Cloudflare Gateway vs Cisco Umbrella

Cloudflare Gateway9.2Visit Cisco Umbrella9.1Visit

Higher score Cloudflare Gateway #1 in Internet Filtering Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Cloudflare

vs

Cisco Umbrella #2 in Internet Filtering Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Cisco Umbrella

• Cloudflare Gateway fits best

  Organizations needing filtering beyond DNS

• Cisco Umbrella fits best

  Mature enterprise network filtering

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Side by side

Feature	Cloudflare Gateway 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Cisco Umbrella 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Internet Filtering Software	#2 in Internet Filtering Software
Best for	Organizations needing filtering beyond DNS	Mature enterprise network filtering
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	—	Pricing on request · 14-day trial
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Community, Live chat, Tickets, Phone	Tickets, Phone, Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Cloudflare Gateway 3/3 · Cisco Umbrella 3/3
Custom blocklists	✓	✓
Safe search controls	✓	✓
Filtering schedules	✓	✓
Specs
Device limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Activity reports	Advanced	Advanced
Platform support	macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, PAC files, DNS locations, Cloudflare WAN, Cloudflare Mesh, HTML5 browsers	Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, iOS, Android, DNS networks, Cisco network devices
Our review
Pros	Filters DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, network traffic, and custom lists Supports identity controls, SafeSearch, scheduling, and activity logs Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, network DNS, and API	DNS and category filtering with custom allow and block lists Identity, device, network, schedule, and application-based policies Cisco integrations, reporting APIs, and log exports
Cons	Activity reporting is basic Free log retention is limited to up to 24 hours Contract plan pricing is custom	No free plan for smaller teams evaluating long term Pricing requires contacting sales Planned end-of-sale and end-of-life transition
Our verdict	Cloudflare Gateway is a cloud-delivered secure web gateway for organizations that need to control more than DNS requests. Administrators can filter DNS, HTTP and HTTPS requests, network traffic, packets, ports, and protocols. Policies can… Read the review →	Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered DNS and web security service for organizations that need to control internet access across users, devices, and networks. It combines DNS-layer blocking for malware, phishing, botnets, ransomware, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Cloudflare Gateway — where it wins

  • Filters DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, network traffic, and custom lists
  • Supports identity controls, SafeSearch, scheduling, and activity logs
  • Runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, network DNS, and API

  Where it doesn't

  • Activity reporting is basic
  • Free log retention is limited to up to 24 hours
  • Contract plan pricing is custom

• Cisco Umbrella — where it wins

  • DNS and category filtering with custom allow and block lists
  • Identity, device, network, schedule, and application-based policies
  • Cisco integrations, reporting APIs, and log exports

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan for smaller teams evaluating long term
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Planned end-of-sale and end-of-life transition

• Cloudflare Gateway9.2/10 · Free plan

  A broad filtering gateway with strong policy controls and basic reporting.

  Visit CloudflareFull verdict →
• Cisco Umbrella9.1/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial

  A mature enterprise filter with broad controls, integrations, and contact-sales pricing.

  Visit Cisco UmbrellaFull verdict →