Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is Pixelflare?
Pixelflare is a self-hosted image CDN built specifically for Cloudflare's edge platform. It provides image hosting, management, transformations, and delivery at scale.
How much does it cost?
Pixelflare itself is free and open-source. You only pay for the Cloudflare resources you use. Most personal deployments fit within Cloudflare's generous free tier.
Do I need a Cloudflare account?
Yes, Pixelflare is built specifically for Cloudflare's platform and requires an account with a domain added.
Is it production-ready?
Pixelflare is actively developed and used in production. However, it's maintained by an individual (not a company), so there are no SLAs or guarantees.
Deployment
How long does deployment take?
First-time deployment typically takes 30-45 minutes, including Terraform setup and manual configuration steps.
Can I deploy without Terraform?
Yes, manual deployment is possible but not recommended. Terraform automates most of the setup and ensures consistency.
Do I need coding knowledge?
Basic familiarity with command-line tools, Git, and environment variables is helpful but not strictly required for deployment.
Can I deploy to other cloud providers?
Not currently. Pixelflare is specifically designed for Cloudflare's platform and uses services that aren't available elsewhere.
Features
What image formats are supported?
Pixelflare supports all common image formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, and more.
What's the maximum image size?
The default limit is configurable. Cloudflare R2 supports objects up to 5TB, though practical limits depend on your quotas.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes! Pixelflare supports custom domains for both the main app and user-specific subdomains (with Cloudflare for SaaS).
Does it support video?
Not yet. Pixelflare is currently focused on images, but video support is planned for the future.
Usage
How do I upload images?
Multiple ways: web UI (drag-and-drop or paste), direct API calls, or URL imports.
Can I organize images?
Yes! Use albums, tags, and favorites to organize your library.
Are images publicly accessible?
By default, images are accessible via their direct URL. You can configure authentication and access controls as needed.
How do I embed images?
Use the direct CDN URL in your HTML, markdown, or any platform that accepts image URLs.
Technical
What tech stack does it use?
- Frontend: SvelteKit
- API: Cloudflare Workers with Hono
- Database: Cloudflare D1 (SQLite)
- Storage: Cloudflare R2
- Cache: Cloudflare KV
- Auth: Cloudflare Access
Can I customize the UI?
Yes, the frontend is open-source and can be modified to fit your needs.
Is there an API?
Yes! Pixelflare provides a comprehensive RESTful API for programmatic access.
How do I backup my data?
Pixelflare includes automated backup to S3-compatible storage, plus manual export capabilities.
Security
Is it secure?
Pixelflare implements security best practices including rate limiting, Turnstile protection, and audit logging. However, you're responsible for securing your deployment.
Who can access my images?
By default, anyone with the URL can access images. You can configure authentication via Cloudflare Access.
How is user authentication handled?
Via Cloudflare Access with GitHub as the identity provider (more providers coming soon).
Support
Where can I get help?
- GitHub Issues - Bug reports and feature requests
- Discussions - Community support
Can I contribute?
Absolutely! Contributions are welcome. See the Contributing Guide for details.
Is commercial support available?
Not currently, but may be available in the future for enterprise deployments.
Comparison
How does it compare to Imgur?
Pixelflare gives you full control and ownership, with no ads or compression. However, Imgur has a larger community and doesn't require setup.
Is it better than S3?
For images specifically, yes - Pixelflare offers better UX, automatic transformations, and edge delivery. For general storage, S3 may be better.
What about Cloudinary or Imgix?
Pixelflare offers similar features at much lower cost (free tier) but requires self-hosting and lacks some enterprise features.
Still have questions? Check the documentation or open a discussion on GitHub.