflare DNS is entirely free to use, making it an accessible option for individuals and small businesses.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Cloudflare DNS provides essential DNS functionality, it may lack some advanced features and customization options offered by other premium DNS services.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Despite its strong privacy policies, some users may still be concerned about trusting a third-party provider with their DNS queries.
  • Potential Blocking
    Cloudflare DNS has been known to block certain websites, which can lead to accessibility issues for users trying to reach these sites.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Cloudflare DNS
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Cloudflare DNS is considered a top-tier DNS service due to its exceptional speed, commitment to privacy, and robust security features. It is suitable for most users seeking a reliable and private DNS solution.

Why this product is good

  • Privacy
    Cloudflare emphasizes privacy by not logging personal data and deleting DNS logs within 24 hours. It also supports encryption protocols like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), which provide additional layers of security against eavesdropping.
  • Features
    Cloudflare DNS provides various features like support for DNSSEC, which adds an additional layer of security to prevent DNS spoofing. It's also relatively easy to set up on most devices and supports IPv6.
  • Performance
    Cloudflare DNS is known for its speed and reliability. It consistently ranks among the fastest public DNS services due to its extensive network infrastructure. This ensures quicker domain name resolution and thus potentially faster internet browsing.
  • Reliability
    With a vast global network, Cloudflare can provide consistent uptime and handle high traffic loads, making it a dependable choice for users around the world.

Recommended for

    {"businesses" => "Organizations that need reliable DNS performance and robust security to ensure secure and fast access to their online resources.", "general_users" => "Individuals looking for a fast and dependable DNS service with a strong focus on privacy.", "tech-savvy_users" => "People interested in leveraging advanced DNS protocols and who value the infrastructural strength of a large network like Cloudflare's.", "security_conscious_users" => "Users who want enhanced security features such as DNSSEC and encrypted DNS queries."}

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Cloudflare DNS 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

1.1.1.1 | CloudFlare DNS Service

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Cloudflare DNS
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Cloudflare DNS and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Cloudflare DNS 16 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • RethinkDNS Resolver That Deploys to CF Workers, Deno Deploy, Fastly, Fly.io
    - https://check-host.net/check-ping?host=https://cloudflare-dns.com If CPU time isn't the bottleneck of response time, any idea what the reason is behind the difference in response time? - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Mikrotik Leaks DNS When Using DoH
    I added cloudflare-dns.com as a static entry and cleared cache. Cleared cache on my machine and pinged google.com. There were 2 DNS requests against both dynamic servers. I then pinged yahoo.com and 2 more DNS requests were created. I... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Cloudflare-dns.com (DoH) not working since tuesday on Android
    I'm having an issue with cloudflare DoH (using cloudflare-dns.com) not working since tuesday on Android. As you can see in this post, it doesn't affect only me. Source: over 3 years ago

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Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Cloudflare DNS and CloudLinux

When comparing Cloudflare DNS and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.