Both are zero trust. One proxies HTTP at the edge; the other builds an encrypted network. Different tools, honestly compared.
| OpenVLAN | Cloudflare Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Network layer (any protocol) | Reverse proxy (HTTP/S first-class) |
| Non-HTTP (SSH, RDP, DB, gRPC) | Native, direct peer-to-peer | Tunneled or via WARP client |
| Traffic path | Direct between nodes | Through Cloudflare edge |
| Latency for P2P apps | LAN-like | Edge round-trip |
| Public web app publishing | Via Funnel (specific services) | Core strength |
| Browser-based access | SSH console, web apps via tailnet | Yes, without a client |
| Device networks (IoT, servers) | First-class nodes | Limited to WARP-enrolled devices |
Your apps are web apps, you want browser-only access for third parties, and clientless SaaS-app gating is the core need.
Your world includes SSH, RDP, databases, Kubernetes, IoT, and direct file transfer — traffic that shouldn't hairpin through an edge.
Plenty of teams run both: Cloudflare Access in front of public-facing web apps, OpenVLAN as the private network underneath. Different layers, no conflict.