AWS WAF vs Barracuda Web Application Firewall

AWS WAF9.2Visit Barracuda Web Application Firewall8.8Visit

Higher score AWS WAF #2 in Web Security Software 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AWS WAF

vs

Barracuda Web Application Firewall #6 in Web Security Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Barracuda

• AWS WAF fits best

  AWS users seeking broad WAF protection at low entry cost

• Barracuda Web Application Firewall fits best

  Teams needing a self-hosted WAF with SIEM integrations

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Side by side

Feature	AWS WAF 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Barracuda Web Application Firewall 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Web Security Software	#6 in Web Security Software
Best for	AWS users seeking broad WAF protection at low entry cost	Teams needing a self-hosted WAF with SIEM integrations
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$1/unit/mo	—
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Browser extension	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	9 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AWS WAF 0/4 · Barracuda Web Application Firewall 0/4
Phishing/malware blocking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Web app firewall	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
DDoS protection	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Bot protection	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Websites covered	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Managed exploit rules plus SQL injection and XSS protection Bot controls, rate limiting, CAPTCHA, and browser challenges Integrates with CloudFront, API Gateway, ALB, and other AWS services	Protects web apps and REST, JSON, and XML APIs against OWASP Top 10 and zero-day attacks Offers bot defenses, rate controls, and application-layer DoS mitigation Exports logs to SIEM tools and supports centralized management
Cons	Usage-based rule and request charges can increase monthly spend Protection is designed primarily for applications running on AWS Support channels are limited to documentation	Pricing is quote-based, with no numeric price shown Advanced retains firewall and traffic logs for 30 days Machine-learning bot detection and automated API discovery require Premium
Our verdict	AWS WAF is a managed web application firewall for organizations operating applications on AWS. It monitors HTTP(S) requests sent to protected resources and lets teams allow, block, count, challenge, or rate-limit traffic using conditions… Read the review →	Barracuda Web Application Firewall protects websites, web applications, APIs, and mobile application backends against OWASP Top 10 attacks, zero-day threats, data leakage, bots, and application-layer denial-of-service attacks. It is aimed… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• AWS WAF — where it wins

  • Managed exploit rules plus SQL injection and XSS protection
  • Bot controls, rate limiting, CAPTCHA, and browser challenges
  • Integrates with CloudFront, API Gateway, ALB, and other AWS services

  Where it doesn't

  • Usage-based rule and request charges can increase monthly spend
  • Protection is designed primarily for applications running on AWS
  • Support channels are limited to documentation

• Barracuda Web Application Firewall — where it wins

  • Protects web apps and REST, JSON, and XML APIs against OWASP Top 10 and zero-day attacks
  • Offers bot defenses, rate controls, and application-layer DoS mitigation
  • Exports logs to SIEM tools and supports centralized management

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quote-based, with no numeric price shown
  • Advanced retains firewall and traffic logs for 30 days
  • Machine-learning bot detection and automated API discovery require Premium

• AWS WAF9.2/10 · Paid

  Broad AWS-native WAF controls with a low entry price and usage-based costs.

  Visit AWS WAFFull verdict →
• Barracuda Web Application Firewall8.8/10 · Pricing on request

  A self-hosted and cloud WAF with API, bot, and application-layer DoS defenses.

  Visit BarracudaFull verdict →