Cloudflare is a service that speeds up and protects millions of websites and APIs by providing features like SSL, DNS load balancing, and DDoS protection. Cloudflare enables sites with custom domains to handle these tasks without needing a server-based web host. However, Netlify offers similar features as part of its platform, including SSL certificates, advanced CDN, load balancing techniques, and DDoS protection, making it a one-stop solution for hosting, security, and deployment. With Netlify's Domain Dashboard feature, users can also manage their DNS configurations easily. As the founder of OpenSauced, Brian Douglas emphasizes that Netlify already offers what Cloudflare provides, making it a viable alternative for sites not currently using the platform.