# Use Cloudflare to share localhost for free

> Set up a tunnel locally. Follow this step-by-step guide to get your first tunnel up and running using the CLI.

From time to time you'll want to share your locally running app with some folks before it's ready to ship.

- Free to use
- HTTPS support
- Won't expose your IP

## Prerequisites

Before you start [add a website to Cloudflare](https://developers.cloudflare.com/fundamentals/get-started/setup/add-site/).

## Download and install cloudflared

When on a Mac running the following command

```bash
brew install cloudflare/cloudflare/cloudflared
```

When on Windows download the executable [here](https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-windows-amd64.exe) 64bit.

## Quick setup with random URL

```bash
cloudflared tunnel --url http://localhost:3000
```

Check the terminal for the public URL. This be an URL like: `https://voluntary-canal-amend-collins.trycloudflare.com`

## Use custom domain name

In some cases you want the tunnel to have a stable URL. Therefore Cloudflare offers the option to couple your domain name on which the funnel gets registered.

### Authenticate with Cloudflare

Now we can create our first tunnel by running the following command.

```bash
cloudflared tunnel login
```

This will open a browser window and prompt you to log in to your Cloudflare account. After logging in to your account, select your hostname.

### Create a tunnel and give it a name

```bash
cloudflared tunnel create mycoolapp
```

Confirm that the tunnel has been successfully created by running:

```bash
cloudflared tunnel list
```

### Start routing traffic

Now assign a CNAME record that points traffic to your tunnel subdomain.

```bash
cloudflared tunnel route dns mycoolapp demo.yourdomain.me
```

### Run the tunnel

Run the tunnel to proxy incoming traffic from the tunnel to any number of services running locally on your origin.

```bash
cloudflared tunnel --url <http://localhost:3000> run mycoolapp
```

### Check the tunnel

```bash
cloudflared tunnel info
```