Launch on a free tier with clear limits
Separate static pages, dynamic requests and database work using Cloudflare’s official limits and pricing.
0101 / Serve presentation content statically
Generate app pages, articles and resource directories during the build. Pages distinguishes static requests from requests invoking Functions. Cache reading content and reserve server logic for accounts, quotas and AI requests.
0202 / Design around allowances
The free tier limits builds and file counts; each static asset is capped at 25 MiB. Check downloadable packages before publishing. Functions consume Workers request allowances. Provide useful limit messages instead of treating a free tier as unlimited infrastructure.
0303 / Store necessary structured records
D1 can hold accounts, quotas and business state. Free reads, writes and storage are bounded, and scanned rows count as reads. Index real query patterns, avoid full scans, and define retention and backup arrangements.
0404 / Preserve portability and cost controls
Version the source, schema and deployment configuration while keeping secrets separate. Monitor traffic and data growth. Give AI separate per-account and global limits: free hosting does not cover model usage. Identify the actual bottleneck before upgrading.
Checked on 2026-11-12; current provider rules take precedence. This reduces early fixed costs without promising free operation at every scale or equal availability in every region.
Sources & further reading
An original Qiyue synthesis of these sources. Suggested actions are not platform guarantees.