Millions of websites are about to get a significant speed boost

internet
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

As part of its Speed Week 2021 event, Cloudflare has announced that it is the first CDN provider to implement server support at scale for a new internet standard called Early Hints.

Early Hints can help speed up websites on the company's network by 30 percent or more for free which will result in millions of websites getting a significant speed boost.

Through its work with prominent browsers, Cloudflare will save internet users time while also creating faster, more seamless experiences for businesses and their customers.

Co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare, Matthew Prince provided further details on the company's implementation of Early Hints in a press release, saying: 

"Everyone should have access to the fastest, most reliable Internet possible and we have built our global network to deliver exactly that. Now we're taking it a step further and working together with leading browsers to speed up millions of your favorite websites and applications, completely for free.” 

Early Hints

Currently when you visit a website, your web browser cannot load a page for you until it receives instructions from a server about all of the different elements such as images and text that need to be displayed.

Now though, by working directly with browser makers, Cloudflare is able to save an extra step and reduce the amount of time it takes websites to load. The company will provide early hints (hence the name) to browsers to let them know to start loading critical webpage elements before a server even completes the processing time to load a webpage.

As a result, this reduces the time between someone typing in a website's URL and that website completing loading. Even more impressive though is the fact that Cloudflare is able to do this without requiring any additional action from a server thanks to a combination of the scale and speed of its global network and by using machine learning.

Interested users or businesses can sign up for Cloudflare's Early Hints beta here and we'll likely hear more about the company's implementation of this new internet standard once it officially rolls out.

  • We've also highlighted the best CDN providers to speed up any website
Anthony Spadafora

After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

Read more
HTTPS - secured internet concept. Businessman or programmer think about https
Best CDN provider of 2025
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
Why multi-CDNs are going to shake up 2025
A representational concept of a social media network
Best free and public DNS server of 2025
A photographer taking a photograph at the camera.
Cloudflare's new tool wants to help you spot doctored images online
ExpressVPN's Lightway Turbo upgrade – promo image
Can fast be faster? ExpressVPN promises it’s possible
An image of cloud host logos on a TechRadar background
Best cloud hosting providers of 2025
Latest in Pro
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
Why multi-CDNs are going to shake up 2025
URL phishing
HaveIBeenPwned owner suffers phishing attack that stole his Mailchimp mailing list
Ransomware
Cl0p resurgence drives ransomware attacks to new highs in 2025
Millwall FC The Den
The UK's first football club mobile network is here - but you probably won't guess which team has launched it
A person using a smartphone with a cybersecurity lock symbol appearing over it.
The growing threat of device code phishing and how to defend against It
Cybersecurity
Why OT security needs exposure management to break the cycle of endless patching
Latest in News
Microsoft Surface Laptop and Surface Pro devices on a table.
Hate Windows 11’s search? Microsoft is fixing it with AI, and that almost makes me want to buy a Copilot+ PC
Oura Ring 4
Activity tracking on Oura Ring is about to get a whole lot better, but I've got bad news about your step count
Google Maps on a phone being held in someone's hand
Google Maps is getting two key upgrades, for easier route planning and quicker access to Gemini AI
URL phishing
HaveIBeenPwned owner suffers phishing attack that stole his Mailchimp mailing list
Gemini on a smartphone.
Gemini 2.5 is now available for Advanced users and it seriously improves Google’s AI reasoning
Ransomware
Cl0p resurgence drives ransomware attacks to new highs in 2025