Reference

Accuracy and estimates

Why every SignalFlare number is an estimate, and how close it is to your invoice.

Every spend figure in SignalFlare is an estimate: an early warning, not your invoice.

Where the number comes from

We read usage from Cloudflare’s GraphQL Analytics API and multiply it by Cloudflare’s published prices, minus each product’s monthly free allowance. Our price table is versioned, so a past estimate can always be reproduced.

Why it can differ from the bill

• Cloudflare samples some analytics, so usage counts can drift by a few percent.
• Analytics arrive with a short delay.
• Some charges aren’t usage-based or aren’t exposed in analytics, such as your plan’s subscription fee, taxes, credits or negotiated pricing.

Why that’s fine for a cap

A cap needs direction and timing: spend is climbing fast and will cross the line soon. That holds even when the last few percent don’t. If you need a hard ceiling, set the budget a little below the number you can’t exceed.