Cloudflare One vs SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) comparison

Cloudflare and SonicWall are both solutions in the ZTNA category. Cloudflare is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.0, while SonicWall is ranked #14 with an average rating of 7.0. Cloudflare holds a 11.1% mindshare in Z, compared to SonicWall’s 3.8% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cloudflare users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 50% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Cloudflare One

Read 22 Cloudflare One reviews

9,306 Views
1,489 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge...

Read 1 SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) review

570 Views
382 Comparison Views

50% willing to recommend

Cloudflare One

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 4, 2026

Cloudflare One and SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge compete in the secure access service edge solutions category. Cloudflare One seems to have the upper hand in pricing and ease of deployment, while SonicWall CSE shines with its robust security features.

Features: Cloudflare One offers a unified platform with firewall as a service, secure web gateway, and zero-trust access known for integration and ease of use. SonicWall CSE delivers extensive security measures with advanced threat protection, network segmentation, and comprehensive security management.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cloudflare One is recognized for its seamless integration and straightforward deployment process with responsive customer support. SonicWall CSE, while supported comprehensively, involves a more complex setup and requires significant expertise.

Pricing and ROI: Cloudflare One offers competitive pricing with a quick return on investment due to lower upfront costs. SonicWall CSE requires a higher initial investment but promises a long-term return with its extensive feature set and security offerings.

To learn more, read our detailed ZTNA Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

ZTNA

January 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Cloudflare One

Ranking in ZTNA

2nd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Email Security (21st), Secure Web Gateways (SWG) (16th), Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (21st), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) (11th), Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Protection (7th), Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions (13th), Access Management (10th), Bot Management (3rd), ZTNA as a Service (8th), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) (10th), Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) (3rd)

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge...

Ranking in ZTNA

14th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Remote Access (25th)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the ZTNA category, the mindshare of Cloudflare One is 11.1%, down from 13.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) is 3.8%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

ZTNA Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cloudflare One	11.1%
SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE)	3.8%
Other	85.1%

ZTNA

Featured Reviews

Cobe Van Coller

Network Architect at IP Dimension

Cloud security has improved remote access and has reduced costs for smaller client sites

I have used Cloudflare One's Identity-Aware Proxy, and it is quite straightforward from what I have seen so far. The app registration on the Azure side integrates fully into Cloudflare, and I am very satisfied with that part because it is easy to set up. The integration of Cloudflare One's Secure Web Gateway and Zero Trust Network Access works without any issues. That part is pretty automatic, and if you complete the rest of the setup, it comes together by itself with no issues from my side. What makes it nice is that we can actually start replacing on-site firewalls at this stage for the smaller clients because it does not matter if they go to a coffee shop or work from home; they are still secured by the same connection. The hops get shorter and you get better latency. We have done testing to see if it is better. One thing that we did notice with our proof of concept with our current client is that they have people connecting from the UK. When they used their previous VPN solution, uploading CAD drawings and other files to the server took a long time. They mentioned that it is much quicker on Cloudflare One's solution. I definitely believe that is part of the improved performance, and I am satisfied with that as well. What is nice about Cloudflare One is that it makes the setup easier and also easier to train technicians to maintain it. Compared to legacy systems, we do not need to get fancy firewalls in place that are costly. That is definitely also a cost-saver with Cloudflare One.

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Kallamuddin Ansari

Cyber Security Consultant at ProTechmanize

Remote access has become more secure and flexible but reporting still needs deeper analytics

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) offers excellent features including Zero Trust Network Access, VPN as a service, and Cloud Access Security Brokers. One of the standout features is Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) for Software as a Service, providing visibility and control over cloud applications employees use, not only regarding whether they can use them but also regarding the actions they perform within those applications. This is especially useful in organizations utilizing many SaaS tools such as Office 365, Salesforce, and cloud storage, where consistent security policy enforcement is required, even from personal devices or remote locations. The secure web gateway feature is critical for modern-day internet security. SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) provides secure web gateway features for users accessing the internet, including URL filtering, domain filtering, blocking malicious websites, preventing phishing or ransomware threats, and enforcing acceptable use policies. SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) has had a very positive impact on our organization as our workforce becomes more distributed, with noticeable improvements including easier and more secure remote access. Previously, managing VPN clients and hardware gateways was difficult for new or non-technical users, but with SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), users simply authenticate and get secure access to only the applications they need. There are numerous improvements I notice, such as improved BYOD security, reduced risk of lateral movements, simplified management, lower hardware dependency, and better visibility and compliance reporting. After moving to SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), we saw a 38% reduction in VPN-related tickets. Users are no longer facing client errors, tunnel failures, and certificate issues, which saves nearly 25 hours per month on troubleshooting remote access problems. Onboarding remote users has become 60% faster, now taking only 10 to 15 minutes instead of 30 to 40 minutes. Additionally, there has been a 52% reduction in risky connection attempts primarily from devices with outdated operating systems or disabled antivirus, with zero lateral movement and a 30% drop in failed login anomalies.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It will take the blow rather than our applications should an attack occur."

"For Cloudflare Access, I am using the free plan...The most valuable feature is their protection."

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform removes the risk of exposing the applications to the public."

"The capabilities of the software are strong enough for me to do what it's supposed to do. For me, we don't need to do a lot of configuration on our site. We just enable it and monitor it."

"Cloudflare DDoS is better than its competitors for its security, deployment, and scalability."

"This solution is easy to understand and easy to configure."

"I'm very satisfied with the environment and the dashboard."

"Cloudflare is by far the most effective solution that I have come across."

More Cloudflare One pros

"After moving to SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), we saw a 38% reduction in VPN-related tickets, saving nearly 25 hours per month on troubleshooting remote access problems, onboarding remote users has become 60% faster, and there has been a 52% reduction in risky connection attempts with zero lateral movement and a 30% drop in failed login anomalies."

Cons

"The onboarding process can be improved a little bit."

"They don't have a person to provide support for customers using the solution under their free plan."

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform needs to improve its documentation. It took time to do the implementation."

"Operating and tuning the product is difficult."

"Lacks a VPN feature to provide a secure connection to the data center."

"Feedback could be enhanced."

"The initial onboarding was causing us some confusion."

"Our subscription plan for the solution has a limitation of bot signatures."

More Cloudflare One cons

"SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) has some areas for improvement, particularly in reporting and dashboards."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform's pricing is good."

"The pricing of the solution is cheap. The licensing cost is also very low. I rate the cost and pricing a three out of ten."

"The solution's pricing lacks transparency."

"The pricing is somewhere in the middle. I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"The prices are slightly expensive."

"The solution is not that expensive."

"My company has to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the solution. There are no hidden charges apart from the licensing costs of the solution."

"The price tag is no longer $200,000, but rather $300,000 to $400,000. It's twice."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Security Firm

14%

Computer Software Company

12%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Healthcare Company

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access has strong integration with Microsoft, among other platforms. However, when it comes to Kaspersky, we have clients who typically encounter challenges. The usual setup involves con...

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What is your primary use case for Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access provides secure access to internal applications for employees, external members of the organization, or third-party providers. It acts similarly to a VPN but uses a different kind...

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What advice do you have for others considering Cloudflare Access?

Cloudflare Access is one of the best integrations available. While about two hundred vendors offer similar services, Cloudflare's approach as a SASE solution stands out. Clients prefer a single pla...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE)?

The setup cost for SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) was minimal as most of the investment was in time spent configuring connectors and access policies rather than infrastructure, since it is cloud...

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What needs improvement with SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE)?

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) has some areas for improvement, particularly in reporting and dashboards. While it provides strong visibility, it could benefit from deeper analytics, customizable...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE)?

My main use case for SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) is for remote and hybrid work access, specifically for Zero Trust Network Access to sensitive and private resources, as well as secure access ...

See all answers

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Compared 4% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cloudflare One

January 2026

Download Cloudflare One product report

Buyer's Guide

Remote Access

January 2026

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) report

Download SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE) product report

Also Known As

Cloudflare Area 1 Email Security, Cloudflare Bot Management, Cloudflare Gateway, Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform, Cloudflare DDoS, Cloudflare SASE & SSE Platform

Banyan Security

Overview

Cloudflare One is a comprehensive platform for security, performance, and connectivity. It provides features like rate limiting, DDoS protection, and application access, tailored to enhance user experience while securing internet access and accelerating communications.

Designed to integrate security measures with ease of use and scalability, Cloudflare One offers a secure web gateway and zero trust network access. These features ensure seamless setup and operation, making connectivity reliable and protected. Users appreciate its integrated console, intuitive interface, and the ability to manage risk effectively. It offers straightforward deployment, improves latency, and boasts cost-effectiveness. While its onboarding process and documentation need enhancement, its value in content delivery and application shielding is notable. Despite challenges in integrating Cloudflare Access with existing VPNs and the need for better automation and support, it remains vital for DNS and infrastructure protection.

What features make Cloudflare One stand out?

Rate Limiting: Controls the traffic rate to prevent abuse.
DDoS Protection: Shields applications from distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Secure Web Gateway: Provides secure internet access with seamless operation.
Zero Trust Network Access: Ensures secure, application-based connectivity without relying on traditional VPNs.
Access for Connectivity: Facilitates access to internal applications securely.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Security: Robust measures for DNS and browsing protection.
Performance: Enhanced site accessibility and communication speed.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing for its features.
Ease of Deployment: Straightforward and efficient setup process.

In industries like finance, retail, and technology, Cloudflare One is crucial for enabling secure remote access and protecting web applications against dynamic threats. It supports compliance access policies and enhances content delivery, playing a key role in safeguarding digital infrastructure.

Cloudflare

SonicWall Cloud Secure Edge (CSE), formerly Banyan Security, easy to adopt Security Service Edge (SSE) solution, enabling your workforce to securely access any resource from any device. It delivers simple, secure, zero trust access to private and internet resources for all your employees and third parties, regardless of their network location. To accomplish that, CSE combines the functionality of multiple traditional network appliances – remote access VPN, web proxy, firewall, etc. – into a unified cloud-delivered solution, improving the security posture and user experience for the entire workforce.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

23andMe

Redox, Byton, Veeva, BlueVoyant

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet, Cloudflare, Check Point Software Technologies and others in ZTNA. Updated: January 2026.

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