The Cloudflare WARP Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cloudflare WARP in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Cloudflare WARP
The Insider’s Guide
Free Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among VPNs, read from Cloudflare WARP’s own pages.
Made by Cloudflare, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Cloudflare WARP’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cloudflare WARP’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 27 of the 27 other VPNs we grade
Cloudflare WARP, sold as the 1.1.1.1 app, sends a device's traffic or DNS queries through Cloudflare's network. It is free, with a paid WARP+ Unlimited subscription that connects through a larger set of Cloudflare cities. Cloudflare says plainly that it does not provide anonymity and does not let you appear to be in another country, so it is not a location-changing VPN.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Cloudflare WARP, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for a free, simple encrypted connection
Cloudflare says it doesn't give anonymity and can't make you appear in another country, so it won't unblock regional content.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per month (WARP+ Unlimited, as shown on the US App Store).
- 3
There is a free plan
The 1.1.1.1 app with WARP is free: it encrypts device traffic to Cloudflare's network or routes DNS queries through the 1.1.1.1 resolver.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Encrypted traffic to Cloudflare
In Traffic and DNS mode the app sends device traffic to Cloudflare's network over MASQUE, using post-quantum encryption, according to Cloudflare's documentation.
- 6
DNS-only mode
Routes only DNS queries through the 1.1.1.1 resolver, over DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS, without tunneling the rest of the traffic.
- 7
1.1.1.1 for Families
A DNS setting inside the app that, according to its App Store listing, protects against malware, phishing and crypto-mining sites.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 27 of 27
That is against the other VPNs we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Cloudflare WARP you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Cloudflare WARP at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 per month (WARP+ Unlimited, as shown on the US App Store)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Cloudflare, Inc.
- Category
- VPNs
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free, simple encrypted connection
Cloudflare WARP, in the 1.1.1.1 app, is a free app that encrypts your traffic to Cloudflare's network or routes DNS through 1.1.1.1. Cloudflare says it doesn't give anonymity and can't make you appear in another country, so it won't unblock regional content.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The 1.1.1.1 app with WARP is free. WARP+ Unlimited is $4.99 a month, close to the category's middle of $5. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The core app is free with no cap listed. WARP+ is a paid extra. |
| Features | C | Encrypted traffic, DNS-only mode, 1.1.1.1 for Families and a local proxy mode, but it can't choose a server country or unblock region-locked content. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.5 from 216K App Store ratings. Install the app and switch it on. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux. No browser extension, and the business Zero Trust client is a separate product. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Cloudflare WARP is for
- Fits if you want a free app that encrypts your traffic and DNS on public Wi-Fi
- Works for people who want family-friendly DNS filtering
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to appear in another country, as Cloudflare says WARP can't
- Not for you if you want anonymity: Cloudflare says WARP doesn't provide it
- Watch out: WARP+ ties the paid tier to more Cloudflare cities, not a choice of server country
- Watch out: WARP+ Unlimited can only be bought inside the iOS or Android app
Good to know
Good for
- People who want encrypted DNS or encrypted traffic on public Wi-Fi at no cost
- Anyone who wants a quick install on phone and desktop, with no account
- Users who only need a more private resolver and malware filter, not a new location
Worth knowing
- Cloudflare states WARP does not provide anonymity and does not let you pretend to be in another country, so it cannot unblock region-locked content.
- Cloudflare's WARP+ page ties the paid tier to more Cloudflare cities, not to a choice of server country.
- WARP+ Unlimited can be bought only inside the iOS or Android app, through the Apple or Google store.
- Cloudflare's separate Zero Trust client for businesses is a different product with its own documentation.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Cloudflare WARP has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month (WARP+ Unlimited, as shown on the US App Store).
The core app is free with no cap listed.
WARP (free)
$0
Traffic and DNS, DNS only or traffic only modes on every supported platform.
WARP+ Unlimited
$4.99
per month, bought through the App Store or Google Play
Connects through a larger set of Cloudflare cities. One licence key covers up to five devices. $4.99 is the US App Store price.
The free plan
The 1.1.1.1 app with WARP is free: it encrypts device traffic to Cloudflare's network or routes DNS queries through the 1.1.1.1 resolver.
Read from apps.apple.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Free Cloudflare app that encrypts traffic, with an optional paid tier. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: vPN, malware protection.
No browser extension, and the business Zero Trust client is a separate product.
- Encrypted traffic to Cloudflare
- In Traffic and DNS mode the app sends device traffic to Cloudflare's network over MASQUE, using post-quantum encryption, according to Cloudflare's documentation.
- DNS-only mode
- Routes only DNS queries through the 1.1.1.1 resolver, over DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS, without tunneling the rest of the traffic.
- 1.1.1.1 for Families
- A DNS setting inside the app that, according to its App Store listing, protects against malware, phishing and crypto-mining sites.
- Local proxy mode
- On desktop, an advanced setting sends only the apps you point at the local proxy (HTTPS or SOCKS5) through WARP.
- WARP+ Unlimited
- A paid tier that adds more Cloudflare cities to connect to. Payment goes through the Apple or Google store.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Cloudflare WARP is made by Cloudflare, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
27/27
Other VPNs it is graded above
Cloudflare WARP's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 27 of the 27 other VPNs we grade.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 27 of 27) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 9 of the 26 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 28 VPNs we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cloudflare WARP’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 26 of 27
- AFree plan and trialAbove 27 of 27
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 27
- BEase of useAbove 7 of 27
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 27
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 27 VPNs. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Cloudflare WARP is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Cloudflare WARP you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 27 of the 27 other VPNs we grade. It costs $59.88 a year.
What you could not
- Servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Cloudflare WARP’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Proton VPN, Windscribe, TunnelBear, Mullvad VPN and Mozilla VPN
The 5 tools Cloudflare WARP is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Proton VPN
Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap.
- Only Proton VPN lists a browser extension.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- Cloudflare WARP also covers malware protection.
- 2.6GPA
Windscribe
Free plan · from $3/mo
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing.
- Only Windscribe lists a browser extension.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
- Cloudflare WARP also covers malware protection.
- 2.4GPA
TunnelBear
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans.
- Only Cloudflare WARP lists a Linux app.
- Only TunnelBear lists a browser extension.
- Cloudflare WARP also covers malware protection.
- 1.8GPA
Mullvad VPN
From €5/mo
Flat-rate Swedish VPN with anonymous numbered accounts.
- Cloudflare WARP has a free plan. Mullvad VPN does not.
- Mullvad VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- Cloudflare WARP also covers malware protection.
- 1.6GPA
Mozilla VPN
From $59.88/yr
Firefox maker's WireGuard VPN, run on Mullvad's servers.
- Cloudflare WARP has a free plan. Mozilla VPN does not.
- Only Mozilla VPN lists a browser extension.
- Mozilla VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Cloudflare WARP free?
Cloudflare WARP has a free plan. The 1.1.1.1 app with WARP is free: it encrypts device traffic to Cloudflare's network or routes DNS queries through the 1.1.1.1 resolver.
How much does Cloudflare WARP cost?
Cloudflare WARP lists 2 plans. WARP (free): $0.
What platforms does Cloudflare WARP work on?
Cloudflare WARP is available on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Cloudflare WARP open source?
Cloudflare WARP is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Cloudflare WARP?
Cloudflare WARP is made by Cloudflare, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Cloudflare WARP?
The closest alternatives to Cloudflare WARP in our directory are Proton VPN, Windscribe, TunnelBear, Mullvad VPN and Mozilla VPN.
How does Cloudflare WARP compare with other VPNs?
Cloudflare WARP's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 27 of the 27 other VPNs we grade.
Is Cloudflare WARP good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Cloudflare WARP A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month, against a middle price of $5 for the category: 9 of the 26 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Cloudflare WARP?
To replace Cloudflare WARP you would be making servers in dozens of countries, kept fast and private.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cloudflare WARP’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cloudflare WARP's own pages on 12 November 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Cloudflare, Inc. Prices change, so check one.one.one.one before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Cloudflare WARP, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cloudflare-warp
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Cloudflare WARP: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cloudflare-warp
Know someone choosing between VPNs?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cloudflare-warp/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded VPNs after Cloudflare WARP, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- VPNs Insider's GuideEvery one of the 28 VPNs we grade, compared
- hide.me Insider's GuideMalaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices3.0 GPA
- X-VPN Insider's GuideVPN with an unlimited-data free plan and discounted first terms3.0 GPA
- PrivadoVPN Insider's GuideVPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Cloudflare WARP’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Cloudflare WARP is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Cloudflare, Inc. Prices and plans change: check one.one.one.one before you buy.