AWS Shield vs A10 Thunder TPS

AWS Shield9.0Visit A10 Thunder TPS8.7Visit

Higher score AWS Shield #4 in DDoS Protection Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit AWS Shield

vs

A10 Thunder TPS #7 in DDoS Protection Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 2 features Visit A10 Networks

• AWS Shield fits best

  AWS-native teams needing layered protection

• A10 Thunder TPS fits best

  Network operators needing hybrid appliance protection

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Side by side

Feature	AWS Shield 9.0/10 Visit ↗	A10 Thunder TPS 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.7
Ranking	#4 in DDoS Protection Software	#7 in DDoS Protection Software
Best for	AWS-native teams needing layered protection	Network operators needing hybrid appliance protection
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	—	Pricing on request · 30-day trial
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	30 days
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	5 integrations	5 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AWS Shield 2/2 · A10 Thunder TPS 1/2
Managed mitigation	✓	✓
WAF included	✓ (best)	—
Specs
Attack layers	Both	Both
Mitigation mode	Always-on	Hybrid
Deployment model	Cloud	Hybrid
Protection capacity	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free Standard tier covers common network and transport-layer attacks Advanced adds AWS WAF application-layer protection and monitoring Integrates with EC2, CloudFront, Route 53, and other AWS services	Covers volumetric, protocol, resource, and application-layer attacks Supports inline and on-demand BGP route redirection mitigation Adds machine-learning zero-day recognition and adaptive policies
Cons	Shield Advanced starts at $3,000 per month Advanced requires a one-year subscription commitment Response Team access requires Business or Enterprise AWS Support	Pricing requires contact with sales No free plan is offered WAF is not included
Our verdict	AWS Shield is a managed DDoS protection service for applications and networks hosted on AWS. Shield Standard automatically protects AWS customers against common network and transport-layer DDoS events at no additional charge. Shield… Read the review →	A10 Thunder TPS is A10 Networks’ DDoS protection platform, now presented as A10 Defend DDoS Mitigator. It is designed for service providers, data centers, gaming networks, and enterprises that need protection across volumetric, protocol,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• AWS Shield — where it wins

  • Free Standard tier covers common network and transport-layer attacks
  • Advanced adds AWS WAF application-layer protection and monitoring
  • Integrates with EC2, CloudFront, Route 53, and other AWS services

  Where it doesn't

  • Shield Advanced starts at $3,000 per month
  • Advanced requires a one-year subscription commitment
  • Response Team access requires Business or Enterprise AWS Support

• A10 Thunder TPS — where it wins

  • Covers volumetric, protocol, resource, and application-layer attacks
  • Supports inline and on-demand BGP route redirection mitigation
  • Adds machine-learning zero-day recognition and adaptive policies

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contact with sales
  • No free plan is offered
  • WAF is not included

• AWS Shield9.0/10 · Free plan

  A layered AWS-native option with free baseline coverage and a $3,000 Advanced tier.

  Visit AWS ShieldFull verdict →
• A10 Thunder TPS8.7/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

  Hybrid, multi-vector DDoS protection for network operators managing complex traffic flows.

  Visit A10 NetworksFull verdict →