# CloudFlare's unamazing growth Hurricane Electric is a major Internet backbone service provider, and they show a chart listing the [top 100 hosting companies](https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102852/https://bgp.he.net/report/tophosts). We asked them how this data, which updates once a week, is compiled. Rob Mosher replied that "the counts are based on domain names with their nameservers listed." That's good enough for us, and we began capturing the data from this chart soon after CloudFlare made it into the top 100 in April 2013. Matthew Prince brags about all the traffic he handles ([more than Facebook](https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102852/http://venturebeat.com/2013/06/17/cloudflare-150b-pageviewsmonth-30gb-of-log-dataminute-and-more-traffic-than-facebook/)), but this is bogus. For example, he once claimed that China is the second largest country using CouldFlare after the U.S., while our stats showed otherwise. On further investigation, we found a later quotation in which Prince said that traffic from China was number two — not CloudFlare customers from China, and not CloudFlare websites in China, but traffic! ![](img/mao4.gif) Yeah, okay, and our modest site here at CloudFlare Watch has been getting a lot of traffic from China also. It's called a "botnet," folks, which means a bunch of automated zombies grab stuff from us, 24 / 7, for reasons unknown. We ran Scroogle.org for seven years, and had the same sort of "traffic." By now we know that if you have zombie problems, you are supposed to be apologetic and work hard to block them. You don't brag about it. Mr. Prince isn't content to merely compare apples to oranges. His comparison to Facebook is the equivalent of claiming that the water CloudFlare uses to keep its apple tree alive weighs more than the basket of oranges from Facebook's orange tree. It's all reckless hype, and it's amazing that the high-tech press lets him get away with it. They should recognize that Facebook attracts end-users by providing an environment and structure that encourages content, while CloudFlare is a mere traffic conduit that is divorced from both end-users and content. ![](img/evo20.gif) While we are still interested in how Hurricane Electric collects their domain stats (is it captured midstream, or from zone file access, or what?), ultimately it doesn't matter as long as their methodology is consistent. We are interested in growth over time for domains that use CloudFlare for their authoritative nameservers. CloudFlare's [hosting partners](https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102852/https://www.cloudflare.com/partners/solution-partners/) do not count, nor should they. A click box on the control panel at a CloudFlare hosting partner means little. While it increases the traffic going through CloudFlare, it merely suggests that these partners are happy to offload a chunk of their bandwidth for free, by encouraging their own customers to try out CloudFlare. At this rate, every self-disrespecting hosting provider on the planet should have signed up by now. ![](img/sock2.gif) No, what matters is how many registered domains use CloudFlare for their nameservers. While the lowest tier at CloudFlare is still free for this, at least it takes some minimal research and commitment before a website is willing to change the nameservers on their domain registration. In short, we feel that the stats from Hurricane Electric, when considered over a span of at least a few months, are worth more than any Matthew Prince quotations in media that [don't know when to quit](cfblock.md). [![](img/poem.gif)](repeats.md) ``` Date Total domains Percent of top 100 2013-05-06 462,274 0.200 2013-05-13 472,085 0.204 2013-05-20 480,934 0.207 2013-05-27 485,279 0.209 2013-06-03 480,989 0.207 2013-06-10 487,366 0.209 2013-06-17 492,681 0.212 2013-06-24 497,098 0.214 2013-07-01 503,807 0.216 2013-07-08 516,126 0.221 2013-07-15 518,662 0.222 2013-07-22 519,748 0.223 2013-07-29 523,083 0.224 2013-08-05 528,595 0.226 2013-08-12 536,331 0.230 2013-08-19 540,140 0.231 2013-08-26 546,689 0.234 2013-09-02 553,002 0.236 2013-09-09 559,421 0.239 2013-09-16 566,034 0.241 2013-09-23 570,967 0.243 2013-09-30 583,379 0.248 2013-10-07 590,639 0.251 2013-10-14 598,124 0.254 2013-10-21 605,181 0.257 2013-10-28 612,161 0.260 2013-11-04 618,892 0.262 2013-11-11 625,297 0.265 2013-11-18 634,680 0.269 2013-11-25 645,166 0.273 2013-12-02 651,707 0.276 2013-12-09 656,592 0.278 2013-12-16 658,851 0.279 2013-12-23 664,087 0.281 2013-12-30 668,845 0.283 2014-01-06 674,649 0.285 2014-01-13 680,664 0.288 2014-01-20 686,548 0.290 2014-01-27 695,184 0.293 2014-02-03 701,853 0.296 2014-02-10 707,212 0.298 2014-02-17 715,565 0.301 2014-02-24 721,120 0.303 2014-03-03 727,763 0.305 2014-03-10 738,270 0.309 2014-03-17 748,705 0.313 2014-03-24 759,522 0.318 2014-03-31 767,933 0.321 2014-04-07 776,532 0.324 2014-04-14 789,967 0.329 2014-04-21 798,921 0.332 2014-04-28 810,208 0.337 2014-05-05 820,826 0.341 2014-05-12 829,597 0.344 2014-05-19 843,120 0.350 2014-05-26 854,125 0.354 2014-06-02 862,998 0.358 2014-06-09 870,092 0.360 2014-06-16 880,063 0.364 2014-06-23 888,970 0.368 2014-06-30 900,388 0.372 2014-07-07 907,303 0.375 2014-07-14 919,299 0.379 2014-07-21 929,176 0.383 2014-07-28 938,897 0.387 2014-08-04 949,517 0.391 2014-08-11 959,261 0.395 2014-08-18 971,269 0.399 2014-08-25 983,229 0.404 2014-09-01 996,492 0.409 2014-09-08 1,008,809 0.414 2014-09-15 1,018,725 0.418 2014-09-22 1,028,254 0.421 2014-09-29 1,039,559 0.425 2014-10-06 1,055,063 0.431 2014-10-13 1,069,605 0.436 2014-10-20 1,092,576 0.445 2014-10-27 1,105,575 0.451 2014-11-03 1,119,242 0.456 2014-11-10 1,137,673 0.464 2014-11-17 1,151,151 0.469 2014-11-24 1,166,656 0.475 2014-12-01 1,177,647 0.479 2014-12-08 1,189,078 0.484 2014-12-15 1,207,842 0.491 2014-12-22 1,217,563 0.495 2014-12-29 1,231,764 0.501 2015-01-05 1,247,680 0.507 2015-01-12 1,265,245 0.514 2015-01-19 1,280,109 0.520 2015-01-26 1,297,321 0.526 2015-02-02 1,312,308 0.531 2015-02-09 1,332,308 0.539 2015-02-16 1,347,477 0.544 2015-02-23 1,359,383 0.549 2015-03-02 1,381,804 0.558 2015-03-09 1,399,204 0.564 2015-03-16 1,418,583 0.572 2015-03-23 1,435,965 0.579 2015-03-30 1,454,610 0.586 2015-04-06 1,469,641 0.592 2015-04-13 1,484,206 0.597 2015-04-20 1,499,685 0.603 2015-04-27 1,517,483 0.610 2015-05-04 1,538,892 0.620 2015-05-11 1,552,349 0.625 2015-05-18 1,569,546 0.632 2015-05-25 1,589,371 0.640 2015-06-01 1,607,757 0.647 2015-06-08 1,630,764 0.655 2015-06-15 1,646,304 0.661 2015-06-22 1,671,352 0.670 2015-06-29 1,688,467 0.676 2015-07-06 1,709,286 0.683 2015-07-13 1,729,079 0.691 2015-07-20 1,755,542 0.701 2015-07-27 1,776,521 0.710 2015-08-03 1,800,276 0.719 2015-08-10 1,819,396 0.726 2015-08-17 1,849,434 0.737 2015-08-24 1,871,697 0.745 2015-08-31 1,897,175 0.755 2015-09-07 1,923,030 0.764 2015-09-14 1,965,601 0.779 ...the data source did not update for one month... 2015-10-15 2,459,695 0.915 2015-10-19 2,477,094 0.919 2015-10-26 2,503,454 0.921 2015-11-02 2,525,536 0.925 2015-11-09 2,549,874 0.918 2015-11-16 2,586,187 0.914 2015-11-23 2,620,791 0.912 2015-11-30 2,654,232 0.920 2015-12-07 2,690,496 0.931 2015-12-14 2,716,079 0.938 2015-12-21 2,745,964 0.946 2015-12-28 2,767,578 0.953 2016-01-04 2,780,037 0.956 2016-01-11 2,808,816 0.964 2016-01-18 2,833,824 0.971 2016-01-25 2,854,693 0.975 2016-02-01 2,889,095 0.984 2016-02-08 2,921,854 0.992 2016-02-15 2,941,870 0.996 2016-02-22 2,980,241 1.000 2016-02-29 3,015,906 1.005 2016-03-07 3,052,477 1.010 2016-03-14 3,093,608 1.022 2016-03-21 3,123,234 1.029 2016-03-28 3,154,356 1.039 2016-04-04 3,175,503 1.043 2016-04-11 3,201,418 1.050 2016-04-18 3,230,048 1.058 2016-04-25 3,250,479 1.065 2016-05-02 3,284,012 1.076 2016-05-09 3,304,421 1.082 2016-05-16 3,345,090 1.095 2016-05-23 3,369,703 1.101 2016-05-30 3,398,037 1.110 2016-06-06 3,422,237 1.118 2016-06-13 3,446,664 1.126 2016-06-20 3,466,012 1.133 2016-06-27 3,491,453 1.143 2016-07-04 3,535,104 1.154 2016-07-11 3,557,826 1.162 2016-07-18 3,577,119 1.168 2016-07-25 3,594,073 1.173 2016-08-01 3,598,272 1.190 2016-08-08 3,643,865 1.204 2016-08-15 3,671,903 1.213 2016-08-22 3,693,125 1.219 2016-08-29 3,710,646 1.225 2016-09-05 3,741,690 1.235 2016-09-12 3,760,204 1.242 2016-09-19 3,785,458 1.252 2016-09-26 3,794,284 1.255 2016-10-03 3,826,115 1.267 2016-10-10 3,859,078 1.277 2016-10-17 3,900,896 1.289 2016-10-24 3,928,593 1.298 2016-10-31 3,966,977 1.310 2016-11-07 4,007,417 1.325 2016-11-14 4,044,849 1.336 2016-11-21 4,090,463 1.353 2016-11-28 4,128,982 1.368 2016-12-05 4,150,122 1.374 2016-12-12 4,180,124 1.388 2016-12-19 4,215,130 1.403 2016-12-26 4,264,692 1.426 2017-01-02 4,313,167 1.449 2017-01-09 4,370,013 1.468 2017-01-16 4,412,616 1.481 2017-01-23 4,435,988 1.487 2017-01-30 4,497,257 1.507 2017-02-06 4,565,328 1.528 2017-02-13 4,630,694 1.546 2017-02-20 4,692,037 1.563 2017-02-27 4,738,938 1.580 2017-03-06 4,763,870 1.582 2017-03-13 4,797,089 1.592 2017-03-20 4,848,941 1.607 2017-03-27 4,872,968 1.614 2017-04-03 4,899,299 1.627 2017-04-10 4,929,269 1.638 2017-04-17 4,935,522 1.640 2017-04-24 4,967,471 1.648 2017-05-01 4,999,621 1.656 2017-05-08 5,045,945 1.670 2017-05-15 5,085,359 1.680 2017-05-22 5,118,847 1.691 2017-05-29 5,156,948 1.699 2017-06-05 5,183,607 1.703 2017-06-12 5,231,308 1.722 2017-06-19 5,507,691 1.793 2017-06-26 5,571,118 1.813 2017-07-03 5,592,312 1.820 2017-07-10 5,617,151 1.827 2017-07-17 5,653,175 1.837 2017-07-24 5,700,932 1.851 2017-07-31 5,771,722 1.873 2017-08-07 5,809,459 1.883 2017-08-14 5,836,431 1.890 2017-08-21 5,872,947 1.900 2017-08-28 5,904,417 1.911 2017-09-04 5,944,257 1.920 2017-09-11 5,977,055 1.927 2017-09-18 6,013,372 1.936 2017-09-25 6,047,315 1.945 2017-10-02 6,094,842 1.959 2017-10-09 6,129,147 1.966 2017-10-16 6,157,099 1.973 2017-10-23 6,198,152 1.986 2017-10-30 6,235,789 1.998 2017-11-06 6,271,018 2.009 2017-11-13 6,299,504 2.024 2017-11-20 6,340,142 2.037 2017-11-27 6,363,377 2.042 2017-12-04 6,390,003 2.047 2017-12-11 6,426,854 2.058 2017-12-18 6,458,112 2.071 2017-12-25 6,445,461 2.067 2018-01-01 6,443,406 2.067 2018-01-08 6,482,529 2.077 2018-01-15 6,514,604 2.087 2018-01-22 6,528,120 2.091 2018-01-29 6,564,496 2.102 2018-02-05 6,599,073 2.110 2018-02-12 6,634,101 2.116 2018-02-19 6,664,120 2.126 2018-02-26 6,654,423 2.121 2018-03-05 6,696,513 2.133 2018-03-12 6,739,825 2.141 2018-03-19 6,779,526 2.139 2018-03-26 6,814,395 2.138 2018-04-02 6,859,918 2.149 2018-04-09 6,909,496 2.162 2018-04-16 6,954,315 2.172 2018-04-23 7,006,517 2.186 2018-04-30 7,043,652 2.198 2018-05-07 7,099,084 2.216 2018-05-14 7,148,454 2.226 2018-05-21 7,207,113 2.242 2018-05-28 7,362,802 2.287 2018-06-04 7,474,019 2.319 2018-06-11 7,563,181 2.345 2018-06-18 7,608,843 2.356 2018-06-25 7,655,184 2.365 2018-07-02 7,718,513 2.374 2018-07-09 7,762,731 2.384 2018-07-16 7,834,993 2.403 2018-07-23 7,901,368 2.424 2018-07-30 7,936,604 2.435 2018-08-06 7,992,083 2.447 2018-08-13 8,051,515 2.460 2018-08-20 8,116,197 2.477 2018-08-27 8,181,685 2.495 2018-09-03 8,233,488 2.507 2018-09-10 8,281,597 2.518 2018-09-17 8,341,527 2.531 2018-09-24 8,379,509 2.538 2018-10-01 8,413,490 2.547 2018-10-08 8,461,715 2.559 2018-10-15 8,494,717 2.565 2018-10-22 8,526,445 2.569 2018-10-29 8,561,946 2.580 2018-11-05 8,599,714 2.590 2018-11-12 8,623,601 2.594 2018-11-19 8,692,707 2.610 2018-11-26 8,725,435 2.618 2018-12-03 8,761,409 2.624 2018-12-10 8,802,587 2.634 2018-12-17 8,837,849 2.642 2018-12-24 8,884,186 2.655 2018-12-31 8,967,431 2.679 2019-01-07 9,029,733 2.696 2019-01-14 9,116,113 2.717 2019-01-21 9,163,968 2.729 2019-01-28 9,212,710 2.741 2019-02-04 9,259,657 2.751 2019-02-11 9,289,395 2.757 2019-02-18 9,327,549 2.764 2019-02-25 9,367,875 2.773 2019-03-04 9,422,615 2.785 2019-03-11 9,456,622 2.792 2019-03-18 9,536,879 2.816 2019-03-25 9,582,190 2.827 2019-04-01 9,614,826 2.834 2019-04-08 9,661,770 2.843 2019-04-15 9,639,449 2.833 2019-04-22 9,663,323 2.838 2019-04-29 9,701,268 2.846 2019-05-06 9,726,091 2.852 2019-05-13 9,755,458 2.859 2019-05-20 9,771,923 2.860 2019-05-27 9,804,848 2.868 2019-06-03 9,825,872 2.872 2019-06-10 9,848,810 2.877 2019-06-17 9,874,825 2.882 2019-06-24 9,920,997 2.892 2019-07-01 9,945,591 2.895 2019-07-08 9,966,342 2.899 2019-07-15 10,009,608 2.905 2019-07-22 10,042,009 2.916 2019-07-29 10,061,628 2.919 2019-08-05 10,083,894 2.923 2019-08-12 10,118,603 2.930 2019-08-19 10,151,279 2.936 2019-08-26 10,187,533 2.944 2019-09-02 10,229,840 2.955 2019-09-09 10,258,506 2.961 2019-09-16 10,299,487 2.970 2019-09-23 10,331,298 2.976 2019-09-30 10,365,561 2.984 2019-10-07 10,405,629 2.993 2019-10-14 10,448,773 3.001 2019-10-21 10,493,553 3.012 2019-10-28 10,530,175 3.020 2019-11-04 10,573,154 3.031 2019-11-11 10,626,620 3.043 2019-11-18 10,652,831 3.050 2019-11-25 10,712,813 3.064 2019-12-02 10,771,957 3.078 2019-12-09 10,869,576 3.104 2019-12-16 10,932,699 3.120 2019-12-23 10,992,952 3.032 2019-12-30 11,024,536 3.041 2020-01-06 11,046,219 3.045 2020-01-13 11,072,583 3.049 2020-01-20 11,104,343 3.055 2020-01-27 11,121,659 3.057 2020-02-03 11,131,602 3.056 2020-02-10 11,157,317 3.059 2020-02-17 11,195,632 3.064 2020-02-24 11,232,851 3.071 2020-03-02 11,543,562 2.799 2020-03-09 11,598,986 2.804 2020-03-16 11,608,288 2.802 2020-03-23 11,614,818 2.802 2020-03-30 11,594,092 2.796 2020-04-06 11,608,284 2.798 2020-04-13 11,661,017 2.808 2020-04-20 11,777,589 2.830 2020-04-27 11,802,977 2.834 2020-05-04 11,855,622 2.845 2020-05-11 11,905,370 2.854 2020-05-18 11,925,996 2.857 2020-05-25 11,975,702 2.867 2020-06-01 12,006,857 2.871 2020-06-08 12,040,513 2.879 2020-06-15 12,088,287 2.887 2020-06-22 12,134,019 2.896 2020-06-29 12,058,454 2.948 2020-07-06 12,121,766 2.961 2020-07-13 12,181,945 2.973 2020-07-20 12,221,082 2.981 2020-07-27 12,253,014 2.987 ``` ### Harvard Business School ### The source of CloudFlare's delusions ![](img/harvard.gif) - [Why entrepreneurs need to be a little delusional](https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102852/http://web.archive.org/web/20140715071656/http://poetsandquants.com/2013/11/18/qa-with-harvards-top-entrepreneurship-professor/) (2013-11-18) ``` We can tell students what the failure odds are, but it's one thing for people to know the stats, and it's another to actually feel it's going to be you. A lot of people think they will be that one person to beat the odds, and I guess that's good to have that confidence. Basically we need people to be a little delusional. ``` — Professor Tom Eisenmann, Harvard Business School - [HBS-founded CloudFlare is Sky High](https://web.archive.org/web/20210826102852/http://web.archive.org/web/20140911104439/http://www.harbus.org/2011/cloudflare/) (2011-11-14) ``` However you describe CloudFlare, it is clearly flourishing. Since its founding two years ago at HBS, the company's network now extends to 15 billion page views and 350 million visitors per month, which is more traffic than Amazon, Wikipedia and Twitter combined. 'One out of every five people on the Internet has passed through our network in the last month,' says Prince. 'Kind of stunning.' ... Zatlyn and Prince cite a number of HBS influences as critical sources of support, with Professor Eisenmann being at the top of the list. They recount how they took his Entrepreneurship course their first year, and he then encouraged them from their very first discussions beginning in the lobby bar at the Sheraton in Palo Alto. 'Tom was a cheerleader from the beginning,' says Prince. 'And he's continued to be in touch. Every time he is out here, we see him.' ``` ![](img/shelter4.gif) --- [home page](README.md)