Top 7 Cloudflare Features You’re Not Using (But Should)

Introduction

Cloudflare is widely recognized as a powerhouse for website security and performance optimization. While most users leverage its basic functionalities—such as CDN, DDoS protection, and analytics—many powerful features remain underutilized. Whether you're a developer, IT manager, or business owner, these features can drastically improve site reliability, speed, security, and cost-efficiency.

In this blog, we’ll explore seven underrated Cloudflare features that you should start using today.

1. Argo Smart Routing: Faster, More Reliable Connections

Argo Smart Routing intelligently routes traffic across the fastest and most reliable internet paths. Traditional routing relies on fixed pathways that don’t always account for congestion or inefficiencies. Argo constantly monitors global traffic conditions and adapts to ensure the shortest travel time for data, reducing latency and improving site speed.

Why You Should Use It:

• Reduces latency by up to 30%.

• Routes around network congestion dynamically.

• Boosts page load speed and performance.

Getting Started:

Enable Argo in the Cloudflare dashboard under the Traffic section. It's a paid feature but provides substantial performance benefits.

2. Cloudflare Workers: Serverless Computing Without Limits

Cloudflare Workers allow you to run serverless applications at the edge, eliminating dependencies on traditional hosting. Whether you need custom redirects, API gateways, or lightweight automation, Workers provide the flexibility to execute JavaScript functions close to your users.

Why You Should Use It:

• Reduces hosting costs by eliminating unnecessary backend requests.

• Enables custom logic at the edge without latency overhead.

• Allows for event-driven development without dedicated infrastructure.

Use Case Example:

Imagine a global e-commerce store that needs instant currency conversion based on user location. A Cloudflare Worker can detect the user's region and dynamically adjust the currency in real time.

Getting Started:

Visit the Workers tab in your Cloudflare dashboard to set up a new worker. It supports JavaScript and can be deployed instantly.

3. Page Rules: Smart Traffic Optimization

Cloudflare's Page Rules allow you to control how your site responds to different traffic patterns. You can configure redirects, enhance security, and fine-tune caching strategies with simple conditional settings.

Why You Should Use It:

• Reduces bandwidth costs by intelligently caching resources.

• Automates redirects without needing a server-side implementation.

• Boosts security by enforcing HTTPS or blocking specific paths.

Example Usage:

• Redirect users from http://yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com.

• Set a cache level for static assets to improve load time.

• Apply firewall rules to sensitive endpoints like /admin.

Getting Started:

Navigate to Rules > Page Rules in Cloudflare, then define conditions for URLs or requests.

4. Load Balancing: High Availability and Reliability

Load Balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers, ensuring optimal performance and avoiding downtime. It also offers automatic failover, redirecting users to the healthiest server in case of an outage.

Why You Should Use It:

• Enhances reliability and availability of web applications.

• Minimizes downtime by automatically switching to healthy servers.

• Improves performance by distributing traffic intelligently.

Example Usage:

A SaaS platform with users worldwide can use Load Balancing to ensure they always connect to the nearest, fastest server.

Getting Started:

Enable Load Balancing under the Traffic tab in Cloudflare, and configure origin pools for routing.

5. Bot Management: Smarter Detection & Prevention

Bot attacks can consume resources, scrape sensitive data, and attempt credential stuffing. Cloudflare Bot Management uses behavioral analytics and machine learning to differentiate legitimate users from malicious bots.

Why You Should Use It:

• Reduces fake traffic and prevents content scraping.

• Protects login pages from credential stuffing attacks.

• Identifies bots using heuristics and machine learning.

Getting Started:

Enable Bot Management in the Security tab to deploy bot protection seamlessly.

6. Cache Reserve: Intelligent Content Storage

Cache Reserve extends Cloudflare’s traditional caching by storing assets for longer periods, even when unused. This drastically reduces origin server requests and lowers bandwidth costs, making it a great option for high-traffic sites.

Why You Should Use It:

• Cuts down origin server costs by storing cached versions longer.

• Reduces load times for returning users.

• Works seamlessly with Cloudflare’s CDN for global performance improvements.

Getting Started:

Find Cache Reserve under the Caching tab in your Cloudflare dashboard and configure retention settings.

7. Magic Transit: Enterprise-Level Security for Networks

Magic Transit protects entire networks, not just individual websites, from cyber threats. Businesses with large infrastructure—including cloud apps, data centers, and IoT devices—can use Magic Transit to shield against large-scale attacks.

Why You Should Use It:

• Mitigates DDoS attacks at the network level.

• Enhances visibility with network analytics and traffic filtering.

• Works across cloud and on-premise deployments.

Getting Started:

Magic Transit is an enterprise feature available through Cloudflare’s Security solutions. Contact Cloudflare for setup details.

Conclusion: Supercharge Your Cloudflare Usage

If you’re already using Cloudflare, chances are you’re benefiting from its core offerings. However, these seven features can significantly improve security, speed, and cost-efficiency. Whether you implement Argo for smarter routing, Workers for edge computing, or Magic Transit for network-wide security, Cloudflare’s advanced tools provide incredible opportunities for optimization.

Which feature are you most excited to try? If you’re already using some of these, share your experiences in the comments!

FAQs About Cloudflare’s Underrated Features

1. What is Argo Smart Routing, and how does it improve site performance?

Argo Smart Routing dynamically selects the fastest available internet paths to reduce latency and avoid congestion. By optimizing traffic flow, it can improve page load speeds by up to 30%.

2. How does Cloudflare Workers differ from traditional server hosting?

Workers allow developers to run lightweight serverless applications at the edge, eliminating the need for backend infrastructure. This speeds up execution time and reduces hosting costs.

3. Can I use Page Rules for SEO improvements?

Yes! You can create Page Rules to enforce HTTPS, set caching levels, and control redirects, all of which contribute to better SEO rankings and user experience.

4. How does Load Balancing help prevent downtime?

Load Balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers and automatically redirects users to the healthiest server during outages, ensuring high availability.

5. What makes Cloudflare’s Bot Management more effective than traditional CAPTCHA systems?

Cloudflare’s Bot Management uses machine learning and behavioral analysis to detect bots without relying on user inconvenience, such as CAPTCHA prompts. It prevents bot attacks while maintaining a smooth user experience.

6. What is Cache Reserve, and how does it save costs?

Cache Reserve stores cached assets for extended periods, reducing the number of requests to the origin server. This helps lower bandwidth costs and improves loading times for repeat visitors.

7. Who should consider using Magic Transit?

Magic Transit is ideal for enterprises with large-scale infrastructure, such as cloud networks, data centers, and IoT systems. It provides network-level DDoS protection and traffic filtering.

8. Are these features available in Cloudflare’s free plan?

Some features, like Page Rules and Workers (with limitations), are available in the free plan, while others (e.g., Argo Smart Routing, Load Balancing, and Magic Transit) require paid subscriptions.

9. How can I start using these features?

You can enable most of these features directly from the Cloudflare dashboard under their respective tabs, such as Traffic, Security, and Caching.

10. Are there any downsides to using these features?

Most of these features enhance performance and security, but some require additional configuration or paid plans. Always review Cloudflare’s documentation to ensure compatibility with your setup.