Cloudflare is a global cloud platform designed to improve website performance and protect against online threats. It offers both free and paid plans, and many Australian websites have historically used the free tier to enable basic caching and security features.
However, over time, we’ve observed several limitations specific to Australian websites using the free Cloudflare plan.
Why Cloudflare may slow down Australian websites
As outlined in this article on the declining value of Cloudflare in Australia, major Australian ISPs – notably Telstra and Optus – charge far above global norms for traffic. In response, Cloudflare routes most free-tier traffic from Australia through international points of presence, typically Singapore or the United States.
This means that even if your website is hosted in Australia, visitors may experience slower load times because content is being served from overseas.
Real-world example: DNS and performance
In one recent case, we removed Cloudflare from a client website to resolve a DNS configuration issue. After deactivating Cloudflare and enabling LiteSpeed Cache, the site loaded faster for Australian visitors – with no noticeable drop in performance or security.
When Cloudflare may still be useful
For websites with an international audience, Cloudflare’s free tier may still offer benefits. In some cases, upgrading to a paid plan or switching from a “partial zone” to a “full zone” setup may improve performance and control.
If your site uses Cloudflare and you’re unsure whether it’s helping or hindering performance, get in touch and we’ll help assess your options.
