Cloudflare on WordPress is a web security service and a content delivery network. It helps in serving your WordPress website’s static content from locations all over the globe. Here is a guide on how to set up Cloudflare and how it accelerates performance by compressing server response time and providing strong security.

Cloudflare and WordPress are a high-security, high-speed power couple. Cloudflare is popular as the globe’s most utilised WordPress CMS today.

WordPress sites slow down or become vulnerable if not guarded by a CDN. Cloudflare bridges that space with high-efficiency content delivery. This is especially helpful where geographical distance can cause interruptions to foreign loading times.

Adding Cloudflare to your WordPress site is all about speed and safeguarding your online presence. With this guide, you’ll learn how to set up Cloudflare with WordPress and enhance the security and performance of your site.

Why Should You Set Up Cloudflare on WordPress?

When you combine WordPress and Cloudflare, you enjoy the advantage of a safe and optimised site that can eliminate harmful traffic and deliver pages in record time. That’s why thousands of companies rely on Cloudflare for WordPress. Here are some other reasons why you should learn how to set up Cloudflare on WordPress:

  • Performance: Cloudflare caches your content and improves page loads. It serves from more than 300+ data centres worldwide.
  • Security: It shields your site from cyber threats using a Web Application Firewall.
  • HTTPS Security: Cloudflare offers free SSL certificates.
  • Resource Efficiency: Maintains uptime by mitigating server requests and limiting bandwidth usage.
  • Analytics: Allows you to monitor real-time security, traffic, and performance reports.
Also Read: How to Set Up CloudFlare on Your WordPress Website

How to Set Up Cloudflare on WordPress

Here is a step-by-step process of how to set up Cloudflare to improve your site performance:

Step 1 – The Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure that:

  • You are already logged into your domain registrar.
  • Your WordPress site is live and online.
Pro Tip: You can also add the official WordPress plugin from Cloudflare.

Step 2 – Sign Up for a Cloudflare Account

Start by visiting cloudflare.com and then signing up for your account. Use your primary business email address and create a strong password. Activate your account through the invitation email.

Pro Tip: Enable centralised security alerts using your domain-based email.

Step 3: Add Your Site to Cloudflare

  • Add Site from the Cloudflare dashboard by typing in your domain name
  • Select the Free Plan, which is sufficient for most SMEs.
  • Let Cloudflare run through your DNS settings, and it should finish the process in less than 60 seconds.
  • Cloudflare will display existing DNS records. Ensure that your A, CNAME, and MX records are in order, particularly for mail services.

Step 4: Check and Update DNS Records

  • Verify that your web host’s IP address is pointing correctly to your domain A Record.
  • Make the orange cloud icon (Proxy Status) available for your main domain and subdomains, as this enables CDN and security.
  • Enable grey (DNS only) for mail servers and FTP servers so no routing errors occur.
  • Click Continue when your DNS has been verified.

Step 5: Update Your Domain’s Nameservers

Cloudflare will generate two unique nameservers for your domain. Log in to your domain registrar, locate your domain’s DNS/Nameserver Settings, and replace the existing ones with the ones that have been provided.

Note: This can take up to 24 hours. 

Step 6: SSL/TLS Settings in Cloudflare

Secure your website by:

  • Navigating to SSL/TLS and then to Overview
  • Choosing an SSL Mode for pages without SSL certificates

Then go to Edge Certificates and toggle Always Use HTTPS on. That encrypts traffic in bulk.

Step 7: Install WordPress Cloudflare Plugin

  • In WordPress, go to Plugins.
  • Then add New, and search for “Cloudflare”.
  • Install the official plugin.
  • When activated, navigate to Settings.
  • Select Cloudflare, click on Sign in here, then enter your Cloudflare account email and Global API.
  • Save API credentials to enable plugin activation.
Note: The plugin provides easy cache flush, permitting auto-updates, analytics, and security management.

Step 8: Configure Page Rules and Cache Settings

Use Cloudflare’s Page Rules to customise performance:

  • Always Use HTTPS.
  • Cache everything to send static and dynamic content fast.
  • Bypass the cache on admin pages to prevent problems.
  • Free plans have 3 Page Rules; you can pay for more.

Step 9: Monitor Performance and Security

After setup:

  • Use insights or software to measure before-and-after load times.
  • Check Analytics through the plugin or the Cloudflare dashboard to measure bandwidth and check threats that have been blocked.
  • Turn on Bot Fight Mode and Firewall Rules for additional security against abusive traffic.

Advanced Cloudflare User Bonus Tips

To enjoy even more performance and security features with advanced features, use the following tips.

Automatic Platform Optimisation

APO caches static and dynamic WordPress content from Cloudflare’s edge network without requesting anything from your host server. Latency is significantly reduced.

  • Great for blogs, e-commerce platforms, and high-traffic websites.
  • Included by default for Pro users or as an add-on on the Free plan for $5/month.

Result: Quickest loading times ever, regardless of the site visitor’s geographical location.

Rocket Loader and Brotli Compression.

  • Welcome Rocket Loader pages’ JavaScript to optimise Time to Interactive (TTI).
  • Brotli compresses text files more than GZIP.

Web Application Firewall

Cloudflare’s WAF protects against attacks like SQL and XSS attacks and bot attacks. You can get pro-level filtering and Bot Management with Pro plans.

Also Read: How to Choose WordPress Hosting: Key Factors to Consider

Issues and How to Fix Them

Below are some common issues encountered by users with practical solutions.

Error 520: Web Server Returning Unknown Error

  • Cloudflare is unable to make a valid connection to your origin server.
  • Check server logs from your hosting provider.
  • Whitelist Cloudflare IP addresses.
  • Disable conflicting firewall rules.

Error 521: Web Server is Down

Your origin server is down or blocked against Cloudflare IPs. Then, make sure that:

  • The server is running
  • The firewall is not blocking Cloudflare
  • Encryption settings use Full if you already have an SSL installed

Error 522: Connection Timed Out

Server response timed out.

  • Make Keep-Alive headers enabled on the server.
  • Optimise backend processes that may be causing delays in response.
  • Make Cloudflare DNS settings identical to your hosting IPs.

ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS

WordPress HTTPS settings conflict with Cloudflare SSL mode.

  • If your host is not SSL-enabled, choose Full or Full (Strict) SSL mode from Cloudflare.
  • Avoid using Flexible if your site is already forced to HTTPS.
  • Flush cookies and cache, and try again.

Power Your WordPress Site with Smart Infrastructure

Successful businesses make each load second count. Adding Cloudflare to your WordPress site isn’t a tech advancement, but it’s a growth play.

The combination of Cloudflare and WordPress offers you a secure and globally available experience.

And if you’re looking for a reliable host provider that offers high-quality CDN and DNS management, Crazy Domains is the answer.

Start Cloudflare-related hosting with Crazy Domains and give your business the competitive advantage it deserves.