Short answer
You do not have to leave Cloudflare to add better bot detection. A specialist product can run on Cloudflare Workers or behind Cloudflare, next to the CDN you already use. In our September 2026 test of eight scraping and browser-automation tools, Centinel detected all eight and Cloudflare detected three. Test any option on your own routes before you change enforcement.
September 2026 results
We ran the same eight tools against each product: Browser-use, Firecrawl, Browserbase, kernel.sh, Playwright Stealth, Camoufox, Zyte, and Ulixee Hero.
| Product | Tools detected |
|---|---|
| Centinel | 8 / 8 |
| DataDome | 5 / 8 |
| Cloudflare | 3 / 8 |
| Kasada | 3 / 8 |
| Akamai | 2 / 8 |
| HUMAN Security | 2 / 8 |
| Fastly | 0 / 8 |
Download the per-tool results (CSV). The benchmark scope lists what was tested.
Which Cloudflare bot product do you have?
Cloudflare's bot features depend on the plan (plans overview):
- Free: Bot Fight Mode challenges simple bots from cloud hosting providers and headless browsers across the whole domain.
- Pro, Business, and Enterprise: Super Bot Fight Mode lets you allow, block, or challenge detected bots.
- Enterprise add-on: Bot Management gives each request a bot score from 1 to 99 for WAF custom rules or Workers, plus Bot Analytics.
If you are on Free or Pro, the next step may be a higher Cloudflare tier rather than another vendor. Compare both on the same traffic.
What to check in an alternative
- Detection on your traffic. Rerun the automation you care about against the candidate, on the routes where it costs you.
- Whether it runs on Cloudflare. A product that runs as a Worker, or behind Cloudflare at your origin, lets you keep the CDN.
- Who has the final say. With two layers, decide which one enforces on each route so an allow in one cannot override a block in the other.
- Crawler handling. Cloudflare groups verified bots by category. Compare how each candidate treats the crawlers you want to allow.
- Data location. Cloudflare's Data Localization Suite is an Enterprise add-on. Ask each candidate where data is processed and stored.
The options
Centinel
A specialist bot-management layer with a Cloudflare Workers integration and 14 other guides across edge, proxy, server, and CMS. It separates declared and verified crawlers from spoofed ones. Data is stored in the EU; ISO/IEC 27001 certified and assessed against SOC 2 Type 1. Priced by quote. Detected 8 of 8. Centinel vs Cloudflare.
DataDome
Server-side modules, with a CDN or edge integration recommended (Cloudflare is on its list), plus a JavaScript tag and mobile SDKs (getting started). Publishes plans on its pricing page. Detected 5 of 8. Centinel vs DataDome.
Kasada
JavaScript tags, mobile SDKs, NPM packages for CDN edge functions, or a proxy that needs no server-side code (integration). Detected 3 of 8. Centinel vs Kasada.
HUMAN Security
Bot Defender uses a JavaScript sensor, a cloud detector, and an enforcer on your app, load balancer, or CDN (overview). Licensed by requests per month. Detected 2 of 8. Centinel vs HUMAN.
Akamai or Fastly
Both sell bot products tied to their own CDN (Akamai Bot Manager, Fastly Bot Management), so choosing one means moving CDN. Akamai detected 2 of 8 and Fastly 0 of 8. Centinel vs Akamai, Centinel vs Fastly.
When staying with Cloudflare alone makes sense
Stay if Cloudflare already handles the automation that costs you, or if you want one vendor and one dashboard. A second layer adds an integration and policies to maintain. It is worth it only when a test on your traffic shows a gap it closes.
How to add an alternative
Deploy it in observe mode on the routes that matter, compare its decisions with Cloudflare's, then choose which layer enforces on each route. The Centinel vs Cloudflare page lists the steps.
FAQ
What is the best Cloudflare Bot Management alternative?
The one that detects the automation you care about on your own routes. In our September 2026 test, Centinel detected all eight tools and Cloudflare detected three.
Can I use an alternative and keep Cloudflare as my CDN?
Yes. Centinel runs as a Cloudflare Worker, DataDome lists a Cloudflare integration, and Kasada offers packages for CDN edge functions. Keep one layer as the final decision per route.
Is Super Bot Fight Mode enough?
It lets you allow, block, or challenge detected bots on Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. Test it against the automation you see before deciding it is enough.